Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-03-26
ARanta Constitution

nVe states IN the amount of money that
she spends yearly on her schools. These
reports are in writing, signed by the State
Superintendents. and there can be no mis-
take. Of these five West Virginia paws
the largest sum annually per capita, and
Alabama comes nearest down to GeOrgia's
level. Virginia has fund of more than
million dollars. Understand me. | do
not mean to say that the absolute school
fund of these States is, in every case,
greater than that of Georgia, but that they
pay more per head on school population.
Ot course these are unpleasant facts, but
it is time the people knew them"
''But how does the taxable property of
| these States compare with that of Geor-
gla? Perhaps they are better able to sup
port schools than we are.''
81 put that question also to these gen
| tlemen. They all, except the Superin-
tendent of Virginia, give the entire taxa
bic property of their States. GeOrgia's
taxable property is two hundred and sew
enty millions, and each one of the four
States named is worth at least one hun
dred million dollars less.''
''Then how is it, doctor, that the repu-
tatiOn of our public schools is so great in
other States?"
81 ascribe it to the excellence of our
school laws, to the thorough and capable
administration of those laws on the part
of the officials generally, and to our steady
increase in the amount of work done
Then, too, we have, from time to time,
made some small additions to our fund ;
and we undoubtedly have as well sustain
ed schools in our cities as anyone could
wish"
"What is there before the Legislature
that looks toward raising the position of
the State in this scale?"
''NOtably, two bills, one of which pro-
4
apprOpriates to schools the remaining
half rental of the Western and Atlantic
Railroad. l have prepared, at great eX-
pense of time and labor, a circular which
will show exactly what will be realized
for each county ON the passage of either
or both of these bills, what length of time
in either event each county will be able
to maintain schools, and how much will be
realized in either case per capita in each
county,"
GLOW will the money be paid out if
these bills passT'
''The bill providing for a property tax
proposes that every county and every city,
when there is local school system, shall
get the benefit of all the money which
may be raised in such county or city un-
der the bill. All will be paid over to the
proper school officer and all will be spent
where it is raised. If the bill appropriat-
and Atlantic Railroad should pass, the
money would be apportioned to the coun-
ties and cities on the basis of school pOpu-
latlon just as money paid direct from the
State Treasury is now disbuTsed."
''Tell me something of the first BILL"
"Well, you see here that it consists of
three sections, the two latter being mainly
taken up with the provision 1 mentioned
just now for a local disbursement of the
fund, and also providing that the tax be
assessed and collected annually. The
first section, as you see, is the soul of the
whole thing. 1t provides that, to quote
literally, for the support of common
schools an annual tax of One-tenth of l
per cent. is hereby imposed on the taxable
property of this State If this bill should
pass, our school fund would be increased
to 500, 119 o."
GLOW would the people take this addi-
tiOnal burdenY
81 think the people are ready for it.
This tax would increase our revenues and
of course efficiency by one-half and would
yet fall very slightly on those who pay it.
To illustrate, a man who owns a hundred
dollars worth of property would pay ten
cents, one who is worth thousand dol
lars would have to pay one dollar, one
who is worth ten thousand would be called
on for ten dollars, and it would take hun
dred thousand dollars worth of property
to run mans tax up to one hundred dol
lars. The great mass of the people are
worth perhaps less than one thousand
dollars, and so would pay less than one
dollar. Besides a school tax is the most
economical Of all taxes. To illustrate
from my own case, have lived in Atlanta
and sent at least two children to the
public schools every year for ten
years. During that time 1 have an
nually paid tax on about three
thousand dollars worth of propertv.
This amounted to about seventy dollars
each year for all purposes. State, city and
county. During the year sent one son
to private school and paid eighty dollars
for his tuition. Thus the tuition of one
child in private school amounted to more
than the education of two children in a
public school, and my portion of the en-,
tire burden of State, city and county gov
ernment, and these public schools were
nine to ten months schools, The burden
ON the individual is so small that | am
sure all would rejoice at the passage of
this bill. The other bill merely adds to
the school fund the remainder of what is
realized from the rental of the Western
and Atlantic Railroad, ,halfof which rental
is already school money, This bill would
add to our revenues one hundred and fiftV
thousand dollars, If this bill should be-
come law our entire fund would be
about six hundred thousand dollars. This
and the seven hundred thousand / men
toned just now are exclusive OF what is
raised by th9 local school governments.
II both bills pass our fund will be $3.50,
119 09.n
'sWhat would some county, saw Fulton.
get under these bills?'i
Here we would have a separation of
the proceeds, The city schools of Atlanta
are distinct from those of Fulton county,
Atlanta would receive enough to make
her entire school income from the State
amount TO $32, 1876 %. She would have to
levy only small municipal school tax to
run her schools the whole year. The
county, outside the city, would get &c.
lS2 u, which would run schools free for
fo1r months and a half"
''How long would this fund keep up
schools generallyT'
''Some counties would profit more and
others less by these measures. In many
counties there would be a sufficient fund
TO keep schools in operation ak months
The majority of the counties could Tfn
schools absolutely free for more than four
months, some could go as high as nine
months. This difference arises from the
difference in the value of the property and
the number of the children in the various
counties"
"Win there be any other measures oS
Importance before the Legislatureg,
Yes; there Is one other I would like
TOR you 20 mention-one that have nuh-
lished in another circular. with INV views
~ 70 US feasibility, A bin was introduced