The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1913-02-20

Bu0yed up by assurances from All
sides that the 10th Legislature will
/, pass bill granting equal suffrage, the
patient, tireless workers for the cause
again descended upon the capitol to
! plead for equal rights.
The hearing was held before the
committee on judiciary in the hall of
representatives. Nearly 1000 persons
made up the audience, the chairs be-
ing given up to the women-a Yisional
forecast perhaps, of a not far dis
tant session.
Summed up fairly. the women suf-
FRANCE speakers were concise, logical,
eloquent they should intimate know
and, as Chairman (pro tenn Hersey
said, they stuck to the point. They
told volumes of truth about misgov
eminent, political degradation and i'm
moral conditions growing out of these
that shows plainly where their
strength will be first felt when they
DDldlU lHe DdllOl.
In compliment to Senator Jersey Of
Aroostook, who is an ardent adyo-
cate of womens suffrage, Senator
Stearns yielded the chair to him
amidst applause from the large crowd
that thronged the Hall of Representa-
tives, where the hearing was held.
al nc Of ATainn
interested and senators and House
members, who were not engaged 9th
erwise, were in attendance.
Among the speakers were George II.
Allen, Mrs. l.. NJ. N. Stevens, Miss
Helen n. Bates, Mrs. G. F. French, c.
s. Stetson, Mrs. Deborah X. Livings-
ton and Mrs Effie Lambert Lawrence.
Mrs. Lawrence introduced in her
witty speech the following toast:
Here's to thee and thy folks, from
me and my folks, and here is hoping
that If thee and thy folks ever come
before me and my folks, asking justice
for thee and thy folks that me and my
thy folks as thee and thy folks have
been to me and my folks And here Is
further hoping that when thee and thy
folks consider this plea from me and
my folks, that thee and thy folks will
be as just to me and my folks as thee
and thy folks know me and my folks
would be to thee and thy folks
Earnestly supported by leading edu-
Gators, business and professional men
from northern Maine to southern
Rhode Island, the bill to increase the
efficiency of the public schools OF
Maine by retiring teachers of long
service with pensions was before the
committee on education in the hall of
representatives Thursday afternoon.
Among these speakers were State
/ Superintendent Payson Smith; Farms
worth g. Marshall, superintendent of
Augusta schools and chairman of the
special committee on teachers pen
sions of the Maine Teachers Associa-
ton; DeForest II. Perkins, superin-
tendent of Portland schools; Harry NJ.
Bigelow. editor of the Portland Press;
Judge w X Newell of Lewiston; y.
T. Hooper of Portland, president of the
Portland Merchants Association and
Walter r. Ranger of Providence, r. l.,
commissioner of education in Rhode
Island.
The State superintendent closed his
address to the committee in the fol-
lowing words
The teachers pension proposed by
this bill will at comparatively small
cost give to the teachers of our State
a degree of assurance and protection
that it is beyond my words to express.
1t will help to insure to the children
of our State better teaching and it
will put our own commonwealth in line
with the most progressive states of the
Union in a movement which sooner or
later will have general recognition
everywhere as it now has throughout
our civilized Europe and in the lead
ing educational centers of our own
land"
superintendent Marshall summed up
the bill as follows:
THE provisions of the present pen
sion bill are such as have been con-
sidered fair and reasonable by those
among the superintendent and teach
ers who have made a careful study
of pension legislation. Nothing ex-
detrimental or unusual is included
within the bill, it being the object to
present a reasonable, working bill. not
excessive in cost to the State and one
that will give relief to those teachers
among you who have most suffered
from low salaries after long years of
arduous labor in the schools
Mayor Oakley C. Curtis of Portland
got his chance before the coal COM
mittee" in the Senate chamber, Thurs
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