Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-02-25

|I.egislature are introduced BY the State
College. This Is not 10. These biiis are
introduced BY prof. Who'd, director OF
the United States Experiment Station
al Ofono, and have nothing to do with
the State College. Although Prof.
Wood is connected with the State Col
lege as an agricultural professor, still
his connection with these bills for seed
and feed is entirely independent OF the
State College. We want liberal and
reasonable appropriation, and $4,000
annually Is the least possible upon
which we can get along for running
expenses, exclusive Of new buildings.
Now / won't promise that we can get
along for the next 10 years for $40 900 4
year, for In five years we may want an
additional appropriation for further
development of the institution. but
when that time comes the Legislature
then In existence can take care Of that.
l don't want any one to come here in
five years and say that we agreed to
get along for 10 years with $40. 900 ans
nually. We make no promises, but will
get along as economically as we can.
You ought to make perpetual ap-
propriation, or at least for a period Of
10 years. This is a State institution.
1t is not for Orono or Penobscot
county any more than fer Lewiston.
Portland. or any other section Of the
State. You are just beginning to de-
velop your State. and you are more
likely to get greater development Of
1t by scientific education. When peo-
NIL fNr1tN =
than agriculture they will go back to
1t and you will have more students in
the agricultural department of the
college at Orono.
Mr.. Haines criticised those who crit
icised President Harris of the State
College for being at Augusta lobbying
for the college. Said he. Where. for
Gods sake, would we be If he wasn't
here to look after it?" Mr.. Haines said
that the State College was not in COM
petition with Bowdoin, Bates and
Colby, but is in direct competition with
The School of Technology at Boston.
President Harris made further remarks
and said 1t was very childish on the
part Of the State to be fighting over
this issue every two years. Why not
make permanent appropriation and
take the college out or politics. 1t has
come to such a pass at present that IL
any friends of the State College are
opposed to any other appropriation,
the friends of that other appropriation
priation. unless the opposition to that
threaten to defeat the college appro-
other appropriation Is withdrawn.
This is unfair, for it brings educational
10. ho
intrigue. Forty-seven per cent. of the
graduates of the institution are now
residents of the State; 80 per cent. of
the present students are residents of
the State. In reply to questions by the
committee, President Harris said that
of course the college would have to
come before the Legislature from time
TO time during that 10 years and ask
for additional appropriations for new
buildings, etc. so that really the mat
ter would again be before the Legisla-
ture as often as the trustees desired
additional appropriations.
Chas. II. Gilbert of Canton. an eY-
representative to the Legislature. OBJ
jected to the large appropriations
asked and thought that $4,000 year
was all the State should give them
He believed that the students should
pay a small tuition, and he believed
that it was unfair for the people of
Maine to be taxed for SO many stu
dents who come from out of the State.
The next matter was the order rela-
tive to the charging of tuition for at
tendance at the State College.
Mr.. Searls of Chelsea. OF the conn
,,,ittoo haliayod that Tuition ShCull he
charged, and went into an elaborate
argument relative to 1t. DIR. Harris
opposed the proposition to require
tuition. but not very vigorously.
The next matter heard was the prop
ostion to change the name of the
State College to the University of
Maine DIR. Harris said that there was
a prejudice against graduates of this
institution on account OF its name
when they come in contact with the
graduates of universities from other
states. In reply to queries DR.. Harris
said the idea was to give the institu-
ton a more popular and more truthful
name. He instanced a fact where
graduates of the civil engineering de-
partment were at disadvantage be-
cause the impression was abroad in
other states that this institution was
an agricultural college. He wanted
this impression corrected, for it was
not distinctly an agricultural, college.
Mr.. Blanchard of Wilton, asked DR..
Harris if changing the name to the
University of Maine would not give a
false impression, and lead the public to