Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-09-04
BREWSTER POINTS
Continued from naoe Ona>

Immediately been apparent in the
refil!fng OF the normal schools of
the State upon which the public
schools are dependent for their life
blood.
THE outstanding achievement of
the past four years, however. IL in
the settlement of the extremely trou-
blesome question Of the distribution
of the State school fund, which for
a decade had been prolific of con-
tinual controversy between the
smaller towns and the cities Of the
State. 1t was my pleasure as a rep
resentative Of one Of the cities most
vitality concerned to cooperate with
representatives Of the State Grange
under the wise leadership of the
State commissioner Of education, DR..
Augustus 0. Thomas, in working out
an equitable compromise regardful
OF the interests Of all. This bill has
given a substantial increase in the
school funds to the smaller towns
OF the State for the benefit Of rural
education in order that the educa-
tional advantages of the children OF
the country should be equalized as
nearly as possible with that Of the
children in the larger towns and
cities of the State. In my Judgment,
this Is one of the outstanding
achievements of Republican ad-
ministration of our affairs during the
past four years not merely in its
service to the educational interests
OF the State-important as that is
but also in removing fruitful
source of dissension between differ
ent groups Of our population.
"A continuance OF this construc-
tive program for the development
and Strengthening Of the public
school system of our State Is one
OF the guarantees in a continuance
of a Republican administration Of
the affairs of the State. No one
cognizant Of the progress which has
been made and conscious Of the i'm
portance of the public school sys-
tenn In our American democracy can
desire any interruption of this ad-
ministration to prejudice itsJ con-
the lines thus far followed. The
Republican platform pledges its
concern to the public school system
Of our State from its beginning in
the primary grades to its culmina-,
ton in the State university and pro-
poses to confine the appropriation Of
public funds to public schools. ex-
cept in the case Of such private
academies as serve the place Of Q
high school in their various local.
tiles and are wholly under the con-
troll Of the Commissioner Of Educa-
ton. The great majority Of the
thoughtful citizens OF our State be-
lieve this policy to be entirely wise.
highways
During the past decade under a
Republican administration of our
affairs, eleven hundred miles Of the
state highway system have been i'm
proved out Of the fifteen hundred
miles designated as First Glass High
ways. Twenty-Five hundred miles
cut of forty-five bnndred of the Sec
ond class or State-aid roads have
heen Developed. The last Legisla-
ture tnaugureted q more liberal
policy for the third class or market
ing roads to serve the agricultural
districts. and a half million dollars
annually Is now devoted to the de-
velopment Of these roads. A con-
tinuance OF this more liberal policy
is pledged by the Republican plat
form and increasing concern for the
proper maintenance of these roads.
One million dollars a year IL now
spent upon maintenance with an
proximately five hundred men en-
pioyed for this purpose as patrol
men.
"Maine has twenty-five Thousand |
miles OF highway with a spaYsely |
settled population, and these roads |
must be constructed over in,nu,ner- |
able hills and valleys and streams /
with very difficult construction prob !
lens presented by the soil, the rocEs.