Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-01-25

An act i'll aid Of the ute college.
Mr. Gilbert of Canton, said that this
bill was very important to him. l think
it is bill that is very blind to the MEM
bers of this House. For myself / have not
had the time as yet to look this matter
over. l move that this bill lie on the table
temporarily.
The motion was agreed to.
House document No II, An act to in
corporate the town of New Sweden.
House document No. - Is, An act
amendatory of and additional to an act to
establish the Old Town municipal court.
Passed to he Enacted.
An act to amend chapter SOB of the
Special Laws of 1898, relating to the Cape
Elizabeth Home for Aged Women.
An act TO enlarge the powers of the
Monson, Maine, Slate Co.
An act to repeal sections 10, II and Is,
chapter 4s9. Private and Special Laws of
the year 1884. entitled An act to incor-
porate the Kcnnebcc Dam Co."
Orders Of the Day.
On motion of Mr. Gilbert of Canton,
the act in aid Of the State college was
taken from the table.
Mr.. Haines of Watcrville, said that he
desired to make some explanations con-
corning this bill. l know that the bill is
not well understood, its objects are not
understood by majority of this House
This measure proposes ne-tenth of a mill
per annum from the State upon all its
taxable property in support OF the State
college.
T.. xxyhJ ah
before had been vetoed by Pesident
Buchanan, which endowed this institu-
ton with its present endowment. 1t gave
to all the states so many acres of land for
every representative and senator in Con-
gress That bill provided for the
endowment of these colleges. with
out excluding other scientific or
classical studies, and including mill
tary tactics, to teach such branches
of learning as are related to agriculture
and mechanic arts, in such manner as the
Legislatures of the states may respectively
prescribe, in order to promote the liberal
and practical education of the industrial
classes in the several pursuits and profess
sions in life. From the sale of this land
the college has an endowment of Sl31, 900,
from which it receives about $4,000 an
nually; and that bill provided that no
portion of said fund, nor the interest there
on, shall be applied, directly or indirectly,
under any pretence whatever, to the pur-
chase, erection, preservation or repair of
any building or buildings of the college.
Since that time Congress has passed the
Hatch bill, establishing experimental
stations in the different states of the
Union Under that bill the trustees Of the
State college have the disposal of S1o, 600
per annum, which is devoted exclusively
to experimental work in relation to agri-
culture. Since then Congress has passed
an act which commenced with a provision
of ST., 900 per annum aud increased $1,000
each year until these various institutions
shall be endowed with S25, 900 per annum.
The act provides that this fund shall be
used for teaching only. In addition to
this, ex Governor Coburn, one of the early
trustees of this institution, among other
generous requests made to various in
situations of the State, gave the State
college the sum of 100000 which gives
an income of $4,000; and that $1,000 is the
only sum of money which is not tied TO
the specific purpose of teaching. So that
the State college has, including the SIS, 600
its disposal each year the sum of S45, 900,
or $50, 900 for the college and $4,000 for
the experiment station; and of this only
$4,000 is allowed to go in any other direc-
ton except for teaching
Now the State of Maine, when it &C
cepted this amount, became bound to
furnish the buildings and equipment for
the State college at Orono. Since that
time the State has appropriated in differ
ent years, commencing with 1867, $780,,
600; 1868, $40, 000-and SO on down to
1891, in the total of 1901, LIS. The State
has to show for that money IS buildings
in all, which have cost s246, 900, leaving
a little over $55, 900 that the State in the
course of 80 years has aided in addition to
the United States endowment fund.
The trustees of this college meet there
twice year. They have this institution
to run. They receive for their services
the magnificent sum of their actual travel,
which has been paid for the last 30 years
out of this sum which they have handled,
between two and three hundred. At the
meetings of the trustees 1t has been part
of their duty to receive the reports from
the faculty and president showing the
demands of the college and every year
shows increasing needs and demands.
This is natural, it is incidental to all
educational work. Last fall when we
met we found we had no office for the
president. The presidents house had
always been used as his Office. He was
liable to be called upon at all times of
the day and night. We thought it was
right that the president of that institution
should have an office. and we found a
place in the basement of Coburn hall,
where we thought we could fix one up for
$1,000, and the president recommended
and we approved of that recommendation
that $1,000 was necessary for that purpose
We find in running this institution that
it costs US about $1,000 for postage-peo-
pie are writing to the institution from all
over the State. We have building there
which was built 90 years ago, called Oak
hall, containing 80 rooms. the only dormi
tory the college has, and today they have
207 students. We have two other build
ings in each of which about 90 students
room in clubs, aud the rest of the students
have to go over mile to the village to
board. This old Oak hall has been soaked
with water plastered over and over again, |
battered and bruised. 1t has got to be
equipped inside entirely 1t has not suit |
III