New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-06
THE CITY SCHOOL FUND.

ened by the high character Of the two
gentlemen, both personally and officially
The purport Of their remarks was that
system of almost niggardly economy l;
a necessary to hold the city school system
together much longer. The pay rolls are
more than four months behind, the board
owes debts amounting to one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars, with prospect
, Of a like deficiency next year. Mr..
Boothbv at the same time stated that tie
cost of education per pupil is as low as
the average in the United States. This
shows that unless one or the other of two
things is done, the school boa1d VIII soon
be bankrupt:
l. We must increase the resources Of
the directors or
2. Reduce the expenditures within the
means, even if this has to be done q: the
expense Of the most vital interests.
In considering the first point, We sre
required to ascertain the amount CT tax
necessary to raise funds to. carry Oh the
schools. We have already such an est.
mate, formulated into law. 4 tax OF
one-forth of one per cent has been in.
posed. by direction Of the Legislature.
This tas on the city assessmen: Q:
one hundred and thir.y-six million dol
lars. would raise, if fully collected. ,h,ee
+; hundred and forty thousand dollars.
which. with the State appo1tionment Q:
say. one hundred and twenty-five thou.
sand dollars, would give total fund,
available for school purposes. of four hum
bred and sixty-fve thousand dollars.
which would be sufficient The State
has performed ITS part faithfully. The
Administrator of Finance, who is the
treasurer of the school board, reports
having received from the State. sl25.7s5,
while only s17s.70a has been received
from! the city, which IS but fraction
more than one-half the amount author.
:zel. The delinquent list thus amounts
70 siGl, 29f. which. # collected. would
relieve the school board from the pecuniary
embarra ssments which now beset the sys.
TEN. With debts due by the board
% the amount Of nearly one hundred |
and fifty thousand dollars. and 10
reliance for the future e1cep: the f.
chance Of collecting the delinquent :ases.
the superintendent. and president are !
fully Justified in raising the cry Of alarm. |
IS officers they can 10: address them. !
selves to the paramount: powers Of Tie
State. They are employed 20 execute the |!
laws as they find them, and are necessa.
.ily restricted by the presumption which !
exists tia: service is 10 be governed ana
limited by tie means furnished. l;Ut
j: ~ The duty and right Q: every
citizen well disposed toward education.
ose.ery Republican who understands and
s1s:ains the principles .: his party. % ask
from the proper power relief III the OBJ
"icus way. Il. fox instance. public opia-
ion he:c stsstains the delinquent taxpayers
TO such aH extent tia: but little more
than fifty per cent Of 3 legal levy can be
collected. i will become necessary 70 Isl.
Cor :. raise. Halt the people who owe
scaoo! taxes have paid. Eu; j: is either
popular 20 sympati.izc with those who
have mot. or else many who have dis
charged their duty deem their pa,: already
sufficiently wei! performed, and fall into
q condition Of indifference as TO whether
their neighbors pay or not. Eu: hal:
collected tax OF one-fourth Of one per cen:
is equal to q full paid levy o: one-eighth.
which. i: is seen. is Inadequate for the
purpose. We axe satisfied the present
levy :or schoo! purposes is quite suffic;en:
for the purpose If faithfully collected. but
as it is not. it is only hal: enough. and q
further demand upon those who pay is
the only relief tha. remains 20 BE asked
for.
This is q consideration which, addresses
itself TO the grave consideration o: every
taxpayer. We do 10: mean BY this tern.
those anonymous persons who are 80
ryomp: to rush into print. bu. are never
seen in a tax collectors office. bU. those ;
citizens who promptly respond to al!
proper calls made upon them. When they
obtain their tax receipts they generally
the accoun: closed. and do no:
interest themselves il VIA: others DO.
This general tendency 70 apathy may be
enough for the time being. bu:
when it comes back in the shape o: in
creased burdens. il is time 20 shake il Of.
If one.half refuse 70 discharge their duties.
il devolyes on the other mofety to do j:
for them. And if men can shirk from !
year to year with perfect IMMUNITY, with.
out even mourning a bad name among
their neighbors, they are pretty sure to
keep it up. But daty is inexorable. Old
debts have habit OF coming in at IN.
pleasant seasons. Like the spot on Lady
Macbeth's hand, they will not ''out." No
one is interested in increasing the rate Of
taxation. But every man who permits,
by his inaction, others to evade their duty
assists directly in forcing such a result.
We do not wish to ask the Legislature for .
m addition TO the burdens Of taxpayers to ,
cover the deficiencies of delinquents, but
the duty OF supporting the public schools ,
is imposed upon us by the constitution,
oy every consideration of propriety and
humanity, and We ought to discharge it
n va of oil,