Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-11

the property, rights. privileges and inter-
csts held and controlled by the said insti-
tuition.
Now, gentlemen, / do not stand here
upon this floor to argue against the con-
troll Of this or any other charitable insti-
tutions which are supported in whole or
in part by the State. l am not prepared
to discuss that question. 1t may be the
true solution of many difficulties that
have been presented to this Legislature.
but it seems to me, and I submit it to
this House. that this is rather summary
process for dsposing of the property Or
for acquiring the property of this institu-
ton. / understand that the trustees of
the institution object to this method. at
least. of being called upon to stand and
deliver their property l do understand
that some of the trustees have no objec-
tons at the proper time and in the proper
way to convey this property to the State.
that it may become purely and simply
State institution as our State Reform
School is.
l am informed that at the hearing be-
fore the committee on education, which
reported these two resolves. the question
was asked of some of the trustees whether
there would be any objection TO the prop
erty being conveyed to the State and run
as State institution, and that those
trustees, or some of them, at least. and
possibly all present. / do not know said
that they did not know as there was; but
I think l speak for the trustees when /
say that they did not understand or think
for moment that it was the proposition
Of . Da mil f.nf ipar atsa s,,rf,
proviso into this resolve. or TO take action
at this time, for do not understand that
the matter was very fully discussed 1T
that time
4 So that. l can say then, gentlemen.
that this proviso-the proviso in these
resolves. comes as an entire surprise at
this time to the managers of this in
stitution, to the trustees.
Now. certainly, gentlemen. if
the State is ready without
any further Investigations do
not know how far our committee on
education have investigated this mat
ter. and have no doubt that they will
inform us-but, if the State is to ac-
quire this property. it seems to me that
there is lacking a great deal of neces-
sary machinery in this plan proposed.
Certainly if the State is going to ac-
quire this property there must be an
enabling act passed. There must be an
act passed providing for the manage
ment of this institution in all it's de-
tails 1t seems to me. gentlemen that
it would be eminently fair and proper
fair to these trustees who have with
the aid of the State. to be sure. but by
voluntary contributions of between
SIC, 900 and $3:5. 900, by all the labor. the
work and gratuitous services that have
been put into this institution to build
it up from nothing to it's present size
l say it seems to me that 1t would be
eminently fair to those men and wo-
men who have put their time and their
services into this matter. if the State
desired to acquire this property. to do
ii in different way from this.
1t seems to me that there should he
an inquiry into the ACCESSIBILITY of do
ing this by somebody and l would sug-
gest that it would be proper for the
Governor and Council, during the next
two years, to inquire into the advisa-
biity of acquiring this property and
making this purely State institution.
on the same plan as the State Reform |
school: to have the Governor and
Council confer with those trustees and
ascertain whether it is their judgment
that il should be done. and see II they
are willing voluntarily to turn this
property over to the State: to devise a |
plan for the organization and running
of the school as State institution, and
report to the next Legislature.
1t seems To me that in this Way the /
matter could be arranged without anyl
friction and without any feeling on the
part Of these officers of the institution
who have labored so faithfully. that
they are summarily turned down with
out any investigation SO far as they are
without an opportunity to
answer to any criticism and chargesl