Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-30
HOUSE..

Continuation of Fridays SESSION..
On motion of Mr.. Irving of Caribou
report of the committee on appropria-
tions and financial affairs reporting
ought not to pass on resolve to provide
for expense OF examination of candi-
dates for the Cecil John Rhodes schol-
arship, was taken from the table.
Mr.. IRVING of Caribou: Mr.
Speaker, my purpose in tabling the bill
was because l thought that perhaps
the House, and possibly the commit
tee Oh appropriations, We're laboring
under a apprehension as to the
nature and scope of the resolve. The
will of the late Cecil John Rhodes pro-
vided that a sum of $4,000 be given .or
two young men a year from each state,
and the provisions of the will We're
that these two young men should pass
an examination ana be recommended
by commission appointed by the
governor and heads of the educational
department of the state. There are
some forty or fifty applicants in this
State at the present time, and there
will naturally be more or less expense
associated with their examination, and
| submit that they should not serve
at least without their expenses being
paid. Hence, this resolve for 500 to
defray the expense of this commits
sion. 1 do not believe that the State
of Maine can afford to advertise the
plea of poverty which has been made
here to the extent that they are I'M
able or decline to make this appropria-
ton to provide means by which two
young men may have the benefit of
this scholarship at Oxford, England.
We are informed that every other
state in the Union has complied with
the conditions of the will, and it was
the sense of the committee on educa
ton that it was the simple plain duty
Of this State to make this appro-
priation. If you accept the report of
the committee on appropriations you
not only advertise this poverty but you
also prevent and deprive two young
men from this State each year from
enjoying the scholarships. l move
that the resolve be substituted for the
report.
Mr.. PETTENGILL of Rumford: Mr..
Speaker, in regard to the position of
the committee on financial affairs on
this matter, l would say that this is
gift which comes to the State of
Maine from a man in England. If
our State had gifts enough of this kind
and they all took an appropriation to
go with them for all time, the result
might be ruinous. That kind of gifts
is not the desirable kind. AS I I'M
derstand it, whatever We appropriate
runs for all time.
About the matter of the State COM
mission, an appointment on this
commission is an honorary appoint
ment, one year one man is appointed
and another year another man. This
commission will not be the only one
that serves in this State without pay.
We have got several that receive no
pay. regularly appointed by the gov
ernor, positions of honor, and they do
more or less work and do not expect
my pay. - is SO with this commission.
Being a position of honor, ordinarily
you will find those commissioners Will
be either presidents or professors OF
colleges. 1t should be so. 1t seems
to me that it is for the benefit of their
boys; and the committee felt as
though this should be considered as
an honorary appointment with no sal
airy attached to it.
Mr.. IRVING of Caribou: I wish to
saw in reply that while it may be an
honorary position to serve on this COM
mission. | doubt very much if the gen.
tleman from Rumford or any other
members of the House would care to
bear the necessary expense OF long
examination of from eighty to one
hundred applicants for this position. l
do not believe that you can find
commission that is wiling to do so.
Mr.. STEARNS of Millinocket: Mr..
Speaker. it seems to me that when we
have colleges and college presidents
coming to this House and asking FOR
appropriations and when they tell us
what small salaries they are receiving
there is no college president or college
professor that can afford to give us
time and pay his expenses to become
4 member of this commission. 1t
seems to me that it is just and right
that at least the small sum of one hum
dred dollars should be given by this
State to help pay a part of the eX-
nense that would necessarily be in
Cured in the examination of these stu
dents. l understand that there is now
a large number of applicants for these
positions. and it seems to me that the
State of Maine should take a step in
advance instead of going back. l real
ize that our finances are not in as good
a condition as they seemed to be at the
beginning of the session, but at the
same time one hundred dollars each
wear is but small amount, and l
think it will be a matter of justice to
everybody. to the young men and to
the commissioners that we should give
this amount for the expenses Of this
commission.
Mr.. PERKINS of Wilton: I would
asl, If that was a condition of the will
that one hundred dollars should he
paid by the State?
Mr.. IRVING: l will say that the
provision of the will is that the stu
dents shall pass an examination be-
fore a commission.
Mr.. PERKINS Of Wilton: Tt seems to
me that as these candidates must be
good scholars and athletes. and from
some of the colleges of our State, the
professors and teachers of the colleges
should have interest enough in this
matter to give to their alumni a free
examination.
Mr.. CLARKE of Nobleboro: Mr..
Speaker, it occurs to me that this Is
rather a curious situation when we