Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-09
EDUCATION
Bill for Distribution of the Public
School Fund of the State

distribution of the public school fund of
the State on the basis of the aggregate
attendance of pupils in the public schools
in the cities and towns of the State
brought a large number of people to the
State House yesterday afternoon. An
array of figures was presented by va
rious speakers, while the bill was dis
cussed with earnestness by persons who
appeared for and against the measure.
G. o. burlington, lecturer of the Maine
State Grange, conducted the case for the
proponents, while Hon. Edward w.
Wheeler of Brunswick outlined the OPP
position and introduced the various
speakers.
Mr. Purington spoke of the present dis
tribution of the school fund on the basis
of two-thirds according to the school ceh-
sus, and one-third according to the valu-
alton of the municipalities. He present
ed statistics which he stated showed the
inequalities of the present method, to
10 cities and towns of the State as an
illustration of the application of the law.
He stated that according to the 1915 fig
ures the number of pupils registered in
the public common schools was 133036
and that the amount received from the
State was $1.525, 062.77. or an average of
sl1.46 for each child in school. The figures
which he presented for the 10 cities and
towns referred to showed that the
amounts received per child in school was
s17.42 in Portland, s23.4 in Lewiston, sl5.61
in Auburn, Biddeford, $26.97; Augusta,
SELL; Bangor, s14S7; Westbrook, s11.01;
Watervlle, s1504; Eden, s17.0S; Sanford.
S16.9S. He stated that the 10 cities and
towns received 30.5 per cent of the State
funds, although they have registered in
the common schools only 1913 per cent.
of the pupils. He compared these figures
with those of II smaller towns in the
State which received Sc, 81 and IS per
child in school. He also cited instances
of towns which are receiving nothing
from the state fund. He stated that he
was present TO ask that the State tax be
increased but that it be made a school
fund in fact.
Mr.. Purington stated that the wealthy
municipalities were represented by
those who would oppose and he point
cd out that the cities have more prop
erty which is escaping taxation than
have the country towns, which are
finding it Il burden TO raise for schooi
and other purposes the money needed.
He stated that Of the $50 cities and
towns 357 would be benefited.
w. ]. Thompson reviewed the history
Of the mill tax for the support OF
schools from the State treasury, dating
from 1872 He stated that it would take
from the wealthy community and give
to the poor country towns which need
assistance.
c. c. Trttle. superintendent of
schools of Brownfield, presented vari-
Gus tables Of figures tending to show
the unequal distribution Of school funds
from the State. He said that in the
state there are $4,000 school children
in towns receiving above the average,
and $4,000 in the towns receiving below
the average amount received per town.
Mr. Wheeler in opening stated that
it was not a school act, but tax pure
and simple Wild lands We're taxed
and the question: of how to distribute
the tax was tier taken up. 1t was de-
cided to devote it to the schools. He
pointed out that if a change is made
in the present law it would disorgan-
ize the system of finance of every city
and town.
At this point Mr.. Wheeler presented
Harry w. Bigelow, managing editor of
the Portland Daily Press. who was a
member Of the Legislature at the time
the law taxing wild lands was adopt
ed.
Mr. Bigelow Of Portland, who was a
member of the Legislature Of 1909, ap-
Il &In NIT nd .tot =
ed that the fundamental purpose of
the law, which it is now proposed to
amend, was not to create an addition
al school fund or to add to the exist
ing fund. but was a taxation measure
pure and simple>1t was the only meth
cd which could be devised to make the
wild lands pay their proportional part
of the public burden. This method was
strenuously opposed by some of the
representatives from the smaller towns,
whose cupidity was appealed to by the
powerful wild land lobby in an effort
to prevent the tax being levied alto
gether, declared Mr.. Bigelow. A COM
promise had to be made on the method
of distribution in order to tax the wild
lands at all. To amend this law passed
with such intent. will be to defeat its
very purpose, Mr. Bigelow pointed out. |
Carroll n. Perkins. city solicitor of
Wateryille. said in opposition that the
proposed distribution of the school
funds did not equalize matters at all. !
The bill leaves out all the elements |
which make up the cost of education. |.
H. H. Randall. superintendent of |
schools at Auburn, said that his city |
would cose $4,000 if this measure were
passed and that would mean an in
crease in the amount of the tax
Ex-senator Edward w. Murphy of |
Portland spoke against the bill. declar-
ing that the proposed measure was not !
equal to anywheres near it. He said |
that Aroostook county would be the |
greatest gamer by the bill because they |
counted the parochial schools up there
as public schools.
Lucian w. Blanchard of Rumford |
opposed the bill. saying that we have |
now the best method of distributing
the school funds that could be devised. |
James M. Gillin. city solicitor of |
Bangor. in telling speech opposed the |
BILL This proposed bin has as many |
and more rank inequalities in it as the |
present system" declared Attorney |
Gillian. land this law should not be re-
pealed unless the Legislature can find !
ca, ct ~ ~, yNla