Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-01-16


from rs to 90 Der cent of actual value.
The causes which have operated to bring
about these inequalities in assessment appear
10 be, first, desire on the part Of township
assessors and county boards to diminish, as
much as possible, the proportion Of their
respective county and state tax; and, second,
to avoid the restrictions upon tax levies,
provided in section DO, chapter %, laws Of
1873. Under this section, county with a
property valuation not exceeding S., 000, 900,
can levy enc per cent for general purposes,
and is thereby enabled to raise $50, 900 But
should the valuation be increased TO SIS, 100,-
900, the county authorities can levy only
one-half Of one per cent, yielding revenue
of only $4,000. If, therefore, the sum OF
$4,000 is required for current expenses, the
county must either increase its assessed value
nj once from S5,0O0,000 to 100000 or
keep such values below the first named sum.
The constant tendency. therefore, is toward
low valuations. This difficulty might be
rcmedied bv authorizing levy of one per
cent on valuation Of S5,000,OO0, and pro-
vidipg that the levy sheuld be decreased one
mill for each 81 900 900 increase in valuation.
Several counties have, during the past few
years, sought to inaugurate reform in as
sessments, and TO comply with the require
ments Of our laws. But as such attempts in
varibly resulted in imposing unequal and
oppressive burdens upon their Taxpayers,
the authorities of such counties have soon
abandoned their purpose
The whole question of the assessment and
equalization of property values is of grave
and general importance, worthy of the seri-
Gus attention of the legislature. / am aware
that it is complex subject, and presents
many phases difficult TO tremendously and
equitably adjust. But can conceive Of no
question likely TO come before YOU that is of
more vital interest to the general welfare of
the people, or more deserving of patient,
careful, intelligent study and consideration.
SCHOOL DISTRICT BOND LEvIEs.
Under the provisions of section 1877, chap
ter 90, G. l.. OF 1878, it is made the duty OF
the board of county commissioners of each
county tc levy, annually, upon all the taxa
Bile property in each school district in such
county, a tax sufficient to pay the interest
accruing upon any bond issued by such dis
trict. and TO provide a sinking fund for the
final redemption of the bonds
Ii sometimes happens, either from neglect
or purposely, that the duty thus enjoined is
not performed, and no provision is made for
the payment of coupons or bonds until long
after maturity. As the majority of these
school district bonds are owned BY the per
manent school fund, would it not be well
TO give the state board of school fund COM
missioners authority to fully protect the in.
terests of the funds in their guardianship
by comforting upon them power to make the
necessary levies in all cases where county
commissioners have refused or neglected &c
! do so,
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
| The school system of Kansas embraces tn,
common schools, the university, the Agri
cultural college and the Normsl school, The
constitution makes it an imperative duty o
the legislature .'to encourage the promotion
of intellectual, moral, scientific and agri
cultural improvement. by estsblishinga uni
form system of common schools, and school,
of higher grade embracing normal, prepar
atory. collegiate and university depart
ments." The duty thus enjoined in oul
organic law has been supplemented by ar
unfailing and even prodigal generosity or
the part of the people of the state, in tn,
facilities provided for the education of oui
youth. The first public thought, in every
settlement in Kansas, has been the schoo
house. The best constructed and mos
costly building in every town, city or hamlet
of the state, is the public school. No Kansa.
community, in the darkest days If ha:
known. has ever felt too poor to pay for 6
school house and employ a teacher. When
the people were living in dug-outs, they
voted bonds TO build a comfortable school
house on the hill. Believing education to
be "a better safeguard of liberty than g
, standing army" and that OH il the future
destiny and glory of the state must funda.
mentally rest, no touch of parsimony has
characterized the relations between the tax
payers of Kansas and our school system
The expenditures of the state for public ed
ucation exceed the aggregate Of all other
expenditures.
The report of the state superintendent OF
public instruction shows school popula.
| tion-between the ages of FIVE and twenty
one years-of Al $50, an increase of 2S,9Sl
over 1888. The scholars enrolled num-
bered 30S, 601, an increase of IL ,433 over the
enrolment of the previous wear. The at
| tendance in 1888 averaged 16s,1l7; for the
year Just closed, 207 plan increase of 80,
| l04. In 1874 the enrolment was only 1885,
| 59S, and the attendance 1885. These fig
ures show an increase, in ten years, of 1885,
003 in enrolment and l29.S35 in attendance.
The teachers employed in the public
schools in 1888 numbered S,2S3; in 1884,
S,342, OF whom 1896 were males and 5,406
females. Average wages paid teachers, per
month, males, $40 20; females, $50 IS. In
1874 there were 5,043 teachers employed of
whom {, 800 were males and 1853 females.
The average wages then paid were: Males,
S31 "a; females, S2S,69. The increase in
the average wages paid indicates an increas-
ing demand for better qualified teachers.
The school buildings and grounds are val
ued at S5,7l5,5S2. There are 6,605 school
houses, of which Az were built during the
past year. In 1874 the school houses num-
bered only S,543, valued at $685., 0S5. In
crease in number of school houses during
the past ten years, 1862; in their value, ST.
1885, 97.
The receipts and expenditures for school
purposes, during the school year ended July
81, 1884, are shown by the following ex-
hibit:
Receipts-Balance in district treasures
August !, 1888, S37s,271.s1. Amount re-
ceived from county treasurers from district
taxe-, S2,02l ,053.25; received from county
school funds, S304, 44474; from all other
sources, SlIa,27l.l5. Making total of SS,-
392,O50.35.
xpenditures-Amoun paid for teachers
wages, 81 $50, 134.62; for rents, fuel and in
cidentals, S421, 542.17; for libraries and
school apparatus, S55.602.30; for sites,
buildings and furniture, S566ss231.47; for all
other purposes, Sl45,S 22.72. Total expendi-
lures Tor school purposes during the year,
$685., 963.2S. Balance in the hands Of dis
trict treasures, July 3lst, 1884, sos, 0s7 OF.
School Funds-The investment o. the
permanent school fund for the fiscal year
ended June 80, 1888, aggregated $780,
1885; for the fiscal year ended June 80,
1884, S753, s6l; for The period from June 30
to December /, 1884, S24S,5sS. Tota., ST.
QE1 o0k * The 81 ka1,,,.
ing TO this fund, remaining in the state
treasury December /, last was S1,169.75.
TUE COUNTY TEACHERS INSTITUTES
Are doing excellent work, and the money
appropriated for them, by the state is well
spent. Our school system must depend for
its success largely on the spirit and enter
prise of the teachers, and these institutes,
furnishing normal education to the great
body of our public educators, and promot-
ing and fostering spirit of pride in their
profession, are of importance and general
benefit. For SO large body of officers, the
teachers Of Kansas rank well. But there is
room for improvement, and it is worthy of
inquiry whether an increase of tie work of
the county institutes would not be wise.
HIGHER SCHOOL
Our institutions of advanced education
seem TO be in fourshing condition. I'm
the common school system Is in
fnitely more valuable to US as state than
the higher institutions, but both are neces-
sary TO secure the best results in the forma-
ton of wise and intelligent community. /
Kansas is now great, populous and wealthy
state. and can afford TO be liberal, though |
not extravagant, in providing for our insti- |
buttons Of higher education. The public |
schools should be put in harmonious rela-
lions with the university, the agricultural /
college, and the normal school, feeding them 4
with the best blood and brain of the state.
The graduates of all these institutions, as a
rule, remain permanent citizens of Kansas,
and give us the benefit of their knowledge,
md OF the discipline to which they have
been subjected. The higher schools OF
earning have always been the home and
nursery Of progress and freedom, even in de-
,potic governments, and their liberalizing,
and up-building results among
free people cannot be overestimated.
The three great educational institutions Of
he state should each, however, conine its
work TO the purposes for which il was estsb-
ished. No one of them should attempt,
lor be permitted, TO trench on the field as
igned the Others. There is room and need
OF them all, each in its legitimate province.
The st, tie does not need, and should not be ask
d 10 support, two or three universities, or