The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1881-05-04
our schools and ~. &c"

All answer 10 above VIII Oblige man
n TAXPAYERS.
oar schools and w. &C..
= E;Li,or HeraLt.
Your issue Of the 10Th inst, contain
: a well-written, argumentative and gen
tlemanly article on this school question
t by "W. G. C." under the caption -
: Reply to Nindex."
am glad to welcome "W. G. G." Il
the ranks, the lists are open and 1t is tC
he hoped that other knights equally
gallant will strike blow for the g0oc
cause.
With all possible respect for an opin
ion 80 forcibly and so elegantly express,
ed, / still maintain that the absolute
cause of failure in the common school
to meet the wants of the high expecta-
tiOns of the friends of the system, is at
tributable primarily to the defective H.
nancial basis which underies il. This
cause drags in its train confederation
OF corroding collaterals, and these per-
meating Il system which, theoretically,
Is good enough for all practical purposes,
render 1t, If mot imperative, very nearly
worthless rs regards the real practical
benefits accruing to the people. The
collaterais alluded to are many-some
OF them grievous, and appreciated the
skil'ful thrusts made at one of them by
wv. c. c." and regret that the thrust
has not been made earlier and oftener."
am persuaded that the practices
to which he refers are true, but they
are practices which may he readily
remedied, had we the financial ability
TO place the officials to whom he refers
beyond the reach of temptation.
The gentleman knows, I presume,
that the letting out Of the schools TO
something like government contract,
always let to the lowest bidder, not to
the best qualified teacher, sometimes
the only existing qualification is that
the applying teacher is son, daughter,
cousin or neghbor to the trustee. The
trustee is DESTROYS of securing five
months session regardless of the real
wants of the district, with him il il n
question Of money saving, solely; if the
teacher is secure without any supple
mental subscription, the enterprising
official considers that he has done his
whole duty. The means at his COM
mand not infrequently compel him to
pursue this course, and il seems there il |
no other one for him to adopt with any
assurance of success, so that the censure
heaped upon him is sometimes unmar-
tied. Now what il the natural-the
direct consequence Of this bargain and
sale " Manifestly, very inferior
school. But what Is the primary cause
Of this very reprehensible practice? I'm
questionably, want OF money. And
without simplifying the matter, a prop
er investigation will make patent to any
one that, the same cause il the prolific
parent of all of our troubles in this re-
spect.
Let us correct this evil by administer
Ing the very necessary tonic-a suffici-
,ncy OF money, and the other evils, if
not absolutely removed, will be 80 far
nltigated as not to interfere with the ,
harmonious working ola system, which
hough defective, is by no means pom
ferrous in any of its parts.
Leaving this branch of the discussion
or the present | revert again to the
whisky tax. II Is estimated that for
he last fiscal year, ending October IL,
Ssl there will have been manufactured
he enormous quantity Of 30,0OO,OOO
'allons of whisky, tax of one cent ON
ach gallon would give for school pur-
'oses the handsome amount of $500, 900.
This tax can not bear heavily on any !
itizen of Kentucky, when 1t is borne
mind that "A moiety, at least, will he
old out of the State.
1t is no very difficult matter to per-
GIVE that any objection to this method :,
{ raising money cannot be founded on
NY thing short Of prejudice. The con- .
inner or tippler pays all expenses <
rising in the traffic in this article. "
md assuming that such tax would be .
ON him, brief computa- !,
ion will instantly dispel the absurdity !,
{ such an assumption. "
A gallon Of whisky is, believe, estl- G
mated to contain 10 ordinary drinks a
'hich, at 10 cents per drink, amounts y
D 80. One cent of this sum is asked to y
c set aside for the education Of the
oys and girls of the commonwealth
'hile he-the tippler-enjoys the high .
rerogative Of spending $500 for that a.
'hich does him no conceivable good.
Every business man expects to real ~
lie on his investment whether large or 3
nall, and in viewing the school ques- ~
on from business standpoint the a
er cent. Of the profit realized is, good G
tizens-orlerly communities empty IN
Ills aud penitentiaries, happy and re- a,
ned home surroundings, morality go ..
Negligence 49, progress -- religion the =,
Characteristic traits of every household, ;,
n the accomplishment of this grand I,
Ms noble purpose. ask that the :,
part of one cent be charged -,
d every drink Of whisky taken. 10 If