Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-02-22

city OF Portland has IA 400 scholars ana
receives from the State from that
schooi fund $36.59l .6S and pays a state
tax OF Sl29.O54.66. or four times as much
as II receives. l have a list of the rest
OF the cities. ] have a list of the towns
ana Plantations, giving the number of
scholars and the amount OF tho school
fund that they receive and the amount
of the State tax they nav. Deer Isle
mas it6 scholars. 1t receives Sle3- 10 of
the school fund and mill tax for adu-
cauona purposes in its town and il
pays S9S915 of State tax. Fort Kent
mas Has scholars. 1t receives $2906 %
and pays $540., tax. 1t receives back
more than five times of the whole state
tax II pays. Stonington has 564 schol-
ars. 1t receives $l43624 and il paws in
State tax S54S99. These are extreme
cases. In the county of Androscoggin
no town receives more money of the
school fund or mill tax than il nav
State tax. In Aroostook G6 towns and
plantations receive more money than
they pay in State tax. Cumberland in
Two towns receives more money than
1T pays in State tax. In Franklin II
towns and plantations receive more In
Hancock &c towns receive more money
than they pay in State tax. Kennebe,
,. Knox 6. Lincoln >. oxford s. Penob-
scot 81. PiScataquis 10. Sagadahoc /.
SomrSet 10. Waldo !. Washington A.
and in York no towns receive more
money than they pay State tax. | 40
not think it Will be profitable for the
Senate to go into an exhibition of the
unfairneSs of the distribution Some
distribution must be made Education
nj facilities must be provided for the
boys ana girls of the State. but | do
not think we shall reach amy profitable
result il we begin to criticize the dis
tribution of the tax at the present time
Mr.. MCFADDEN Of Lincoln: The
distribution. MIR. President which the
senator refers to is made upon basis
that is universal through the State.
that is the number Of scholars. ana it
is made for the purpose of giving the
scholars Of this state an equal chance
in the way of education. In chat light
il is fair and equal.
Mr.. PLUMMER Of PenoDscut: Mr.
President. | do not think the matter
brought into this discussion by my
friend from Cumberland is really ger
maine to the bill. 1t is interesting as
general dissertation on the subject
Of education in the State of Maine. My
friend from Lincoln criticized section
three Of this bill, ana | wish for hi>
information ana consideration to read
a little from section one where ii says
and provided that the amount paid by
the State to any academy under this
act shall be expended by the said aca-
denny for instruction during the year
for which payment is made; ANA shall
not exceed the total income Of said
academy from all other sources. That
was put in there in order that the town
in which the academy WAS located
might be required. in case the academy
as in the case with a large majority
Of the academies Of the state was not
fortunate enough to have an income
from invested funds. to 10 something
towards the support Of that academy in
order to secure this appropriation from
the State: ana as provided by that sec
ton. a portion of which | have read
They are obliged in some way to find
a sum to be used for the purposes Of
that academy from some source OF
other, either to be paid out Of their
rockets or to be paid in some way
equal to the amount which they receive
from the State Then We felt that
there might be in outlying towns which
were too small or too poor to support
a free High school, boys ard girls that
would like to take advantage of the on
portunties and privileges Of this aca-
denny in a central town. but who would
not be able to do 50. and in order to
encourage them ana give them som'
assistance in obtaining this higher sec
ondary education we made the provi-
sions Of section three, that amy town
or precinct providing free tuition for
its High school scholars in any AGA
denny shall receive state aid to the
amount of one-half of the sum eXpend-
81 for such inStructiOn-So that if those
outlying towns saw fit to take up TN.
matter ana provide for school lol
their advanced pupils in these dcaden-
les. the state would reimburse them
to The extent of one-half of the amount
thus provided: and we believe this is IN
III. right direction. We believe this -
II the interest Of wider dissemina-
ion of the advantages Of advanced
school privileges on the part Of the
| State ana that il should Dc encouf-
| Ig-d; and to mymind that IS on u
he best sections in this Dill. mop"
Kat til. criticism Of my friend from
Lincoln viii not find lodgment in the
minds of the Senate. | believe ne NJ"
made no motion with reference 70 this
| section.
The PRESIDENT: The senator from
| lincoln has offered an amendment 70
strike 0ut the third section Of the phi.
Mr.. PLJ-MMEI;: 7 hope then by All
| means that the amendment Will not
| rleVail.
| Mr. MCFADDEN Of Lincoln: Mn
! rr side,lt. agree fully with the sentl-
| nents of the senator from Penobscol
| .elative to other towns than those 1T
| which the institution is situated II
| thew provide free tuition. having no
| 'rec High school or other institution
| where their scholars can be accommo-
| lated. I agree with him fully upon that
| ,oint-that the State should in equity
| provide and pay one-half; and | as
| knowledge, too. in this class meeting
| hat | did not fully comprehend the
| provision in the first section when ne
| las EXPLAINED. | have been 50 busy
| with other things that | had not Slud-
| ed the act as much as | ought TO nave
| lone Considering this, and as nov
| understand, | withdraw the amend
| ment.