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

statement. i aprTeneEu, soeIdtofS, tHh@
the deputy. Mr.. Smith himself, visit
ing these schools, would discover that
they were not proper recipients OF State
aid. 1t provides for man, employed
by the State. to go out and see that the
States money is properly expended.
We are wasting money today. No priv
ate corporation. Mr.. President. would
think of sending the amount or money
we do with no inspections, but upon the
reports which come in. 1t would be like
Il manufacturer sending out a lot of men
and taking their report for whether or
not they had done their duty.
1t seems to me that there is nothing
more Just than this. The State Superin-
tendent does receive $500 / am aware,
but that was established before Mr..
Smith was appointed, and as to the
amount of work done in that office, any
Senator here can satisfy himself that it
is immense Go down there any day
or any hour of the day and you will
find them exceedingly busy; and these
schools ought to be visited.
Two years ago / advocated State
Board of Education for the simple rea-
son that this work mi ght be done. Mas
sachuSettS knows something about edu-
cation and how to get it: and that State
has State Board of Education, and
there are deputies that go out over the
State of Massachusetts. / taught there
once. and one night Il gentleman called
at my door and came in. and we had a
pleasant time until | found out who he
was. He was Il deputy from the depart
mcnt and the next day he came into my
school and examined my classes, went
to the trustees and examined Their.
books, and when he left he knew pre-
cisely whether that school was one that
should properly receive State aid.
am certainly opposed to raising one
dollar of money here this winter that is
not necessary; but | certainly feel that
it would be very unwise policy for the
State of Maine to spend the amount of
money that it does Il day upon these
educational matters and not personally
discover whether or not that money was
properly paid; and there are no other
sources from which to do so excepting
the reports. And | ask if YOU gentle
men would be satisfied to have Il mil
lion of dollars of yours scattered all
over the State in business, and you
know nothing about it except what the
agents themselves might sent in to you
in the way Of reports. l appeal to the
Senators to look at this carefully and TO
say if they are ready today to deprive
the State of Maine of aid. and she Ger
tainly is in need of it, for the taking
care of her money and in taking care
carefully of the best products she has
in this wide world. her boy:; and her
girls.
Gentlemen. I am not talking about
something ! am not acquainted with
My life has be spent with the boys and
the girls. and in these very schools that
| mention. ! taught Il school once that
got $500 from the State for the three
years before I was there, and while I
was there it did not receive $500 from
the State and the year after I left it did
Some of you might possibly have in
your mind the fact that it was on ac-
count of my being there. IT was be-
cause l would not certify that certain
things were true which We're not true
1t is 4 matter of economy. Gentlemen
and do hope that this resolve will pass
and that We may put our State in a
condition so that she may know where
of she has and how she stands on the
books of her finances
Mr.. HAMILTON: Mr. President:
The Honorable Senator from Piscataouis
mas read lot of duties assigned to the
superintendent of Schools. We pay him
$4,000 yea" to discharge those duties
winch he has read They are the same
duties which are set down in the Re-
FlS"d Statutes. and none have been add
ed to them since this man was appoint
ed, Just as I stated before
Tbs bill does not carry any additionn,
duties. We expect. for $4,000 that the
schools are to be inspected by this man
We expect some work from him. He
IS getting more than any farmer is
worth in my town today-more money
three thousand dollars a year and his
expenses; and he ought to work. He
should do just what the statutes require
H'ih 10 Go. and no more: and there is
not thing in that bill which I said is
l"cuilar' which imposes any duty on
ilIm except what is imposed by the Re
visrd Statutes. No new duty has been
imposed upon this man since the SALARY
was raised from $500 to $500. and to-
Gay nc is asking you for those same
duties. fifteen hundred dollars more.
submit il to you. if it is not creating
y new officer To do the duties which tho
statute imposes upon him. and paws him
S""co year to do. You give him $;
ne" officer to do it, ana forsoo.h. he can
SIT down here in his office and have
somebody do it,
Now. that IS not true education
mat Ism progress. 1t is progress back
ward DO not know Of anyone in any
department in this State House that re
cciveS $4,000 salary for the pcrform,,co
~ 'heir duties. If he performs his d,,-
''e" ne Will do just what the Senator
from PlScataquis describes as his du-
:" anu W" arc not paying him to
''afel around the State to the churches
una everything elSe--not BY anv man
"ef Oh means. 1t is for him to atto,d
" the duties which the Statute nre-
H'rlp'S' and lie can do it. and MOI nIoce
an additional man in his place AT nm al
ditional $500
l will call your attention ay,i, !,
.h'' "h-t" the way it is drawn He
= !" nave Sl5" for what?-to do tbo
un'ica which the statute rc,u,ires ,,r
Ii!it. It has btnn tn,