Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-01

committee on education, reporting re-
solve in favor of the University of
Maine and bill to provide an annual
appropriation. fought to pass blouse
Docs. Nos. 3O4-3O3)
Mr.. DAVIES of Yarmouth: Mr..
Speaker, wish to object to the accept
ance of House Document 304, the ma
jority report of the committee. 1 regret
very much that parliamentary proceed
ure is so rigid and firm that it became
impossible to get before this House the
question of the A. B. degree and its
advantages to the University of Maine
without putting the motion in the form
in which | have made It. desire. how
ever. to have it distinctly understood
at the outset that the first question in
his controversy is the question of the r.
A. degree. The trustees of the Univer-
Sity have given to our care this matter
keenly do | feel my inability to present
TO this House the circumstances i'll con-
nection with thar University that you
may understand its needs and necessi-
ties. | congratulate the inhabitants of
the State of Maine in being committed
to the policy of State University. I
congratulate the members of the BIRD
Legislature on this opportunity of reg
istering their approval of the policy
which has thus far been carried into
effect and the policy which has been
laid out for the future. | congratulate
myself on having this occasion given
to me to present. so far as I can within
my rover the rea> OnS why | believe we
should support that university in its
work.
The bill as originally presented pro-
weed for the support of that institu-
ton by the mill tax. Perhaps il may
be true that some of the over Jealous
friends of the university have rather
Suaged its necessities from the stand
point of the taxpayers of the State at
rather too large I; figure. Nevertheless
you will please bear in mind at this
particular time that the matter for our
discussion Is the matter of the 4. Is.
degree; and | will ask you to look with
me moment upon the history of the
University from its inception examine
the act from which it gets its power.
ana also see Wha- SUBSEQUENT Legisla-
lures have done and various commit
tees which have operated under their
direction The Morrill, Act. from which
the University came into existence, was
an act donating public lands to the
several states and territories which
may provide colleges for the benefit of
agriculture and the mechanic arts
through the sale of lands apportione1
10 each state. a perpetual fund, ''tha
interest Of which, as the fourth section
oil the Act provided. "shall be inyioI-
ably appropriated by each state which
may take and claim the benefit Of this
act, to the endowment Support and
maintenance Of at least once college
where the leading object shall be'-now
please mark the next words-''with0ut
excluding other scientific and classical
studies" Can there be any doubt in an
unprecedented mind as to lust what
those Worus may meanr without ex-
Guiding ether scientific and classical
studies and including military tactics.
10 teach such branches of learning as
are related to agriculture and the me-
chenic arts. in such manner as. the I er-
lSldtureS or the states may Respectfully
prescribe. in order to promote the liner
al and practical education of the in
iGStr!1l classes in the several pursuits
and professions in life" Can there III.
the least doubt as to the meaning of
that in the minds of any unprecedented
person here?
Now, to go one step farther, as to
what the intention and province of tho
university may be- In the year 1S65 the
Legislature of Maine passed this act:
me trustees shall appoint such direc-
tors, professors, lecturers and teachers
in the college and appoint such other
persons therein from time to time as
ne means that are at their command
may permit in the Accomplishment of
the objects enumerated" What fur
ther? And shall enlarge and improve
the same whenever it becomes practi-
cable. Is there any doubt in the minds,
of any unprecedented person here as TO
what that means? / will ask Won
10 bear in mind also that this
objection to the policy of the Uni
versity Of Maine has practically all
emanated from the same source. or the
same sources since it first sprang into
lite. VIII you kindly bear that fact in
| mind. Now as to the original policy OF
the other colleges i'll the State Of Maine
along this line, you will permit me tC
present these facts. In 1862 Bates Col.
lege. then the Maine State Seminary
made an attempt to establish an agri-
cultural school in connection with that
| Institution, and at that time the Bates
| authorities did not disapprove of hav-
| ing the courses Of the liberal arts
taught in the agricultural school. That
was in 1852. When the congressional
| land grant was accepted by the Leeis-
| lature of 1863 the authorities of Colby
| then Waterville College. asked to have
| Its name changed to Watervillc Univer-
aity and Agricultural School. There
| could hardly under those circumstances
| have been any objection on the part OF
either Of those institutions at that pc.
Rod at least, to object to the matter
| Of the 3. a. degree. Further. the Leg
| islature of 1854 provided for the ap.
| pointment Of a commission which re.
| ported to the Legislature Of 1866 in ia.
| vor Of the acceptance Of a proposition
| from Bowdoin College that the lanC
| grant be turned over to it, and agreed
to establish IA one-year course of study
| which met the conception of the au
| thOrities of that institution of the re-
quirements of the act for a liberal anC