Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-27
Afternoon Session.

Afternoon Session.
Unfinished business: An Act relat-
1 ,ne TO the common school fund and the
/ means for providing for and distribute
Ing the same
Mr.. STANLEY of Porter: Mr.. Speak
er, the bill provides for tax of one
and one-half mills which shall be
known as tax for the support of COM
mon schools. Now if it is necessary for
the support of our common schools
Il that we raise one and onc-half more
mills, l am heartily in favor of this
BILL but would not be in favor of a
bill If the only object of it is that it
shall be used as a weapon against the
wild lands or against the city of Port
land or any other of the interests of
the State; but | take it for granted
that the common schools do need
mill and half or some sum perhaps
approxlmating that for the support of
the schools. Now / object to the distri-
hntion of this school money on the ba
sis of property. I object to it not only
from the standpoint of a representative
from the small towns. but 1 should OBJ
feet to it from "a broader standpoint.
HUH tilt StdHupDlllt vi IL CiliLcli vi tAi'
State of Maine. The State of Maine has
many resources from which to draw
support, it has the wild lands about
which so much has been said, has her
valuable water power. it has her long
lire Of seashore with the many islands
along the coast. and all those things
which attract thousands of visitors tc
our State. But the gentlemen of this
House must admit that the most val
liable resource which the State OF
Maine has today are the boys and girls
of the State of Maine. (ApplauseO
And gentlemen. the State of Maine
claims the right to educate your chill
dren and my children. no matter what
We may say in regard to the matter,
and while they claim it is right they
also recognize the fact that 1T IS their
duty to provide for the education OF
the boys and of the girls: and knowing
that the State of Maine takes this pO-
sition in regard to the education OF
the children, believe whatever money
is raised from whatever source, that 1t
Is the duty of the state of Maine to dls-
tribute it so that the boys and girls
In the small town should receive the
same educational advantages as the
children in the large municipalities OF
our State
Now It seems to me this matter figures
down to- Just this: If this money is to be
known as the common school fund of the
State of Maine, the proposition comes like
mis-: Is this common school fund Oh
Maine to educate the property holders OIL
the State or is it to educate the Dogs
and girls of the State? And believing as
DO that the latter proposition is true
mat the main object of it is to educate
the boys and girls of the State, | believe
mat any distribution except distrlbn-
ion according to the number of scholars
no matter in what part of the State thev
may be located. and whether it is uncon-
A'tutional or not l don't know, but pc
ileve that it is unjust and unfair to dis
tribute 1t in any other manner; and 1
should object to it upon that ground.
The question has been raised that If we
only raised one-half 4 mill we are not
gong to get money enough out OF the
wild lands. I believe that we can use TO
advantage more than half mill for COM
mon school purposes, and l would ike
10 see the bill amended SO it would READ
one mill and that in the distribution OF
the one Mill the whole of the tax should
Ne made according to the number OF
@holars instead OF according to the prop
erty. ApplauseD
Mr. HERSEY Of Houlton: Mr.. Speak
er' have 4 great deal of confidence IN
'.i'e committee that has spent so m"ch
t'me and labor in reporting this bill. ana
was much impressed with the remarks
the gentleman from Waterville TINS
morning in his explanation of this DILL
ana l think that on the whole his COM
Mittee has arrived at the right coneiu-
s'on have no interests to conflict Will
NY opinion and 1 am stating my oplhlo"
as one who has no selfish purpose Ill
view. think this bill is as near just ana
Suitable as we can get it. 1t is impos-
siole to get a bill that is ideal. we want
~ reach the ideal as near as we "a"
ana do Justice to the whole State. his
VII Is one relating to the common schooi
iand of Maine and the means Tor pro-
uding for and distributing the same. 1
.ake it for granted that in the first place
me manner of assessing this tax Is tne
same process. the same method. winch
ooth sides here agree upon. In othef
words, the committee advocates that
.ax Of one and one-half mills on doliar
N raised for the common school 1uno.
Here is another committee, called, as
understand, the Grange committee. wnich
tovocates a lesser amount to be assess