Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-09
LEGAL AFFAIRS

mere was little bit OF everything
discussed before the committee on
Legal Affairs during it's session of
Tuesday afternoon. The first hear
ing was held jointly with the commit
tee on Education on the bill providing
that children whose parents worked
in State institutions should be eligi-
BILE to enter any school in the State
free OF tuition and that the State
should pay transportation and board.
1t developed that this bill originated
with the school committee of New
Gloucester and grew out of a differ
ence between them and the officials
OF the School for Predetermined To-
Gated in that town. Pownal and Gray
as to the schooling of children whose
parents worked there for the State.
Supt. c. Varney of New Gloucester
explained that. the Feble-minded
home had taken 1000 acres of taxable
land out Of the towns assessable
property, had made necessary the
closing Of the school in that district
and that in order to accommodate
these children it would be necessary
to transport them a distance of about
four miles.
Members of the school committee
OF the town, as well as of Gray spoke
along the same lines. Howard l..
Keyser, one of the trustees of the
School for Feeble minded and DR..
Vosberg, its supervisor, both said
that they were willing to pay cost Of;
transportation of the children-there
were now five and would be six in the
spring-to Gray Station. State Su-
perintendent of Schools Thomas
thought that the bill opened a pretty
wide door-it might be possible for a
parent in Aroostook county to select
the Portland schools and the State
would have to pay transportation and
board.
Senator Thombs, chairman of the
Legal Affairs committee, suggested
that those interested get together,
and fix up compromise. The par
ties retired and in about a quarter
OF an hour, DIR. Thomas reported that
peace had been established. The
State was to provide transportation
for these children to the Gray, Sta
ton and the town of New Gloucester
was to provide tuition. while the
committee was to report ought not
to pass on the bill.
Rep. Maxwell Of East Livermore
had charge Of presenting the evidence
Tor the proponents of the bill TO
change tibet own government of that
place. He explained that all the
business men of the town, and he
thought practically all others. IA
vored the change because thew be-
lieved that it would make for better
efficiency and economy in the conduct
or town affairs. They had been led 10
investigate the, possibilities of a
change because the tax rate last
year reached AZ mills, which they con-
sidered excessive.
This bill would change the fiscal
year SO that it would begin on Janu-
airy LIST instead of in March, as now
instead OF an all-day town meeting
there would be the election of |,
board OF selectmen, for which tho
his would be open all day.. from 10
~ the morning to In the afternoon
Inc secret ballot would be used. AT
the first election five selectmen would
be chosen. two to serve three wears
two to serve two years and one IN
serve one year and thereafter the
terms would be for three years. They
would also elect members of The
school board.
the appropriations would be dis
posed of by voting upon a budget
which would be made up by a finance
committee of nine.
The selectmen would elect a town
manager who would have charge of
all town activities. 1t was PROMISED
TO give him charge Of the water dis
trict and the sewer district, which
would reduce cost of administration
of town activities.
Fl. c. Whittemore also spoke in IA
vor of the change. as did z. A. Mer-
sereau.
A. III. Edwards of Wayne said that
he represented that town in OPPOSE
ton to the provision of the law which
rave East Livermore five members of
the school board. because East Liv-
ermore and Wayne were Joined in a
school union and as Wayne had but
three members this would give East
Livermore power to select the school
superintendent and to fix his salary.
At the present time the supervisors
salary was $4,000 a year, of which
Wayne paid $780, the State $500 and
East Livermore 1920.
DIR. Thomas felt that there was !.
some ground for this objection BY !,