The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-01-20
THE STATE COLLEGE.
Now is The Time For the State to
Call a Halt.
EXHAUSTIVE REPORT OF THE
COUNCIL COMMITTEE.


creasing Expenses. The Question of
the Teaching of Agric uI ture and the
Original Purpose of tn Institution
The Commissioners Recommendation.
Augusta, Me-, Jan. 19.-SenatorClason
introd uced today voluminous document
whioh is destined to become bis bone
of contention before the Legislators
finally adjourn. In 1862, the National
Congress donated great amount OF
public lands to the different States, the
conditions being that the States accept
ing the grants should use the proceeds
for the establishment Of colleges in
which it was specified there should be
taught agriculture, the mechanical arts
and military tactics, and 1t was also
specified that the moneys received by the
States should be invested and only the
income used. SO that the cost OF erecting
buildings, purchasing land, etc., would
fall on the States besides the operating
expenses in excess of Ethe income from
the national. grant. After great deal. of
elaboration. Maine accepted the grant
and the State College at Orono is the rs-
suit. The college has grown rapidly of
late years and necessarily the demands
upon the State for its. support have COR
respondingly increased. The college this
year will ask for an annual appropria-
ton of $50, 900 and in addition state its
need of new buildings. A new building
would COST probably $50, 600
Ths great and growing cost of support
ing the State College has lead to opposi-
tion to its policy of constant enlarge
ment and this eliminated in the last
Legislature in a dir eotion to the Govern
or to appoint committee to investigate
the relations of the State to the College.
As such committee Gov. Cleaves appoint
ed Councillors Freeman, Holman and
Clason. The rerort presented today by
Mr.. Clason is q candid and exhaustive
discussion of the whole question. While
it's conclusions will not perhaps be par
ticularly pleasing to those who are con-
stantly trying to enlarge he State Col
lege, it nevertheless fairly presents their
side of the case. That portion of the re-
port in relation to the teaching Of agri.
culture will be found OF especial inter-
est. The document was written by MIR.
Freeman. 1t says, latter giving a. history
Of the founding and growth OF the col
lege:
In view of the fact that the attendance
has more than dou bled within three
years, and that all the wants of the col
lege must be calculated with reference to
r ,av ,l,o1, <f nd +o vra of.Iu
say that If the State accepts as ii liefnite
aim the realization OF the hopes aud plans
of the president land trustees for the
future of the college, it must sooner or
later provide for everything that Is con-
tanned in the presidents estimate of the
needs of the institution, presented to
this Legislature.
We take pleasure also in saying that at
no institution have we seen in attend
ance a body of young men OF more
manly bearing or more oreditable appear
anoe. While other and older colleges
have more co mplete facilities and larger
endowme nts, we believe that in excel
lenoe of instruction, in the orderly be-
havior of its students, and in all the in
duences which make for the upbuilding
Of character, the college Will take high
rank with other schools Of learning with
i'll and without the State.
If no other consideration were in
volved save. the merits of the college as
An fnstitu ton of learning, and were your
com mittee expected merely to state what
additional buildings, appliances and in
conas mightsbs necessary or desirable to
a college with certain number OF stu
dents in actual or prospective attendance,
its duty won Id be easily and quickly per-
formed, but we are required to report its
reasonable wants, reasonable also, we
apprehend, as regards the taxpayer. or,
oil dc hot fhu Gratn
reasonably asked to do for the college?
The difficulty in answering this CUES
tion in exact terms Is obvious. We are
met at the outset with disagreement OF
public sentiment as to the existence OF
any obligation on the part Of the State
to supply what may be. on the part OF
the college, an entirely reasonable
"want."
Here is something to be determined, in
justice alike to the college and the peo-
pie. EIf there is an obligation on the part
of the State to the College, as has been
frequently urged upon the Legislature,
then it is time that 1t be Eclearly denneG
and sheerfully acknowledged. 1t, on
the other ssthe support OF the col
leee is purely a question of educational
policy, it is equally important that the
people so understand it.
In the absence of well defined atti-
tude of the State towards the college,
and with view ito open up the entire
question, if possible, to final settlement,
we have undertakenssto give somewhat OF
the history Of the college, and OF legisla-
ton prior to its establishment, in order
that by consideration Of what the
college was designed to do and what the
college is now doing, the Legislature
may determine to what extent hereafter
the people should be charged with its
support. 70 this we have added our
own views and certain recommendations
insaccordance with the requirements of
the legislative order but we fully under
stand that they carry no weight Of
authority. Being charged with this
duty, we have performed it to the best
of our ability, and We believe the eop-
illusions forced upon US by the facts of
the case 30 be entirely just, both to the
college and the State
THE NATIONAL GRANT.
Public sentiments in this State and in
the Eastern States generally, was divided
upon the question Of accepting the Fed
eral grantgunder the imposed conditions.
1t was felt that Maine WAS already sup