The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-30

Mr.. A. 3. Irving of Rockland, the secre-
tary and treasurer, reported that no had
received during the year S143.27 and aid
out S133.06, but the society had an in
debtednoss of about $40. On the rolls are
the names of 300 members Of whom III
have paid their dues Mr.. Irving is a
young man and a hustler. He told the
teachers that last year he had gone right
down onto the floor of tho convention
and collected dues Of members who were
in arrears. That, said MIR. Irving, re-
quired cheek and mine is exhausted. He
added that this year he should be at his
desk before and after school, but he
Irving thought that of the 5000 teachers
in Maine more than 200 should belong to
| the society. He had proposed two amend
ments to the constitution which he
| thought would tend to help the finances
and increase the membership. One was
I that members who had not paid their
dues for two consecutive years should be
| dropped from the rolls after sixty days
notice; the other that the annual dues for
| lady members should be fifty cents in
stead of "a dollar. The second proposition
was debated at some length, the members
generally expressing themselves as in
! favor of it, inasmuch as the men teachers
get twice or three times the salary of the
women. Miss Mary S. Snow of Bangor,
superintendent of the schools of that city,
| made witty speech in favor of the
! amendment. Both the amendments pro-
posed by Mr.. Irving were adopted.
Then State Superintendent Stetson pro-
posed two more. The first provided that
corresponding secretary should be
elected to aid the president in his labors
The second created the offices of president
and secretary for five sections of the
| society to be devoted to the interests of
the various grades of the public schools.
Mr.. Stetson stated that he thought that
these amendments could be adopted by
unanimous consent and the president SO
ruled. Then one Of the members asked if
notice of proposed amendments was not
required and Principal Corthell of the
Gorham Normal school asked if the con-
stitution did not provide method for
amendment.
| The President-Of course unaniomus
consent amends n constitution.
| Secretary Irving read from the consti-
tuition the article providing that it may
be amended by two-thirds vote, notice
of the, amendments proposed having been
given at previous meeting in the call
for the meeting at which they are acted
upon.
The president said he had already stated
his position and asked if any one objected
| to the adoption of the amendments by
unanimous consent. Nobody objected and
the amendments went. Some of the
members have been talking of this ques-
tion of amendment by unanimous con-
sent ever since. 1t was debated at supper
tables and at the evening reception. One
membe said he thought that the society
should have section for the study of
parliamentary law, but lie is one of those
who does not believe in amending consti-
tutions by unanimous consent.
A telegram was received by exPresi-
dent B. L. Whitman of Colby university
sending greetings from Washington, and
hopes for good attendance from Maine
at the meeting of the National Ed uca-
tional society in that city.
The afternoon session closed with in
teresting papers on the private school by
Principal G. II. Larrabee of Lincoln
academy, and Principal F. E. Hanscome
of Gould's academy.
4 SOCIAL AMENITIES.
When the teachers climbed the hill to
the State Houss in the evening, they
found the rotunda transformed into a
drawing room. Dlvans and sofas stood
before the wooden Greoian pillars,
cushions made the window seats look az
inviting as similar hooks in the room OF
a college girl. Palms were planted all
around. Young men in dress suits and
maidens in party gowns were on hand tc
90 the honors at the reception given by
the Augusta teachers. And the visitors
enjoyed it They came in great numbers
and piled their wraps oven on the deaks
of the honorable secretary Of state and his
dignifled deputies. Before the reception
there were more exercises in the House
chamber, including music by Denniss'
orchestra, readings by Miss Harriet NJ
Matthews, the daughter of Labor Com.
missioner Matthews and who found great
favor with her hearers, singing by the
Abuaki quartette, and an address by
George II. Martin, supervisor of the
schools of Boston, who talked for half ar
hour on the subject ARTIST anG
Artisan" saying much that was enter.
tanning and Instructive.
Then Gov. Powers was introduced to
the teachers and in the course of si1
minutes mentioned the Maine statesmen
whosesvoices hayo been heard in the ole
state house. The Governor also told how
he had himself taught school in hi
younger days, and said, as he had Otter
said before. that the dollar spent by tn
state in the education of the people wa
the hest dollar it expended The Goyerno