Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-06-21
MADISON
Little Definite Work Accom-
plished at Another Special
Town Meeting for Discussion
of Schoolhouse Question.

Madison, Me-, June 20, 1921.-Anoth-
err largely attended special town
meeting for the discussion of the
school house question was held Sat
urday afternoon and after two and
half hours of discussion, some of
which was of a decidedly personal
nature, but little definite work was
accomplished.
The melting was called to order at 2
o'clock by town clerk Flanders and
j. F. Withee was elected moderator.
The first article to provoke discussion
was to see what action the town
would take in regard to the election
of a new building committee to take
the place of the one resigned week
ago or the reinstatement of any of the
/ members of an old committee or COM
mittees. Bernard Gibbs at once took
the floor for the opposition and stat
ed that after the representative meet
ing of a week ago he believed some
decisive action should be taken and
ended his speech by making a mo-
ton that a new building committee
of not less than three nor more than
, five members be elected. This mo-
ton was carried without opposition.
tee composed Of Grandville d. Per-
kins, A. NJ. Holden, H. A. Johnson,
John Healy, and f. L. Reed, the last
three composing the board of select
men. FIR. James A. Farley in a brief
speech nominated the committee
which resigned a week ago and who
by vote of the town signed the con-
tract for the new school building.
William S. Brown then took the
floor and stated that the committee
of which he was chairman after ex-
aiming the various propositions had
decided that the one reported at the
former town meeting was the one best
fitted to fill the needs of the town and
that after the vote of the town and
owing to the fear of the committee
that the exceedingly favorable figure
given by the contractor and the fact
that the committee would be open to
censure and perhaps sue for dam
ages they had 'hastened to close the
deal as had been reported to the town.
Mr. Brown closed his remarks by
reading letter from Architect
Coombs in reply to a letter written
him informing him of the action talk
en- week ago in which Mr. Coombs
stated that the contra ctorS had al
ready closed deals for material. some
of which was on the road and that
they were very loath and saw no
reason to change the terms of the
contract.
The next speaker was FIR. las A
Farley who stated that his parish ex-
peeted to make improvements in their
church property amounting to $780,
900 including the erection of Paro-
ehial school building and a convent
FIR. Farley stated that this was to be
done by ten cent contributions at the
church Sunday mornings. He al
lowed If his church could do this that
the town of Madison with it's $780,
600 valuation, ought to be able to erect
the needed school house as contracted
for at $l41,000 FIR. Farley stated that
the school population was increasing
at the rate of $50 per year and that
he expected that the town would pro-
vide high school privileges for the
Catholic children after they had been
through the Parochial school FIR.
Farley also stated that the site
chosen could not be surpassed for
beauty and actual fitness in New
England. He closed by making
ringing plea for the adoption of the
plan as first presented and urged his
hearers not to put blot on the prog
ress Of the town by voting for any
thing different. He also stated it was
the intention of the friends of the
proposition to fight it out on this line
If it took special town meeting ey-
cry week all summer His speech
aroused much applause from friends
OF the measure. A. vote was taken
which resulted in 100 for the commit
tee nominated by Mr.. Gibbs to 90 for
the other committee.
The next measure presented to the
melting was motion by Mr. Gibbs
that the new committee be instructed
to secure plans at once and proceed
to the erection of a school house at
an entire complete cost including ev-
erything even to grading of $4,000.
This was carried by vote of POS for
to 123 against. After the vote was
taken III. J.. Ladd who is an expert
enced carpenter and in constant