The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-17
The Bully Argns,
Continued from second pape

expenses of living advanced; assessments
and taxes advanced in like ratio.
Since the elimination of the price O,
gold In 1854, which at one time was $50
and for i long time $50 to 200, and Tins
gave measure OF value to much tho
larger moiety of taxable property. it has
fallen back nearly 10 par, and the products
OF the farm. the shop, and the mill. have
followed 1t, but the farm, shop and mill
themselves have not. They are assessed
and taxed at nearly as high a value as ever.
and give less than half the profit Tie so.
called panic OF 73 came in to comnlete
the destruction of prices Of products, and
profits OF business
But the public authorities forgot to re-
duce expenses, but on the contrary remem-
bered to increase them, and so our local
taxes have gone on increasing from year TO
year to the present time. One would
think that the authorities must know these
things. and would curtail expenses accord
ilgly; but We have been disappointed in
1t so long, it is no wonder the people
murmer and complain.
We are now in the fourth financial re-
vGlsion OF this century, forced en- lis a
little in advance of the regular twenty
years interval by the late war; but the
depression and shrinkage of values, the
paucity and stagnation of business are
strictly analogous 10 those Of II, 81 and
81. And the real question is whether we
shall recognize these facts in time to avert.
as ia. as my be, the evil effects by re-
trenchment and economy.
While there are few rich men. and
many eXtravagant people in Moline, the
great majority are poor, and earn their
living by day labor. And while the price
OF their labor has been reduced and is
more likely to be reduced again than ad
vanced, their taxes have increased.
Now with all these facts in my mind and
my eye full on the school board, ask, in
the interest of the common school and of
the common people, when do they propose
to make the cost of the schools conform to
the state of the times and the condition Of
the people? Eighteen hundred dollars.
Tor experimenting, $SS 20, and SIS Der
month for teaching foreign languages. are
items widely ont Of conformity to either
the times or the condition Of the people
The men who, by the huadred, are work
ing in the shops for 81 ,25 to 81, so per dav.
are compelled to pay part of these salaries
from their day wages.
lpromlsed you a sample or two from
the Report" | learn from it tina. we
last year paid $500 for experimenting.
II9 scholars, (daily attendance,) or 1921
per scholar also that in the course of
study therein described in the high school
only is Lain OF German permitted.
Nowhere in the course is Latin and
German prescribed; and yet the practice
has been Latin aud German in the high
school, and German through all the inter-
mediate departments. From the rules
aud regulations prescribing duties of
teachers, take this specimen of English;
They shall open scho promptly at the
appointed time. devote thems Ives during
school hours ercIustoely to the instruction
of their pupils, maintain good order, and
strictly adhere &c. Here's another:
Any teacher failing to secure compliance
with the rules Of the schools, shall iri-
medlately report such pupil to TIE SUPER
intendent; what pupi!?l and all sub
sututes shall receive as compensation
three tourths the amount of the regular
pay OF the teacher, the amount to be de-
Quoted therefrom by the board" What
amount and wherefrom?
These specimens indicate that special
instructions in English are most needed
in, around and about the Moline common
schools. The people whose taxes were
spent in publishing a thousand or more
copies of this false s,ntax and ambiguity.
would like to know whether it is product
of the 81, 800 superintendent. or fulmina
ton of the college larnt" man of the
board Eye
Moline, May 10th, 1876.