Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-17

deputy and for that he is to receive Il
! salary Of $500. He does not stop there.
| 1t is a very-I won't say delusive-
| but it is a bill that needs a little con-
| struction. 1t means that they shall
| have clerk hire not to exceed in addi-
ton $1,000. Now, he has got his salary
zip to $4,000; his deputys salary $133o
YOU reckon it-and then he has got
| clerk hire in here again, not to exceed
| $1,000
| Now. he can put two clerks in there,
| ladies that used to be in there, or
| $500 a year-and it is quite good
| sa'ary--if he chooses. And what is
very peculiar about this thing, is thar
| there is not an additional duty to be
| performed to what there was to be
performed 10 years ago-not an addi-
tional duty is imposed upon the sup
erintendent of schools but what exist
| ed when it was $1,000 or $120o-n"t
at least since he has had the $500 =
not an act with which he is burdened
| that he has not always performed. l
| remember in discussing the question
Of assistant attorney general, the at
| torney general said that he should 40
what he could, but they had imposed
| upon him certain extra duties ana lie
needed assistance. No extra dutsaS
! have ever been imposed upon the
| school superintendent, for when ne
asks a deputy today and an increase
| of $500 over the salary Of the clerk.
amounting to $500, and then two
! clerks or one clerk not to exceed $lo"".
/ tell YOU. senators and Mr.. Pr"sl-
! dent. it is quite an expensive depart
! mont thn wav that he has it now and
with tho duties that he has to per
form. There is absolutely $1,000, ana
1880 that he asks for a deputy ana
$1,000 for clerk hire, and 1t makes al
together $500. Now the expenses OF
| = deputy would be over thousand
dollars, and printing over $1,000, ana II
would be about $4,000 that that de-
1artmcnt right underneath US mere
costs.
| do not wish to say anythnG-lndecd
am the last person that would STAND
in the way of progressive education or
in the way of education in any way
| hccausc I have always felt the nccd "l
il. and do now but l do believe that
| thrre is a limit in all of these matters.
We want a great many things that we
|
He may want rot want to do his own
business. He may want someone to do
i. for him. That is the style now.
| But, hero he comes. against what we
all understand to be the rule, and asks
| that his department snail have d new
Office that of a deputy, at an eApcnS"
| of $3.50 a year--because 1T provides IN
| the. bill tor clerk hire at one thousand,
| in addition.
AS | said before, l have no feeling
against the department and would 40
| everything possible, even to voting
money which ] thought was unreason-
| ;,llc. but I think this beyond reason
and there should be Il limit; and l ask
| all the Senators to carefully examine
| that bill as it is drawn, it's operation
and how much 1t is going to cost the
State, ard to ask themselves If they
want to establish a new Office iii that
department.
| MI. kNOWLTON of Fiscataquis: Mr..
| President: 1t seems to me that II ever
| a bill was drawn that shows right on
| line face of it just what it means. this
| bin does. / am reminded of text IN
| scripture chat the WayfarinG man,
though a fool, cannot. err therein 1t
is plain Oh the face of it. There IS no
eat ir the meal. You can see in g no
n-.,"t whether you want to do TINS or
| not.
| IL Senator says that ten years ago
nc was familiar with school matters.
This is the Goth century. The times
| have changed within 10 years IN
| n,rnscly. The assertion was made that
| there were no more duties to be per
formed than there were 10 years agp.
We'll now. Mr. President and Gentle
ncn. L will just read to You briefly
| what Our present State superintendent
| las to do:
He mist receive and taDulatc re
:i,ri.s fro m town and school authOri-
| les Upon the accuracy Of these re
| turns the State diSburses Il million and
Il quarter dollars annually. The e&~
animation Of more than three thousand
returns is involved together with COM
PARSONS with returns OF other years
| ard reDOrtS of towns.
| Has direction Of teachers county m
| ;titries.
Has direction of teachers summer
| cllols, five in number.
| Has charge Of schools III unncorpp-
rated townships. - in number
Has direction Of State examinations
| OF teachers.
! Acts as trustee under the law FOR nine
| different state institutions. "A duty
which should involve personal visits to
the total number Of y each year.
| Irspe ction for approval of the courses
of study over two hundred secondary
schools, high schools and academies
and visitation of those concerning
which complaint of inferior work is
| made.
Tine duty is imposed of giving pub
| lie addresses in the state. Acting I'M
der this direction of the law the super
intcndent addressed IS public meetings
in - different towns and cities.
| Channel for payment OF bils Oh all
school accounts
Called upon to advise school official.
| Teachers and public on matters relating
to school law, plans methods and poll
| CIcS.
Should visit schools of the State 60
| become familiar with conditions. H. one
| year visited the schools of 102 towns.
Other duties specified in law, but i'm