Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-07

(Mr. Plummer) has suggested tnat theic
has been already been such large appro-
priations that this can be put OIL. He
saws that they thought best to put of
building a new dormitory at Gorham, and
building new normal school In another
section of the State. Now l should ike
TO ask whether it is true economy to be
continually putting off all these appro-
priations and allowing them to accumn-
late in the future? All the work needs
to be done and the amount asked for Is
reasonable. Is it not better to take 1t up
nd complete it at once9 The friends of
CHS school understand that the appropria-
lions already made are quite large ana
they are willing to do their part to econo-
mize. This resolve is not new thing.
Il came from the Legislature two years
aga The same argument was used then
as now, that it was necessary to economlzc.
1t was hoped at that time that this Legis-
lature would give all that was necessary
to put that institution in a position where
it could carry on its work with efficiency
and with credit to the State. consulted,
Monday, with an architect in Portland
and he said possibly S24, 600 would be
sufficient to rebuild this school by leaving
parts unfinished. Therefore, at the direc-
ton of the friends of this institution, /
move to amend by inserting S24,0 in
stead of $50, 900; $4,000 f, r the year 1895
and 81 o. 900 for the year 1896.
| hope this amendment will be adopted
and at least the students who wish to at
tend that institution may be afforded
ample accommodations.
Mr.. Plummer offered amendment Il,
reducing the appropriation to $4,000 for
IN addition and repairs.
The question being on the amendment
offered by Mr. Merrill of Portland, amend
nent A,
The amendment was adopted.
The question being on the adoption of
amendment b,
MI Noble of Lewiston said: Do the
reasonable needs of this school demand
this appropriation? The Governors mes
sage expresses no wish that the vaults of
The treasury should be closed and that
lhcse waiting petitioners be sent home to
aheir counties with the mandate, "Close
Up your schools because the State is too
Door to provide for your reasonable needs. :"
The Governor nowhere says that we should
not continue to appropriate for the reason
able needs of those institutions. The COM
we're there two years ago, and Il majority
# that committee reported two years that
that institution needed a new building.
that it was inadequate in size, that It's
arrangements for lighting were bad and
that it's sanitary arrangements were d
menace to health. They were sent over
to this Legislature with the recommends
zion that when we were in more pros
t,tf trn Nod N
should appropriate sum sufficient to
give them such a building as they asked
Tor. Your committee this year have been
there. By majority of seven to three
they say that this resolve appropriating
what is now So4, 000-and which l believe
should be $50, 000-should receive pas
sage. Now they are the jury. We have not
oeen there and we have a rule OF the
Supreme court that governs us in the trial
of cases that the court of last resort will
never disturb the verdict of the traverse
Jury unless it can be shown to be a YER
dict grounded in fraud or manifest pre-
judice. Will any one say that that com
mittee is prejudiced or that this majority
report is in fraud of the people of this
State? The Governor says in his mes
sage: 1.-THE existing structure does not
afford sufficient accommodations Unless
remedied, the efficiency of this State in
stitution, in its educational work, will be
impaired"
What do you say are the reasonable
needs of this institution? That main
building is 30 years old. The State con-
tributed $500 at the time-S150 year
for the 30 years. Nobody could tell when
it was built how it would flourish, and
no effort was made to provide for its en-
largement in the future. So we have q
building with thin walls, with INSULT
cient floor, building that in itself is
structurally weak This was the pioneer
institution of this kind. How have they
prospered2 In 1888 and 1884 the average
attendance was Ga. In 1886 and 1887 it
was 1875. Since its establishment 27l6
pupils have entered the school and 862
have graduated. In the last II years
there have been 1853 entered and 407
graduated. During the years 1898 and
1894 the average attendance was 1877 and
during the last year there was at one time
1872 pupils receiving instruction which
they in turn were to impart to your sons
and daughters in this State.
/ believe the Massachusetts, law re-
quires ESQ cubic feet of space to pupil
In this assembly room which ought to ac-
commodate only 10l, there have been as
sembled there 1921 more than this
room ought to accommodate or the health
of the room would permit. The gentle
man says, expend $4,000 to enlarge this
building Why hasn't he brought here
the statement of some architect or some
builder or some man of experience who
knows what the needs of the institution
demand and require? In the face Of that
we have the letters of Names best-k known
architects. Substantially they say that
that building cannot be enlarged upon
1t would not be economy. 1t seems to
me that the complete and satisfactory
proof offered before you by these archi-
tects, by the Governor and by this com
mittee, shows to us what our duty is,
what the reasonable demands of this in
are. My brother speaks of wasted
Wasted for instruction to teachers,
wasted for the education of your children
and mine! The browning pride and glory
of the State of Maine is, first, her churches,
and second, these institutions of learning,
from the little old red schoolhouse on the
hill to the university standing in the