The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-04-30
For the Cambria Freeman.
The Equalization of Taxes for
school Purposes.

A proposition to which desire to call at
tenton, IS that of equalization of Taxes for
School Purposes. AT present, the blessings
OF popular education, and the burdens OF
taxation for school purposes, are sadly IN
equal in the different parts of the State
The genial smiles of the school system, un-
like 'the quality of mercy" fall hot
"As the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath"
In MANY districts where the highest rates
of school tax are paid, the schools can De
kept open only the minimum school term,
and with great difficulty at that. A few
statistics will best illustrate this: Cambria
county pays for "schOol purposes" tax OF
1915 mills on the dollar, and keeps her
schools open As months in the year. Lam
caster county pays but 3.3 mills on the
dollar. and keeps her school open 6.75
months in the year Again: Clearfield
county pays a tax of IL mills on the dol
lar, AMI keeps her schools open less than
Al months i'll the year; Bucks county pays
a tax of Alb mills on the dollar, and keeps
her schools open more than months in
the year. jefferson county pays tax Of
lis mills on the dollar, and keeps her
schools open little more than mouths
in the year; Chester county pays only S.S3
mills on the dollar, and keeps her schools
open months in the year From this we
see that the people of Cambria comfy pay
LeaIly 8 mills the dollar more taxes than
the people of Lancaster county, and yet
receive 2.25 months less school term every
wear. In the same manner ~e find that the
people Of Clearfed county pay nearly mills
on the dollar more, and receive nearly
months less school term, than the peopl9 of
Bucks county; while the inhabitants of JEFF
ferson county pay more than Z mills on the
dollar mtre tax than the inhabitants OF
Chester county, yet the latter receive 3.5
months more OF school every year than the
former.
This inequality aad unfairness exists be
tween different districts in every section OF
the State. The remedy can be found only
in an equalization of the taxation for school
purposes over the entire Commonweslth lth.
1t has been well said, that as the safety and
prosperity of a free State depend upon
the virtue and intelligence OF Its cltlZers,
aud as these qualities can only exist by be
ing pIopagated by means OF vlrtuUus edu-
cation, it becomes the duty of the State to
make provision for the education OF those
who are TO be its future citizens. And, IN
making provision for education, 1T is the
duty Of the State to furnish means of instruc-
ton, to an equal degree, to the children OF
all lis parts, since it is upon the virtue and
Intelligence of the whole, and not upon
part merely, of its citizens, that the prosper
ity and safety of the State depend. There
fore, the humbleSt child, in the poorest dis
trict. ought to have facilities tor elementary
instruction, equal to those residing in the
most faN o ed part of the State"
By proper adjustment of the taxation,
every section and every district OF the State
would have an equal burden to bear, and
would receive an equal share Of she benefits
flowing from a wise and well~conducted
school system. A slightly heavier load would
be imposed on those sections which have
hitherto had but little to carry, while
corresponding relief would be afforded those
po.rer districts which have for years been ap-
bearing weight of taxation that would crush
even broad shouldered Atlas to the ground.
a beneficent institution would then be sus-
tanned by a moderate burden weighing upon
all sections alike, and the ou-couing genera
tions Of Pennsylvanians would be indoc
trinated in the principles of Virtue, Liberty.
and Independence, the glorious trinity in
sCrbed upon the eScutcheOn of our State.
Such are the men who should constitute the
Commonwealth.
''Men who their duties know,
But know their right, and, knowing
dare msintsin;
Prevent the long-aim' d blow,
And crush the tyrant while they rend
the chain"
To educate the youth OF our country to
this high status, is the imperative duty of
the State, and to.do this, impartial advan-
tages must be afforded to all. We cannot
think that the State has performed its entire
duty when it has merely laid the same bur
den upon the shoulders of all sections, and
L ~
ent sections to bear it.
But we do not ask the State to take
step backward. No; the step that We
would ask her to take would be progressive
one We claim that it is simply Just that
Lancaster and Bucks and Chester and other
wealthy counties should share with us the
burden OF educating the youth Of our country
Cambria and Jefferson counties are just as
much integral parts of the State as any
other counties, aud their children should be
educated Just as well as the children of any
other part Of the Commonwealth.
We do not complain because we have to
pay a higher rate of taxes than any other
county in the State. Cambria county
will do her duty all the time. She will
educate her children at whatever 1t costs.
The school system is bound up in the hearts
of her people. There is not non accepting
OlSLTlCJ III IHS county. anu IlltiC hdo AOS
been one for years. The number of oppO-
nents of the system in the county, who know
what they are talking about, would not
make up a corporarS guard. We have as
good school houses, as well qualified teachers,
as jealous directors, as appreciatiVe people,
any county. We pay our teachers AS
good salaries as any county. But it is all
we can do. We about up to the limit.
And We ask now for an equalization of the
taxes not as a charity, not in a complaining
spirit, but because it would be only .jUSl and
right, and because we would enjoy the sight
of seeing other people do as they would wish
to be done by. L. j. q.
WHITE Township. April 20, 1868.
Mr. R. l. JoHEsToE-Dedr Sir d: Noticing
an error in a statement made in your last
issue of the FREEMAN, / take pleasure IL
correcting the same far my knowledge
of the affair extends The dispute between