Smyrna times., 1885-12-30
For the Smyrna Times.
Who Should Pay the Taxes for
School Purposes,

-
Mr.. EDIToR:-We often hear
charges preferred against the justice or
injustice of the system Of raising
money in this State for school pur-
poses. Persons who are either not ia
miliar with the situation of our State,
or have not studied the question from
a disinterested standpoint, claim that
real estate should be taxed almost ex-
clusively. But should they take the
trouble to look into the matter they
would be convinced that this would
be not only unjust but impOlitic. Real
estate already bears the chief burthen
of taxation for all purposes and less re-
turns are received from it than most
other investments, and it is neither
or just that it should carry
all the load.
There may be some instances where
our schOOllaw bears heavily upon some
who are not owners of real estate. But
it is next to impossible to formulate
any law of general character that
will bear upon all alike. 1t was a wise
man that framed the law and he gave
it years of study and we doubt whether
it can be much improved under the
existing state of things in this State.
Some young men think it hard that
they should be required to pay a tax
while they have no interest in the
school. They are, however, the very
ones that should pay reasonable
amount, for they have had the benefit
of schools paid for by others, and now
after receiving an education and being
fitted to 60 forth and compete in the
business walks of life, it is but reason
able that they should be willing to as
sist in preparing others for like condi-
tions.
Now to show the injustice of placing
the whole burden Of supporting our
public schools upon real estate we will
state case by way of illustration
Let us suppose that John Jones lives in
Dover and owns one or more farms in
Murderkill or any other district outside
of Dover, and suppose, as is often the
case, that three-fOurths of the farms in
the district are occupied by tenants
and suppose also that the law taxed rea
estate only. When the school voter.
come together at school election Mr.
Black says that we ought to have {
better school house. They have mucl
finer school houses in some other dis
tricts, making ours look rather shabby
Il agree with yOu," says Mr.. Brown
land l move that we organize or ap
point building committee and builC
a new house at once" g secOnC
that notion" says Mr.. Green, "and a
this money will all be raised from tn
real estate let us have one that will b
a credit to the district as it will cost u
nothing, then we can command a goo
teacher and pay him a liberal salary a
the money for that purpose will b
raised in the same way" Now it ma
be presuming too much to suppOs
that these gentlemen would talk jus
that way. But in many instances the
would feel that way though the
might not express it, feeling none {
the burden themselves and regardles
of the interests of others, go on pilin
up taxes until Mr.. Jones would be gla
to give his farm away as he is entirel
helpless in the matter, not having
single vote on the question. In SON
institutions a member numbers h
votes according to the amount of il
terest he holds in it, but not so in thi
If Mr.. Jones owned all the farms in IL
district he would have no right to Vo
in it while he resides out of the di
trict. But with our present wise an
JuulClOuo laws IL 10 ulll6I6lOs m
Black, Mr. Brown and Mr.. Gree
while taxing others are under the IA
cessity of taxing themselves. This
just as it should be. 1t is presumab
that these gentlemen are able to scho
their own children and let the tax {
real estate of nOn-residents and Il
school fund go to school the childrt
of the less fortunate. Our distri
schools are not to be sneezed {
though they might be better in son
cases. But as a rule a young man
! young lady that has been through t
different branches taught in our pub
schools are prepared for most busine
open to the middle walks of life.
higher grade of education might be 4
: sirable if it did not unfit nine out
ten for the active duties of life.
working an education into them
takes all the work out of them. Fl
mers need education as much as othe
but where is the farmer that went frC
! the college to the plOw, or even to t
farm to superintend while 9th,
= ploughed. We know of but fe
There is not one cOllege-bred gent
man in ten that is worth anythi
outside the professions, and major
u of our male school teachers are in [
same line; all want to be profession
I men-dOctors, lawyers, preachers, c
ih lege presidents, school superintendent
anything but work, and sooner Il
ry go back to the farm, accept a clerks
in a store or elsewhere.
ny ny We do not object to good scho
ap and good school houses, but we tn
o. or it just, right and proper that tn
- that enjoy the benefit of them, sho
T. help to sustain them.
ssh T. B. CoURsEN
nd FredericG, DEL, Dec. 21st, 1885.
NC The MOnongahela coal war Is
raging. The strikers not being I