Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-16

to force such a law as that CAP
plause) ! am going to ask you now
in all candor and honesty II 1t Is right
to make me do thing that l don't
want to-? The constitution of the United
States and the declaration of independ-
ence saw that we shall not be molested
in our pursuit of happiness provided
we don't injure anybody else; and 1t
seems to me that we have reason to
protest against this proposed law on
that ground. 1aughter) ] am entire
ly opposed to a bill that is going TO
force me and my town to do thing
that is obnoxious to a majority of the
people. tApplause.)
Mr.. BENNETT of Hollis: have
been looking this bill over and see
some towns are to be required to raise
$50 towards High school. Now want
to know what kind Of High schol $50
will run in any town? (Applause)
The. next higher towns in population
are to raise 500. Well. perhaps they
are to receive 500 from the State. II
we open this door in this way we have
| got to appropriate good deal OF
money out of the State treasury. A
| few wears ago when l was superintend-
ent of schools in my town i made a
| careful canvass Of the county OF York
| in regard to "A High school. and I
| found, i'm every town where High
| school would be useful and justifiable.
| that the town had established n High
school l hope the bill will not pass,
| not wishing to say that / have any OBJ
| lection to doing everything / can for
| the cause of education. ] believe in it
and shall always do all ] can for II;
| but ] say it is not fair to take every
principle and everything out OF the
hands Of the towns. We have rights
which should be respected.
Mr.. RYERSON Of LivermOre: In a
sense ! have no personal interest in the
passage of this bill. represent a town
that for 81 years has maintained. !
think without a break. n High school.
That town has a population OF 1890 in
habitants. 1t extends over a large
area. We have no large villages, and
the boys and girls attend that free
High school under conditions which !
believe to be practically similar to
those towns for which IL is claimed this
law will be "A burden. know from that
| experience that every boy and girl in
a town similarly situated can have an
opportunity, if they are so inclined. TO
receive the benefits of free High
school education without any undue
hardship. j also know. in many of our
rural towns-I am glad it is not so in
my town-that there are many men
who are amply able to pay their pro-
portionate share of taxation for the es-
adjustment of free High schools. who
will A. hiif ,.-h ,,rilI
influence against the town appropriate
ing money for this purpose. which ac-
ton on their part will deprive the boys
and girls in the town from receiving
any benefit from the free High school
law. although the people in that town
pay taxes to the State for the main
tenance of free High schools in other
places. The towns who will claim in
any sense to be burdened by the pro-
visions of this law are receiving from
the State. through the operation of the
mill tax, they are receiving from the
State more money than they pay to
the State in taxes every year: and ii
seems to me that it is no more than
fair and right that the State require
of them that they contribute something
towards the general intelligence of our
youth in the way of free High school
education.
The chief glory of the State of Maine
has been in it's bright and enterprising
young men and women whom it has
not only kept here at home in Maine
but who have gone throughout this
Union and have been an honor and a
credit to the State. 1t seems to me
that this act If it has a passage, will
nave tendency to encourage and help.
IN the pursuit of a free High school
education. every poor boy and girl who
are now deprived of such privileges
throughout this State.
Mr.. CHICK of Clifton: I agree that the
majority of the men in the rural towns
are in favor of all the education possible.
] care not whether the gentleman from
Waterville (Mr. Philbrook) lives in the
city and never knew anything about the
rural towns. or not. 1t is a certain fact
that he is well aware of the conditions
that exist in the rural towns. and his re-
marks drove the nail right in; and if the
nail needed any more driving or sinking.
my comrade from Monroe (Mr. Dawson)
sent the nail in, and hope the members
of this House will give attention to the
candid and truthful remarks of those two
gentlemen, which represents exactly the
condition of things in the rural towns of
Maine One gentleman has said that our
recent school law which abolishes school
districts. is working very smoothly. Il
assert here and now that never did any
Legislature of Maine pass any school law
which has brought the people into more
turmoil and strife than the act which
abolished the school districts of Maine.
and in Gods name I ask you to give us
no more arbitrary or grasping legislation
until We become familiar with the legis-
lation regarding the schools as it exists,
today. We have got all that we can
stand. Let us get used to these new laws
which you have recently passed before
you place upon us any more burdens, and
certainly burdens under this bill which
many towns cannot stand. Mr. Speaker
and gentlemen. hope You will Indefinite
ly postpone this bill.
The question being upon the motion to
indefinitely postpone the bill,
The motion was agreed to.
An act to amend section Of chapter 26,
of the Public Laws of 1889, relating 10 sci
entific instruction in schools.