The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1896-04-09

him not to undertake to make the school
committee a step-ladder to climb down on.
The committee made no such estimate, and
this will be seen by the superintendent re-
port. The selectmen's report shows That
they did estimate the amount due the teach
erS for the winter term. They could only
estimate the amount tor the reason That all
the schools We're gong on at the time they
closed the town accounts Tor the year; anu
| the selectmen at that time could not know
to a certainty that every teacher would
finish the term.
AT the time the SuperlntendentS report
was printed all the schools except two had
closed, and that report contains an iteuized
statement OF the amount paid to the teachers
during the whole year. 1t gives the names
OF all the teachers, the schools they taught
the number of weeks each one taught, the
mount paid each per week, and the whole
amount paid each teacher, during the year,
and the amount paid all the teachers.
Mr.. Harbutt held that report IN his hand
at the time he says he spoke in the town
meeting, and he, of course, has had 1t all the
time he has been engaged in writing up his
mild surprises at the lack of wisdom in the
selectmen, and transferring them to the
committee
Did Mr.. Harbutt mean the Committee If
he did, has he, with that report in bis hands
represented the Committee to the public fair
ly. III his journal articles? In these articles
Mr. Harbutt admits small balance in
favor of the schools from last year $ school
money. The seectmens report shows that
the amount expended for repairs and new
! buildings, exceeded the appropriation Tor
those purposes one dollar and seventy one
cents There was "a little overdraw on the
books. but no books were purchased except
such as We're absolutely necessary TO run
the schools. and which under the law of the
State the town was obliged to furnish. This
| Mr.. Harbutt does not dispute. He suggests
that there should have been three weeks
less school and says, "W here there has been
over payment in one, economy III the other
Wi! help the tax payers who pay the bills
and that is the whole OF my case. And
further he says: AS my letter points out, il
the committee bad given, say three weeks
less of extra schooling they would have
brought forward a larger balance avail liable
for this year, and cOunterbalauced the over
draw III another Department..
Yes, very true 1t would have counter
balanced the OverdraW for books and left a
large balance in the treasury and SIX weeks
less school would nave left larger balance
and if there had been no schools the town
would now have lots of money. Few would
have thought of that way OF saving money,
1t is sufficient to say that the committee
did not follow that crooked course. They
did not consider that it would be either
morally or legally right to hold back school
money that the town and the State had pro-
Vlded for the schools for a particular year
for other town expenses, or for the use OF
the town in subsequent years. The COM
mttee did not believe in robbing Peter to
pay Paul.
| know that with few exceptions we have
had III this town during the past year far
better schools than we have had before for
many years and all the children in the
town have had five weeks more schooling
than they had the previous year. | am glad
my little friends have had the extra school
ing. | wish they could have that extra
amount every year | am sorry Mr. Harbutt
Is dissatisfied.
Mr.. Harbutt adds in postscript to his
last article III The Journal, that he has a
letter from Miss Carver saying she would
like to have the High School; and he says,
"W hen we have such superior home aent
available we ought to use every effort to
keep it at home" Miss Carver taught the
spring and fall terms of the High School last
year Her health was very poor, and al
though We employed assistant for the
fall term, Miss Carver informed Inc, long be-
fore the term closed, that her health was SO
poor she feared she would not he able to
finish the term; but being a person of a
good deal Of will power she succeeded i'll
| keeping the term out.
l regarded Miss Carver az very excellent
teacher and tried to engage her for the win
ter term, offering her as high wages as we
would have to pay any teacher. She said
her health was poor that she could not
undertake the school If Miss G river has
recovered her health, and Mr.. Harbutt has
her application for the school, or anything
equivalent to an application for it, he should
nave presented it to the committee / trust
Miss Carver and her friends viii not think
that the reason of her not being employed
was on account OF any objection to her OF
the part of the committee. One might nfel
! that such was the case from reading Mr.
H4rbutts =. S. without some explanation
although te of course did not intend to give
such an Impression.
A MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL COM.
Searsport, April 8. 1886.
NORTH SEARSPORT ITEMS.
Ghas. A. Gilman of Boston visited at A
Stinson last week
A. Stinson and wife made short visit a
o. B. Gray in Prospect last Week.
1t is quite sickly in this vicinity Man,
of the older residents are passing away.
Granite Grange will observe its fourth an
nversary April 10Th with an old fashlonet
harvest feast and a good time.
The old folks dance at the Grange Hal
did not come off. Tins 10 the third time i
has failed. but it will Vet come i'll the future
A committee from E. NJ. Billings Post
Monroe, consisting of Commander Ordwa,
and Comrade York visited a 81, k conrad
at this place last week They left the com
rade so. That IS the stuff f. NJ. Billing
Post is made of. They believe a ten dolla
bill Will do more good in sickness than lot
of sympathy 80 do we, comrades.