Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-01-20

tore not within the real reason why the
State assumes to educate at all.
Aside from the principle involved and
CONSIDERED only as matter of sound
business policy we should deem it unwise
for the State to commit itself to the sup.
port of college. the growth and success
OF which is measured by the number OF
students attracted by the multiplication
of free courses of study. There is nc
logical limit to such a growth nor to tho
demands upon the treasury which the in
creaslng expenses of administration
The tendency of the trustees and fac
ulty has been to broaden the courses OF
study. open to all free of tuition. what
the college outgrow its income and the
State appropriation. its friends ask the
state for more money. The committee
would gladly see the college rank with
aoiogy in endowment. in equipment and
IN popularity. but they would have it
maintained by the same means. and
would no longer tax the people for its
support. The college should be able to
stand alone Private benevolence will
never be largely attracted to it. if it is
understood the State. will vote large sums
Of money annually for its use. 1t is I'M
ceasonable to claim that because the
State has already done more than it was
pound to do when It accepted the nation
ii land grant. its obligation to the future
support of the college is proportionally
increased.
The committee says: 1T seems to lis
chat tuition charge fairly representing
the worth of the instruction received
should be made to all students At pres
ant the college is free to everyone within
md without the State. Out of As such
colleges in the country IS are free to resi-
Tents and "a to non-resdents. If tuition
were charged we should favor the estab-
iShment of a number of scholarships by
the State to aid meritorious students.
Aside from the injustice to the taxpayer
we doubt if unlimited free tuition is an
lnmiXed benefit, either to the college or
the student. Not all the students of the
nor can it claim to be exclusively the
College of the people" In the other Maine
5olleges the great majority of the stu
Tents are the sons of mechanics, laborers.
n farmers.
In conclusion the committee says: I'VE
nave shown that the college was estab-
lished mainly for the benefit which was
expected to accrue to the farming inter-
ests of the State. We have called atten-
ion to. the departure of the college from
It's original design. and its growth into
ollege of science and technology. We
note in recent reports of the president
and trustees that one of the greatest
needs of the college is more students.
that its courses of study are broadening
every year. and that if Maine will fol-
low the example of Colorado lit would BE-
possible to build up here an institution
of the greatest breadth and usefulness,
which would be able to furnish facilities
very few colleges.
1t now remains to be seen if the Legis-
lature will commit the State to this idea
of a university 'of the greatest breadth
and usefulness.
1t is question of justice as well as of
generosity. Maine has never suffered for
lack of colleges, although she has given
them little aid.
Her grants to the three other colleges
combined amount to less than the appro-
priations for the State college in single
year, although the constitutional provi-
sion extends equally to all. The State
college has now an income. without
State aid larger than that of our best
with the receipts from such a tuition as
might in all reaSona bleness be made that
the work which it is especially prepared
to do might be done with but small de-
mands upon the State treasury.
We are told that Maine is a prosperous
State but we know that it is not a
wealthy State. 1t became an organic !
not to shine by the amount
of gratuitous instruction it can furnish. !
but Ito establish justice, ensure tran !
guilty, provide for the mutual defense
and promote the common welfare
Your committee believes that to adopt
the plans and wishes of the trustees as
to the future policy of the State toward
the college would mean an unreasonable ,
and constantly increasing outlay. and a
which have heretofore controlled the
State in it's relations to higher educa-
ton.
Bath wants free ingress and egress, !
fo,