Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-15

wiling but ready to help grant them
the aid they required. Two years ago
Bates came in asking similar legisla-
ton and 1 was only too glad to aid in
50 furtnering the cause of education. I
believe it is the duty of the State and
the citizens Of the State, not only to
maintain common schools and institu-
tons of higher education, but I be-
lieve. with the senator from Andros-
coggin that the time should come when
they should be all maintained and sup
ported by the State. I am not SO mar
row or biased but l would include them
all in the arms of the State and it
should be her duty to foster and sup
port them. | hope the amendment OF
the senator from AndroscOggin will
not prevail and l hope that the Senate
will pass, in concurrence with the
House the majority report with the bill
as amended by Amendments GA" and
"E."
Nj. PHILOON: I desire to say as a
matter Of personal interest that l be-
lieyc this should be absolutely unbiased,
out it has been my pleasure to Sradu-
ate q son from the University of Maine
and another from Bowdoin College and
the one who is graduated from the Uni
yorsity of Maine is proud of his alma
mater and he writes me that many
others vino have graduated from that
institution desire me to use my utmost
IN .leayors, to give literally to the Uni
yersitv of Maine for the legitimate
work of that school.
NJ. l;Iri, 81 Franklin: ny. Prcs'-
dent. it Was only few weeks ago
mat the Cu,nmiItCc on education that
vo,, amounted on the part of the Sen
ate and seven on the part OF thh
ifousc had Il hearing in the House of
REPRESENTATIVES, ana ut that tini"
heard both sides in regard to the neec@
of the University Of Maine. After
that hearing your committee upon the
invitation OF the President went to
0ron0 to look Over the buildings and
find out for themselves the actual con-
ditions that now exist and the actual
rec Dis Of the university
All the committee Were of The opinion
that a heating plant vas most needed,
and next in Importance was an 2%ricui-
tural building placed in a conspicuous
place to impress upon trustees, in
structOrS and students that 1t is Il col
leSe founded to teach agriculture and
the mechanic arts. building large
enough and fine enough so that thOS1
who run might read the purpose Of
the State The original purpose of the
State has been lost sight OF. The trj;s-
toes Rave added courses OF study to
compete with the older colleges thar
have to nav their own expenses and
ask the state Of Maine to pay the OK
,r ~ ct fIIDt
have created without the authority of
the State.
DO you think. Mr.. President. that tho
state Of Maine would have established
it. or voted a dollar for it's support. If
at the time Of its foundation il had
been the declared intention to do the
work Of the older COLLEGES. 1t was
founded. ana wisely founded. to teach
agriculture and the mechanic aIts
For years il remained true to it's mis-
Sion, ami would h., obliged to be true
10 that mission today had the trustees
honestly stated their Interior" motives
at the time the nano was change !!
Shall we today lie q party to m in
Justice to the oil and honorable col
ltgeS Of lie state. and tn the taEpav-
ers of the state in order to gratif,%
the ambition OF ueiftnin gentlemen ~
preside over. or give instructor in, q
university rather jiian in a college?
the State has been generous TO its col
lc2e compared with what Il has don
for its other institutions. ii warts II
be generous now in providing what il
itself asks for. And for one, NJ.
President. resent the charge SO fire.
Gucntly made l.ere by the lobby in tho
interest Of the 4. OF NJ. that all thuSn
who refuse TO support the excessive
demands made by that institution are
unf-icndly to it. OF the contrary I
clam that they are its truest friends.
It is likely. Mr. President, that the
plans of an ambitious university preg-
idcnt are wholly unselGsh" A,c We -
SUPPOSE that he can justly decide DO
tween tho things he wants and those
that are due to older institutions?
III the discussion of this question
there are four points made that seem
to ne to De Of great imnortance:
/. 1t is claimed that the course Lead
ing to the \. Il. degree is not needed
to enable the institution to 90 its rest
Work. In fait men of gooi cduca-
tioNal judgment and experience believe
that such q course wcakens the lrgi-
tlnlate work of the institution, and
point to tho division of work in Mass
achusctts where oven the work in
agriculture and tie work in the mo
chanic arts are senaratc and done in
different institutions.
=. The work is already too cyrensivc
costing new. as has been shown, about
$t3.Hj0 4 year. ANA will cost much more
when fully developed. Even then it
will he only 4 side Issue to the main
Wcrk Of the uniy crsity, and can he only
that.
.. Il is unjust to the other colleges
who have Leon doing tic A. +. work
50 long and faithfully. ami presumably
have been doing il Better than trc
nov institution is doing it. especially
since every one of these colleges *
running behind financially every year
tonpc tltion on The Part of schools, like
competition in trade. may become ruin
Gus. Grant these excessive demands
If the L. OF NJ. ana we shall conpel
the other colleges in self-dcfenca to
come here and ask for appropriations
for the work. and for one | cannot see