The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1901-01-03
GOVERNOR JOHN F. HILL

meet legitimate and necessary demands
1 unon the treasury and to provide for the
pavment OF existing temporary loans.
makes some action on your part mpera.
| tive.
Under our present system the farmer.
| often handl"anned by nnfavorable candi,
! lions the merchant, with his capital in
! vested In his stock of goods the mechanic
and laborer. striving to. pay for their
/ homes and the owner of every form of
/ visible nronPrty. already bear too great a
share Of the public burdens. An Increase in
the rate of the State tax, therefore, cannot
! be considered but other forms of proper.
| ~ now escaping TAXATION altogether or
| naving only a part or what they
| should justly and enultablv bear must
be REQUIRED to contribute their fair pro.
norton of the cost Of supporting our gov
prrmput whose manifold advantages are
shared bv all and whose existence not only
ma'es the ownership of propertv possible.
hn' "ives Dermanence and security to its
roali7lnc your earnest desire to do ev.
ervthlre In vour power to promote the
common welfare. I present this imnortant
/ subject wnl knowing that your determi-
ration TO do your full DUTY will lead You to
give II Won" early and earnest attention
I am confident that every interest lndi-
vidual as well as corporate will be dealt
with fairly and Justly. and that as a re-
suit Of your deliberations. You will formu-
late some LEGISLATION TO more nearly equal
liens.
It is not rrohsble TINT Won viii be able
to frame measures that will be wholly
above criticism. No system of taxation has
ever yet been devised that realized the
ideal by bearing with absolute equity upon
all classes Of property. This fact, how
ever VIII not deter you from doing every
thing In your power to attain SO desirable
result.
Appropriations.
The people confidently expect that the
promise OF economy in public expenditures
VIII be fulfilled and the party which has
been entrusted with the management of
State AFFAIRS Will be held strictly RESPONSE
Bile for any excessive or unwise appropria-
tons. 1t Is for you to determine what sums
ments of the various State departments
ana institutions. and what aid shall be
given to such other objects as, In your
Judgment, should receive legislative assist
Anee and encouragement. Not a dollar more
than Is required for the efficient admins
tratlon Of the public service should be APP
proDriated.
These various matters, .I am persuaded,
VIII receive your most earnest considera-
tion. While there Is no call for parsimony.
am confident that you will always e1er-
Else your judgment. fearlessly and consci-
entiously. In the expenditure of the peo-
pies money. and that you will refuse to
grant needless or unwlse appropriations as
uhhesitating'y as you Will vote. them to
Education.
The report of the Superintendent OF Pub
lie SCHOOLS shows a constant and crafty
ing advancement In our educational inter
ests; The total amount of the State school
fund and mill tax for the current year was
S52O,Ol9; the amount of school money
raised by the towns was $SlS,001 ; total
of $1,33S.02O available for the support of
the common schools as compared with
S91O,523 for the same purpose In 1890 an
r y q n
per cent
The Normal Schools are doing most ex
cellent work. and the Importance ~ hav
Ing. teachers thoroughly Instructed and
trained In their duties is being recognized
by all. About thirty per cent of our
teachers are Normal School graduates.
There are 722 school children in thirty
three unorGanlzed townships. for whom
schools are maintained as provided by the
STATUES nes at cost during the past year;
from the State Appropriation. s9G956 was
interest on land reserved. and $4,000 the
per capita tax.
The pupils In these schools range from
five to twenty-one years OF age. and, In
several Instances. married men and women
have taken advantage Of the opportunities
thus offered to obtain an education.
1t Is unnecessary for me to call your at
tention to the important work being done
by such schools. But for their existence,
many Of the children now enjoying their
advantages would grow up In ignorance
and a much larger per cent OF them would
ultimately become a public charge. The
furnishing of such instruction Is In har-
mony with the established policy II the
State 10 provide school privileges for all
As rule. the people are anxious to have
the schools established. the children are
prompt and regular In their attendance
and apply themselves with great Industry
TO their tasks, The good work which Is be
Ing done by the schools OF this class should
be extended and made more efficient II the
State Is to do Its duty to that portion Of
citizens dpDPUdpnt cd
tlona advantages
The special appropriations made for the
academies and seminarles lapse with the
present year and II these appropriations
are to De continued, | am inclined to the
opinion that they should be made perma-
nent, under certain definite restrictions.
Under existing circumstances, school
having Jealous and skillful advocate In
the Legislature may be able to secure d
liberal appropriation In excess of Its actual
requirements while another, equally wor-
thy but less fortunate, must be content
with comparatively small amount. The
grade of the school maintained and the
number OF pupils receiving instruction
should always be considered. and | doubt
the wisdom OF assisting In maintaining an
academy In section of the State where
high schools Of high grade are provided.
any of these academies to use the amount
appropriated In increasing their endow
ment, instead OF providing more and better
instruction to the pupils who attend them
appropriated for such institutions be taken
from the fund provided for the common
schools.
1t is exceedingly gratifying that so strong
an interest Is being manifested In the pub
lie schools. The children, teachers and pa
rents are assisting In improving and en-
larging school grounds. beautlfying school
rooms and providing books of art and
standard literature.
The work accomplished along these lines
has been very extensive and gratifying 1t
stimulated general n
the schools, promoted harmony In manage.
ment, and resulted in much better work
being done by all concerned.
The teachers institutes and summer
schools have not only improved the gen
eral character of the instruction In our
State, but to an extent that was not an
tcipated, have stimulated teachers TO at
tend our higher Institutions of learning.
and thus enabled them to acquire the
scholarly attachments necessary to the
highest success In their calling.