Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-01-31

With the exception Of the hearing upon
petitions for new normal schools at Dex-
ter, Newport and HoMton and the COM
mittee on towns there were no largely at
tended hearings in the afternoon, Wednes-
day. The Capitol wore an animated ap-
pcarance wherever ono went This was
in good degree due to the fact that after
the adjournment of the meeting of the
Woman's Federation the ladies visited the
different departments and attended some
Of the hearings.
New Normal Schools Proposed.
The subject of new normal schools at
Dexter, Newport and HoNlton was that
which attracted the biggest audience, and
the hearing upon it was held before the
committee on education in the afternoon.
A party of about. 80 from Aroostook
county came down In theinteTests of the
establishment Of d normal, School at
Houlton. Senator Shaw conducted the
hearing on the part Of the advocates of
u
large number spoke in behalf of the
project. Among them were James Archi-
bald, Esq, NJ. l.. Fetch, professor in the
normal department. of the Kicker CLASH
cal Institute, J. B. Madigan, Esq, Geo.
A. Gorham, Jr., Esq, E. L. Cleveland,
Jr., Chas. d. Britt, Rev. C. E. Owen,
Hon. Llewellyn Powers Louis C. Stearns,
Esq, and Representative Keegan of Van
Buren, The line of argument ably made
was the large size of the county, its loca-
ton with.regard to the normal Schools
already established, the comparatively few
trained teachers, the railroad facilities
which would accommodate those wishing
to enjoy the advantage of a normal school
at Houlton. They ask for $4,000 an
nually for two years, and will provide
suitable lot for the building.
There was also a good attendance Of
those who desire normal schools at Dex-,
ter and Newport. Col Stanley Plummer
spoke for the location OF q school at Dcx
ter, as did Milton l.. Abbott, the gentle
man who offers to give one of the best
lots in the village for the school 1t was
argued that Dexter was the best center in
all that section for the school, to accom-
modate the people; that the other villages
were not large enough to provide the nee
essary facilities A strong agument was
made for Dexter.
Those who spoke for a normal school at
Newport were Lawyer Patten of that
place. who made an eloquent plea; Hon
w. Y. Haines of Waterville ard Rev Mr.
Boyd of Newport. They argued that in
no other place in the State could normal
school be located to accommodate so
drawing them from a population of about
200, 900. They ask that the State APP
propriate $50, 600, and promise to give a
lot of two acres, and the town will give
$500 toward library.
In Judiciary.
The judiciary committee had a hear
ing upon the act to incorporate the
Castine Water Co. Mr. Devereaux of
Castinc appeared for it. Messrs. Dresser
and Sargent wanted some of the features
Of the proposed charter changed The
committee will report ought to pass" on
the resolve to apr ropriatc money for the
purchase of Freeman's Supplement to
the Revised Statutes The committee
will vote fought to pass on the act to
preserve the harbor of Portland The
hearing on the petition of citizens +
Hallowell, to take water from Cobbossce-
contee stream, was rc-assigned for next
Tuesday.
Hearing On the Wiggin Bill.
The continued hearing on the Wiggin
bill was held in Representatives hall, last
evening. Representative Weeks OF
Fairfield spoke in opposition to the bill
briefly. Heitbok the ground that the law
took the matter of caring for the schools
more FROM The towns and tended to lessen
the intefestain them.
Elk senator Walton thought the com
mittec should go very slowly. He knew
that in many instances the wild land
owners had by what might be called the
legal theft of the product of public lands
robbed the school children in some of the
plantations. He could agree with three
fourths Of what Senator Wiggin had said