Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-05-11

Gardiner paying the full amount Of
the increase, which was very generous
on the part of the Farmingdale Com
mittee.
mo notice was sent to our treasurer
Of the amount our city was expected
to pay, and no record Of any change
in the relative amount of service to
be given by the superintendent to
the schools of Gardiner to make up for
the increased amount, that Gardiner
was to pay.
IF. as 7 suppose they had at some
Of their annual meetings. determined
the amount Of service to be given
each town, and If the proportion then
fixed between Gardiner and Farming
dale Of 500 to $500 was fair. the pres
ent arrangement of $3.50 to $3.50 Is
manifestly unjust. The Committee
say that the fact that we do not In
crease the superintendent salary is
an unwarrantable reflection upon MIN,
who is acknowledged to be one OF the
leading educators in the state OF
whose efficiency the schools of Gardi-
ner give decisive evidence. I don's
see why this is SO. Every city should
hire as cheaply as possible ana the
committee have never to my knowl-
edge advanced the argument that We
were in any danger Of losing our pres
ent superintendent by reason OF any
better offers made by any other city
for his services. The only reason FOR
granting the increase was that the
committee pesonally would like to
have it. In regard to his being one
of the leading educators, 1 can only
point to results; in 1911 under our
former superintendent the average Of
failure in the high school was II 81
per cent: in 1912 under the present
superintendent they were y per cent
and in 1913 they were "a ga per
cent. Now while the amount Of the
increase is insignificant, the principle
is of vast importance. involving as It
does the question of whether the
heads of the various departments can
expend any sum they see fit without
regard to the amount Of their appro-
priation. We all recognize the tact
that the school committee give very
generously of their time without any
compensation whatever, and the re-
suits of their painstaking efforts are
shown in the added Improvements of
our schools. And while there has
been no disposition on the part Of any
member of the Council to interfere
with. or criticize in any way, their
management of the schools, feel sure
that we, who are in direct touch with
the taxpayers. should be the judge OF
the amount of their expenditures and
if this matter cannot be agreeably ad-
justed."
Hon. c. W. Heselton questioned the
MAYOR sharply as to the manner in
which the increase in the salary was
paid and the mayor acknowledged that
it had got by through error in his de-
partment.
Major Berry's Order
Major Berry said ne desired that
there be no misunderstanding in the
minds of those present regarding the
feeling of the council toward the
schools. thes superintendent and the
appropriation for manual training. He
likened the city council to the pa
rents of family as best knowing the
financial condition of the city and told
why the $1,000 asked for could not be
raised by direct taxation and offered
an order calling for the sum of $1,000 to
be taken from the surplus and ex-
pended for manual training for 1915.
The order passed unanimously amid
applause.
Regarding Sewers
A petition for sewer on Middle
street was asked for and on motion of
Alderman Berry the city engineer was
requested to furnish an estimate for
the construction of sewers on Middle,
Pope, Fremont and Spruce streets.
Band Gets 500
Final passage was given the order
granting 800 to Hazard Band for
municipal concerts. E. X. McIntire was
given a permit to sell fireworks from
July l to July 4.
Hon. G. w. Heselton re-opened the
question Of the salary of the superin-
facts be presented to some competent
authority and abide thereby. Alderman
Moves presented the following order
which received passage:
The Order Passed
That the mayor for the city coun-
Gil, and ]. NJ. L. Bates. on the part of
the school committee, in conjunction
with the city solicitor, make up a
statement of facts relating to the in
crease of salary of the city superin-
tendent of schools and the items of
expenditure for clerical hire for the su
perintendent and submit this statement
Of facts to Hon. w. P. Whitehouse and
Hon. c. F. Johnson Of Waterville for
their opinion as to the legality of the
same. and the liability of the city to
pay the same, and further to obtain
from the same an Interpretation of the
duties Of the school committee under
the city charter and the status as
they now exist"