The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-06-28
The Proposed School Tax.
Editorof The Statesman /:

To the EditorOf The Statesman:
Apropos to your article on the pro-
posed constitutional amendment, /
submit some facts shown by the last
biennial report of the board of educa-
ton, going to show why a local tax
for school purposes is the proper So
luton of the financial problem at the
bottom of our school system.
These facts will show that the gen
eral state tax is now much too large
for many counties.
| shall select few of the wealth.
lest and most populOuS and contrast
them with some of the poorest and
most sparsely populated, in order to
meet the allegations of the represen-
tations of the latter in the late legis-
lature, who took the strange position
that their counties would be preju-
diced by the adoption of the proposed
amendment.
Beginning in the southeast, we
find that Jefferson county has a
scholastic population of 695. She re-
ceives from the state $2,513, and from
interest on county school fund,
81, 500; total, $7,01S, or $40 apiece to
the scholastic child.
Tarrant county has a scholastic
population of 3479 She receives from
the state $12,582 and $1,000 from her
county fund income; total, 14,5S2, or
81 10 apiece to the scholastic child
Newton county has a scholastic
population of 10. She received from
the state S2784 and from the county
school fund S221S; total, 5000, OF
Sc. 80 apiece to the scholastic child.
Travis county has scholastic pop
ulation of 1856. She receives fIom
the state $l7,924,and from the county
fund $14OO; total, S19,342, or $3Se
apiece to the scholastic child.
Chambers county has scholastic
population of 35l. She receives from
the state SLIGO. She has sold III
acres of her lands at $3.50 per acre
Her lands, presumably, viii average
So per acre. the income from which
would give her $500 per annum, add
ed to the state fund would give over
$40 apiece TO the scholastic child.
Dallas has scholastic population
of 1872. She receives from the state
$685. and from the county fund
about S14OO. Total, $685.. or 395
apiece to the scholastic child.
San PatriciO COUNTY has q ScholaS-
tic population of 80. She receives
from the state $238 and from her
county school fund $1771.20. Total
! S20Ol.2O, or little over $50 apiece to
the scholastic child.
1t has been pretty well demolstra-
ted that, under anything like proper
organization, one dollar will give one
months tuition. 1t is d fact beyond
controversy that without uoinpul-
sorry system of attendance, entirely
out of harmony with our free institu-
tions, the average attendance of nine
tenths OF the scholastic population
will not exceed six months in any one
year.
Putting these things together, we
find that San Patricio county has
nearly three times as much money
| from their county fund as is neceSSa.
ry to maintain all the schools she
wants.
Jefferson, 50 pes capita more than
she needs. Chambers and Newton
both more than they need.
Notwithstanding these facts and
figures, these small counties ale op.
posed to local taxation. Their county
school funds above give to each
scholastic child more than the Travis,
Dallas or Tarrant county child gets
! from all sources, both state and
county.
With a specific state tax for school
purposes increased to twenty cents
nearly three times the present
amount, what will the smaller coun-
ties in the state do with their surplus
school money?