The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-12-11
Our school Binding.

"Othello.' who should be better i'm
formed than most Of Us, gives elsewhere
the true reasons interfering with the
successful operation of our Public School
system, as they appear 10 him. We
agree with him so far as his statement
goes, that those who have a school of
their ow II cannot be expected to support
the free school system as long as they
can secure the use of better one. In
his exposition of the financial strength
of the classes into which he divides US,
we can also agree with our correspon-
dent. Therefore we need to discuss only
few points put forward in his article.
Under our law, by agreement between
the Board of Public Instruction and the
County Commissioners, money may be
raised by taxation for the erection of
suitable school buildings throughout the
county. If our officers have been in
doubt on this point, they can be so no
longer, because the matter has been
practically decided and has gone into
successful opel alton in every county in
the State except Putnam. Let them
cast aside such doubts and take lessons
from the experience of others.
If it is then taken for granted that the
County Commissioners may legally levy
tax for school purposes" including
the erection of uitable buildings" let
the sum due Palatka in this distribution
be distinctly stated, and, if necessary,
let the city council provide au additional
sum for 1.-The erection of suitable pub
lie building" And when once such
struo ture is provided, surely no one can
doubt the ability of the Board of Public
Instruction to provide for the proper pay
of teachers. The town and county have
worked together in the past and ecu do
so in the futJre. As or correspondent
says, the work contemplated WI benefit
the whole community, and should not
be left to the generosity of the public
spirited among us.
And we might remind our correspon-
dent that the law cannot distinguish be
tween citizers or divide them into
cls 7ses. As ell will benefited, so ali
must be t1xed, but just proportion of
the proceeds may be laid Pside for the
VI f, of our colored fellow-citizens, as is
the custom in the South ever ywhere.
The taxation c1nnot be levied - sug-
gested, but the same effect may be OF
tanned practically, SO that no class among
Us will have just cause for complaint.
L ct Is have no ciT Is legislation even if
such ir'quily were possible under the
Constitution, but let Justice be done 70
each, that we may continue to live har
moniously aud 70 mutuf' advantage in
the same community.
Our col res pondent enters into ques-
tior5 sfecting our churches of which we
know nothing, but surely it would he
ur-e ,orable TO eApect either a man or
denomination TO support the efforts of
others when those nearer TO heart or con-
science claimed his attention. Cr~ ex
peiienCe with our Catholic citizens
both of the Rom'sh and Protestant Epis-
copll chr -ches, lead US TO believe that
they are ready to go hand in hand with
ery person promising the material enc
tit of the com munity in which they re-
side. Among them pre- 10 lie found citi-
zens rs rema 'kable for public spirit u >
the pc session of wealth. But they
cor'd +" oily Il expected to neglect
their denomira, onaI schools for those
given 'hem 10y the public, when the au-
thorities in each church forbid them to
do so, a1d i1cU'cate IS du.; the sup
port of those provided for them by the
organ It.on to which they belong.
The building of a new Courthouse is
now contemplated. but if necessary, this
should give place TO the school building.
Ii the coUHty is able TO give us both, let
IS have them; &c not, give us the school
building first. The latter W Ill be of more
benefit II the community, to the county
at l"-ge, and il erection and proper sup
port will create "A better impression
abr DAD. b1d we think a much less sum
will be sufficient than that given 10y our
CORR spondent.
The Tampa GUdFIiGh, the oldest Re-
puhlican new sDaper in the State is dead