The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-05-21
COMMUNICATED
The Equalization Of Taxes for
school PurpOseS.--NO.2 3.

In urging the equalization Of school taxes
over the State, it is not because we complain
of the onerous burden which we bear. We
do not complain that we pay rate OF more
than .OI2 per cent. for school purposes a
labor of love is never irksome and the
education of their children is the object
upon which the people of Cambria have
set their hearts. We urge this proposition
pot merely because we would like to have
our rate of taxation reduced, but because we
would like to be enabled to keep our
schools open longer, and pay our teachers
better wages. Our children would then
have not only the advantage OF this greater
length of school term, but also the instruc-
tions of better teachers. Higher wages and
more permanent employment would attract
to and keep within the profession many
excellent persons who now have their minds
set upon some other object. In a former
article we attempted TO show that it is the
duty of the State to afford means of instruc-
tion to the youth of all parts of the State
alike. We repeat that it is only just and
right that the stronger sections of the State
should be made to assist those that are
weaker in work that is for the benefit Of
all.
In the past year, the total cost Of tuition,
fuel, and contingencies for the schools of the
en- tire State was So ,083, ,600.l4; the aver
age wages of teachers was $3l. SO, and the
length of school term was months, 1s8
days. The average rate per cent. of school
tax, leaving out bnildirg tax, which is all
ways considered separately, was 1925 mills.
Nov, suppose taxation were equaized all
over the State, and that the rate fixed upon
were 10 mills. This would not be high
Ten counties in the State, one Of which is
Cambria. pay this or higher rate to-day.
If it is not unfair for ten co1nties to pay
this, is is not unfair for all to pay it, That
is our ground. Suppose then that it were
equalized at 10 mills: the result would be
that, ceteris pdribus, we could pay our
teachers an average Of $43.7l, instead of
$31.69, as at present. or we could keep our
schools open exactly months IN the year.
Or what. perhaps, would be the "golden
mean" we could keep our schools open 6
months in the year, and pay our teachers
good wages all around. But. the same
ratio will no doubt always exist, between the
wages of male and female teachers. the
former for four months term would get
an average salary of S49.4S per month, and
the latter S37.94. and. of course, a proper
tionately smaller sum per month for longer
terms This and what with the difference
in wages which the better teachers always
should receive over the poorer ones, will
do more to make teaching a profession per-
manent, honorable, and lucrative, than all
the talking and resolring that we can do at
Teachers' Institutes in our lives.
Resolves. and re-resOlves, then dies the
same"
This calculation is based upon the present
state of things. We have not taken into
consideration the higher valuation of real
estate as fixed by the last triennial assess
ment; the natural increase of our popula-
ton, and the consequent larger per capita
tax, nor the greatly enlarged State apprO-
priaton to be hereafter made. Could this
consummation. so devoutly to be wished,
be reached. we feel safe in saying that every
school in the entire area of our Common
wealth could be kept open six months in
the year, and good teachers be employed
for every school at salaries of from $40 to
$50 per month.
To our mind. this is no dream of Utopia.
1t is entirely practicable. 1t would entail
upon no county or district in the State
! a burden as great as that which Cambria
| and some other counties have to bear now.
| We think we are not asking too much in
| asking this, and we trust that the people OF
every district now paying high rate of
| taxes, and receiving inadequate benefits,
! will join IL the clamor until justice is OBJ
| tanned.
! But we wish to correct wrong impres
! sion, if one has been made in the mind Of
the reader Matters with us are not so had
az they look. A gentleman once travelling
over a cross road in our western country
| beheld by the roadside a very dilapidated
| building. 1t was so singularly wretched,
that he wondered if it could be the dwelling of
any human being, While he stood regard
I IL L III. L. L,
pearauce at the sashless window, and hailed
| the gentleman thus: Il say, stranger. Pm
| not so poor as You think | am 1 don't otCn
| this house" And so, we are not SO poor as
some people may think we are ;yor if we are,
we are generous withal.- This further state
ment we know will be read with satisfaction
! by every Cambria county man !: Adams
county keeps her schools open just 4.75
months, pays tax for school purposes of
| 800 mills, and pays her teachers an average
salary of $27.77a per month: Franklin
! county keeps her schools open 5. So months,
pays tax of 3.47 mills, and pays her
teachers S26.94 per month; Lebanon county
! keeps her schools open 20 months. paws a
tax of mills, and pays her teachers $26--
| so per month Union county keeps her
| schools open $50 mouths, pays tax of
| 2.9S mills, and gives her teachers Split per
!
Lebanon, and Unionl Does anybody think
| it would hurt them much if they were made
to pull up a little better7 Cambria, 1.-The
| least among the princes of Juda." keeps
her schools open 4.48 months in the year,
pays school tax of II. 10 mills on the dol
lar. and gives her teacher $29 80 per month
within one cent of thirty dollars. What
is here said of Adams, Franklin, Lebanon
aud Union. might with equal propriety be
said of hals the coun ties in the State.
Need anything more be urged in behalf
| of an equalization ef the school taxes over
| the State We think not. We telive that
every candid man, Of whatever section, will
see that it is a scheme practicable. just, and
proper. I. j. G.
THE NoN-ExPLoSIvE METROPOLITAN OIL
| is manufactured and sold by NJ l.. Oatmau,
at his store three doors east of Crawford's