Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-03-23
VOLUME 80; no Il.

OF this Senate, a tabular statement OF the
operations Of i)ur present school system, in
succint and ,eomprehensible form, wherein
the inequalities, Irregularities and opprese-
elge character Of the system are readily PER
celved. J. have taken occasion, In this cal
culation, to take counties as they are arrang-
ed alphabetically, and generally selected, at
random, two or more townships or school
districts in each county, based upon the cal
culation, showing the disparity existing be-
tween the several districts in the same eoun-
ty have also predicted system, which, by
way of distinction. | have denominated
Reused System, as estimated upon the
basis of two mills to the dollar valuation,
upon the real and personal property of the
state, and about ten per cent OF the gross
receipts annually coming into the Treasury.
This sum, taken collectively, viii at any time
net over and above all the expenses Of the
department, collection of tax &C., school
fund Of ar least one million six hundred
thousand dollars, which, equally divided a.
mcng the whole number Of scholars within
the school age wiz seven hundred and ffne
thousand nine hundred and thirty, accord
ing to the school report for the year 1864.
will give to each scholar, per month, forty
tlve cents, or two dollars and TWENTY-FIVE
cents Tor minimum term Of five months
tuition, paying an average Of twenty-four
dollars and eighty cents per month to each
teacher.
In the first Eve columns of the subjoined
table | set fourth the workings Of our school
system, calculated from the school report for
the year 1864, and the sixth column ex-
hlblts the fact what each county or district
IN the State as the case may be, would entit-
led to receive from the State Treasury for
school purposes, under the proposed system
Here follows the tabular statement which
we omit
Now, Mr. Speaker, l am afraid / have al
ready trespassed too long upon the patience
of the Senate / have but to say in eonclu-
sion, that | only ask candid and impartial
consideration of this question. think, sir,
that it IS worthy Of it, and that the course [
have taken in raising special committee to
digest a bill, viii most likely accomplish the
purpose. l trust, sir that l have sufficiently
given my reasons and that this Legislature
will see the propriety Of the measure.
Mr.. Bigham. Mr. Speaker, / have no
doubt Of the inequalities referred to by the
Senator, Mr.. Householder, but doubt very
much whether during the term of any of US
unless we are reelected once or twice-the
system proposed by him viii be adopted.
1t Is not necessary to say that such sys-.
tenn would equalize the burden to a certain
extent. The poorer counties would be
benefited, but our friends from PHILADELPHIA
may be very web satisfied that they would
not find their financial interests advanced BY
the proposed change. But without now
going into that matter, what [ propose is,
that as we are going to have a financial com
mlttee to revise our revenue laWs-board
composed ofthree State officers, who meet
next month 4 would suggest, whether or.
not this JOINT resolution might not be amen
ded so as to have the committe act in con-
nection with the board Of State officers, who
are to revise the revenue laws.
| am more intimately acquainted, on ac-
count of our proximity, with the school sys-
tenn of Ohio than with that of New York
1t Is true that the systom of Ohio, IN refer
ence to the valuation, assessment and collec-
ton of taxes, is largely In advance of ours.
For example: Ohio. In general terms has
over eleven hundred millions dollars Of
property upon her assessment books. The
amount IN Pennsylvania, as fixed by the last
revenue board, is six hundred millions In
round numberi [ presume there is no per
son here who doubts that the Commonwealth
is worth two and a half times what it is as
sessed. | do not believe there is county
In this Commonwealth that is not worth two
and half times what it is assessed NV
own county is certainly wrote more than that
i will not say how much The question
Is, could we not yastlyimproye that? am
IN favor of the proposition recommended by
the State Treasurer
/ received a note from the State Treasurer
last night, stating that he is not well. but he
hopes to be here by the middle of next week
and l think that the joint committee, in
connection with the board of State officers.
might act on a more general scale than what
is proposed here.
In reference to the particular system of
schools advocated by the Senator from Bed
ford, (Mr Householder think that would
be SO radical change that there is no hope
ofits adoption this year certainly. Philadel-
phia has so far as the whole city is concerned
what my friend proposes to extend to the
State. Pittsburgh, also, has that same sys-
TEN. Some twelve years ago, when that
was made the system of the city. we had a
great fight in the old wards against the new
the new wards being more largely benefit
ted by the introduction Of the system than
the old, In consequence of the number of
in the new wards. [ have no doubt
the mountain districts will be largely benefit
ted by this change.
| would suggest to the Senate that instead
OF the reform being confined to the school
system, that this joint committee be directed
to inquire into what Improvements can be
made In the revenue system ofthe Common
wealth generally.
If the taxes are taken away there would |
then be no motive for under valuation.
We have, under the old assessment system
the oaths of over three thousand persons
and you can hardly make the English iangu- |
age stronger IN reference to the oath and du- |
ties OF assessors and revising boards shan |
they now are, that they shall appraise pro-
perty at a cash gGtuatjoa and yet there is not
a Senator on this floor who cannot select out |
where the assessment il not one
tenth the value Of the property assessed.
think have presented the subject so |
that the Seuate can understand my idea
was not aware that the subject In this |
form would be introduced, and have nothing I
upon the subject. | only offer /
some general suggestions
| suggest wheth her the Senate had not bet |
ter strike out the part of the resolution which |
bears upon the common school system alone, |
and apply the resolution to the revenue sys, |
tenn Of the Commonwealth.
think now is the time, when the CON-
mittee can act in connection with the intelli- !
gent gentlemen who have charge of the
State finances. Some Of their terms will
soon expire and then we cannot have their
experience. i suggest this amendment to
the Senate.
Mr White -Mr. Speaker, have only a I
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