The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-02-01
A Dangerous Subject.

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 pubiic-school
system of the State. Last week General
ANDERSON introduced into the House OF
Delegates resolution looking to the ADOLF
lion 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 col
lectine such tax in q large city; and II
doubled would probably produce not over
fifteen thousand dollars, since more persons
would evade two-dollar tax than evade a
one-dollar tax. It is not necessary TO state
that from such 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 intendedl 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-
ouires the City Council to supply such sums
OF money mot exceeding three mills on
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,"
There are many gentlemen in this city
who are opposed to the public-school sys-
tenn. They are amongst the most enllght-
ened and best Of our citizens, and some OF
them are large taxpayers. But they are
generally supposed to constitute only a
small minority Of the voters. They have
hitherto not made any public demonstra-
ton Of their hostility. The resolutions we
have referred to are well calculated to
arouse them as we'll as the friends OF the
public schools. The question is one that
cannot be kept down if once agitated; and
il opened, it will almost certainly be made
q test question in this city in May in the
election OF councilmen and aldermen. 1t
would 90 further. II Mr. ANDERsoN's two
propositions should be adopted by the Cen
eral Assembly the next election OF mem
bers Of the Legislature would turn upon the
same point. Which side would win, it is
hardly necessary for us to say. But who
would enjoy and profit by such contest?
None but demagogues.
But the fact is that most Of the members
of the Legislature would no more dream OF
adopting these propositions, or recommends
ing them to the people, than they would OF
voluntarily snrrendering their pay and their
places. They fear the voters at home. Look
at all the letters written last summer by the
aspirants for the goyernorship. Recall the
speeches made by the leading Readiusters
on this fayoyite subject, and do not forget
that every member Of the Legislature who
is pledged in the matter is pledged to the
perpeiuation and perfection Of the public
school system. II any member wishes to
know how many OF his associates would be
willing to vote for an amendment to the
Constitution to make the public schools de-
pendent upon the capitation tax, or bill
to authorize City Councils to "stop the
supplies let HIM offer such one. Ii
some member will propose these measures,
or either OF them, and call for the yeas ana
nays as q test question, the result VIII iet
all know how popular or unpopular
the public-school system Is, and save the
time Of the Legislature hereafter, and save
the people at home from an avalanche OF
demagoeicai speeches and candidates. Who
lie The man that will have the courage to
make the test