The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-02-14
The Public Schools.

Now and then we find a man in public
position bold enough to declare his opposi-
ton to the Public Schools. We prefer TO
see them in this way, for it indicates indi-
viduality and conviction. Honesty Of opin-
ion can be as readily expressed in oppc-
sition to the Public School system as in IA
vor of it. What we do notlike is for man
to go before the people and proclaim for the
schools, and when he has deluded them into
his support and election, betray them. Gen.
Anderson comes under the first head, we
have no doubt, as no one will question his
honesty and integrity The Dispatch of the
LIST, has the following reference to two prop
ositions of his in the Legislature
The members of the Legislature who are
called ''Debt-Payers' Will commit blum
der If they allow themselves to be placed in
an attitude of hostility to the publc-school
system of the State. Last week General
Anderson introduced into the House of
Delegates q resolution looking to the aboli-
ton OF all taxes for the support of public
schools except the capitation tax. That tax
produces less than ten thousand dollars in
Richmond, owing to the difficulty OF collect
ing such tax in. a large city; and if dou-
bled would probably produce not over fiji
teen thousand dollars, since more persons
would evade a two-dollar tax than evade a
one-dollar tax. 1t is not necessary to state
that from such a law the public schools in
Richmond would derive no substantial sup
port. They would perish at once.
On Wednesday last Mr.. Anderson offered
another resolution calculated Though of
course not intended to lead people to think
that he desires to break down the public
school system in this city. 1t contemplates
the repeal of the act of Assembly which re-
quires the City Council to supply such sums
of money mot exceeding three mills on a
dollar in any one year, as the City School
Boards may declare to be necessary for the
''proper maintenance and growth of the
public schools of the city,, B mia
The following allusion to proposition of
Maj. j. W.. Daniel in reference to the
Schools is taken fromth Richmond Patron.
1t will be seen by it where the Senator from
Augusta stands.I~ In his card published last
week, he stated that he opposed the propo-
stion to vote 81 900 to fee counsel to test
the constitutionality Of the Massey bill be-
fore the Supreme Court, because he thought
that sum had better be devoted to the eluca-
tior of the children OF the State. That little
catch was unworthy of a Senator REPRESENT
ing such a constituency as the peopleof All-
gusta. HsMr. Koiner would vote togive the
Public Schools what the Constitution dedi-
Gates to them, it will not be necessary for
him to withhold an appropriation neces-
sary to test the constitutiona]ity of Il law
that involves The very life of the Schools, as
well as the proper policy for the State in
settling the vexed question of the State
debt
[From the Patron.l
On the 10th day Of January, 1873, Major
John W'Daniel submitted a proposition to-
make the tax levied for the support of the
public schools payable in coupons. The fol-
lowing Senators voted for the proposition:
Il. Edwin Belts, John w. Daniel, Henry II.
Hurt, Of Halifax, Bradley Il. johnson, Abb
SALON. Koner, William H. f. Lee, William
c. Num-, Charles E. Sinclair, Charles T.
Smith, William E. Tanner, Thomas c.. Wal
ston, Charles e. Workman.
The reasons governing those who gave
this vote may be gathered from the remarks
OF Mr.. Daniel, as reported in the Bristol
News-as follows;
After long and heated debate, the SEN
ate to-day passed the bill requiring the
school tax to be paid in money. That the
House will adopt it there is not pal ticle of
doubt. The fear was as to the Senate, and
this may be regarded as test vote Major
John w. Daniel spoke yesterday; and DR.. |
Sullins who is here, and |, had the opnor-
tunity of hearing his closing remarks. He |
opposed with all his, power the passage of |
the bill, which he declared to be the van
guard of reputation. lie said he would I
rather see q bonfire made OF every free |
school in the State, aud a bonfire then made
of his own home, than that this b II and |
those that are to follow it should pass. He |
declared that the friends Of reimbursement |
had chosen this bill to lead the way with, so
as to have the women and children in front,
in order to keep its opponents from firing
on it. To-day he moved to amend it. SO as
to make the collecting officers receive cou-
pons in payment Of the school tax, as we'll |
as money. Those who commended that the
Bristol Meas, last fall improperly classed |
him with the Flinders, should have heard
this speech. Yet he declared that he voted |
against the Funding Bill in 1871, because
that Legislature was simply seEt to put the
State in accord with the new constitution
and not to fund the debt, and moreover, he
saw with his own eyes that powerful lob
by was pressing its passage. and the sight of
this offended him.
He moreover declared that if the Supreme
Court were to declare that Virginia is bound
for West Virginia's third of the debt, he
would vote to raise the taxes at once sufli-
GENTLY to meet it as we'll as the other two
thirds.
presume this speech of Maj. Daniel will /
be regarded as decisive as to his position on
the debt question. His friends may apollo
gize and modify and explain his position,
but he does not. Me certainly is bold and /
frank about it. srs.5s ~