New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-14

their schools. .,..;o .Llo ,~o0o,-
-, Contributed in many localities, greatly to ag-
oravate this burden, and spirit OF opposition 10
Re- new law inhamed by its determined Oppo-
nepts manifested itself at the primary district
meetings and too often resulted in the entire re
lection ofthe estimates prepared by the Trustees
and the limitation Of the term Of school to the
lowest possible period authorized by law. Ap-
peals were assidiously made TO the cupldty OF the
heavy tax-pavers-theiri interests sought 10 be ar
rayed against that Of their less favored brethren
and against the interests OF their children; tnen
passions stimulated by the real inequalities as
well az fancied injustice Of the burdens imposed
by the new law, were readily enlisted against
every attempt TO carry it into operation. Numer
Gus petitions were sent to the Legislature pray
ing forts repeal or for such amendments as mlSnt
render il more generally acceptable
II Yves obvious that the law was liable to Just
and serious objections, and that 1t did not meet
with that general approval which was necessary
IN insure its success. Under these circumstances
the friends of the new system were among the
first 10 concede the defects OF the Dill, and "hile
urging the preservation of the fundamental Prln-
ciDle which it involved, were anxiOusly sollcltoqs
80 10 modify the details of the measure as 10 oo-
viate all its obnoxious features. AT their sugges-
ton and with their cooperation, bills were lhtrO-
duced into both branches Of the Legislature, pro-
viding for general and equitable system Oh state
or county taxation, for the purpose Of rendering
the common schools free TO all, dispensing win
the necessity Of a district assessment, out OF
which the principal embarrassment had origin
ated. In the Assembly the measures thus pro
posed were approved by large majority the
Senate did not concur Ia the action OF the house
but sent TO the House bill proposing a result
mission Of the law TO the people. At the close oil
the session. and when it became evident tnat no
modification of the obnoxious law could be OO-
tanned this bill received the assent OF the House:
By the adoption of this measure the friends oil
free schools found themselves in very emoarrass
ing position. They were compelled either 70 give
their votes and influence in favor OF the continu
ance of law, some Of the distinctive features OF
which were at variance both with their wishes
and Judgment or by sanctioning its repeal, hazard
the principle which had been deliberately adopted
by the Legislature and approved by the emphatc
expression OF the public will. The issue thus
presented could not fail Of being greatly mlsap'
pretended. While the electors secured the re-
newed triumph Of the principle involved, there
can be no doubt that thousands OF votes were cast
for the Yepeal of the law by citizens who desired
only its amendment, and who would have record
ed their suflrages in favor Of system OF free
schools properly guarded, had the form OF the bal
lot permitted them to do so.
1t remains then for the Legislature TO give eih'
cscy to this renewed expression OF the popular
| will, by the enactment of a law which shall de-
fisitely engraft the free school principle upon our
existing system of primary education, and at the
same time remove all Just cause OF complaint as
to the inequality Of taxation. District taxation
| has been found to be unjust, unequal and OPP
| pressive. Ii should, therefore, at once be a0an'
doned far as the ordinary support of the schools
is concerned. The funds necessary for the pay
ment Of teachers wages in addition to the amount
received from the State Treasury, should be pro-
| vided either by State tax eQuitably levied on
real and personal property according TO n s~ed
| and uniform standard of valuation, by county
and town tax levied and assessed in the same
! manner, or by such combination OF these three
modes as might be deemed most expedlent and
! udciOus.
The common schools of the State should be de
clared free to every resident of the respective dis
trcts of the proper age to participate IN their ben
! efts and their support should be made charge
upon the whole property either OF the State at
large or OF the respective counties and towns IN
which they are situated.
The bin which passed the Assembly at its last
session. provided for the levying OF an annual tax
| of SsOO,O00 on the real and personal property OF
the State according to the assessed valuation OF
such property, and for the distribution of the az
gregate amount so to be raised, among the seye-
raj counties and towns Of the State, according to
the number of children, of proper school age, re-
siding in each. This sum, together with the
! amount annually apportioned from the revenue OF
the Common School Fund would, it was supposed,
be sufficient for the support Of the several schools
of the State during an average period oil eight
months in each wear. The whole amount eXpend-
| Sl.322 696 "a, TO which is to be added an aggre-
gate amount of $4,000 for library purposes
making in the whole 81, 1896 96 "a. The Superln-
| tendent, however, entertains no DOUBT that tue
| amount proposed to be raised by the bill referred
| TO- in conjunction with the State Appropriation,
the revenue from which is rapidly and steadily in
! creasing will be amply adequate to the payment
of teachers wages for the average length OF time
! during which the schools have heretofore been
taught, and to the annual and adequate rePenish'
| a Nhn md NOR
the schools.
Under the present effectively administered ys'
TEN of assessment, however, such tax will ope-
rate very unequally in different sections OF the
State The standard of valuation both ofreal and
personal property, varies, as is well known, IN
nearly every county of the State, while in some
it is estimated at its fair aud full market value, In
others il is assessed at threeourths, two thirds,
and sometimes as low One-half its actual value.
If, therefore, the existing standard OF valuation
is 70 be made the basis OF the superintendent OF
the proposed tax it is manifest that very unjust
and oppressive burden will be cast upon those
counties where the assessment is in strict accord
Apce with the provisions of law, for the benefit OF
those sections in which its requirements are eva
ded by an arbitrary standard of valuation.
The distribution OF money when raised, serves
likewise to render this disprOportion still more
manifest that being based upon the population
according TO the last preceding census OF the re-
spective counties To exhibit the practical oper-
alton OF this system, table has been constructed
under the direction OF the department, and is ap-
pended 10 the present report, lsee Appendix by
which it will be seen that the City OF New York
with population of S7l ,223, according to the last
census rad valuation Of real aud personal prop
erty amounting In the aggregate to $3.50, 1887,
contributes S305295 33 annually ss her proportion
Of the proposed State tax, while she will be enti-
tied to receive only sll4,O25 80 as her share Of
its proceeds; the county Of Duchess, with pop
ulatiOn Of 55,l24 and valuation Of Sls,3s0,632.
contributes s232ss go and receives only Sl6,93l-
90; the county Of Kings with & population Of
1901 and a valuation OF about siO,OoO.OOO, con.
tributes S47 $40 81 and receives only S2il70 SO.
diminution of nearly one-half; the county Of