The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1888-03-29
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

| e1oooAOo- Ar AWA1 MUSES..
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
superintendent Fingers Second Letter
"A Great Loss of Money.
We ought to get much more money
from poll taxes than we do. During
1887, the school census showed that
the white children between 6 and 21
.. years were 62.4 per cent. of the whole
census, and the colored children 37.6
pei cent which is about the proportion
that has existed between the children
for four years, as far back as I have
calculated it. But it is specially to
be noted that the tax lists for the year
1886 show 141 ,123 white polls and
only 4,60S colored polls, which make
the white polls 6S.6 per cent of the
whole number of polls and the colored
polls only 31.4 per cent. which is just
about the proportion that there has
been between the listed white and col
ored polls for four years also, as far
back as 1 have calculated it. The
United States census of 1880 showed
the number of white voters to be 1885,
| 1872 and of colored 105, ,018-294,750
voters of whom GA per cent. were
white and 356 per cent. colored. I
| bring the figures together for contrast
White children, 62.4 per cent.
White voters, GA per cent.
White polls listed, 68.6 per cent.
Colored children, 37.6 per cent.
Colored voters, 35.6 per cent.
Colored polls listed, A per cent.
This evidently shows large failure
to list for taxation on the part of the
negroes, for / feel sure that the color
ed people between and 81 years of
! age are not more in number proper
tionally to the whites than they are
beyond the age of 81 years, at which
age the polls are required to be listed.
Even if it is contended that proper
tionally more colored children are
born than whites, it is certainly true
that from want of attention more of
them proportionally die before they
reach the school age. These figures
tend strongly to show that instead of
Ga, ,609 colored polls listed for taxation
we should have 84,809-20,201 more
than we have, if the negroes listed as
well as the whites.
And further; The property Of the
State in 1886 was $2O2,752, 2,622. On
this the school tax is 124 cents on 800
which would amount to $253, ,44O.77,
which is essentially all collected. The
whole number of polls listed was 205,
731. At $3.50 on each, which is about
the average applied to schools, the
polls would give a revenue of $685.
696.50. Putting these two items to.
gether, we have $562,137.27. But
from these two sources the returns
show receipts to the school fund of only
$497 ,38794 which represents actual
collections of $523, ,566.21, the Sheriff 8
commissions OF 5 per cent being de-
Quoted before the revenues are placed
to the credit of the school fund. These
figures show loss of $38,571.06, al
most ali Of which is to be attributed to
failure to pay the listed poll tax.
Let us bring these figures together:
Loss on polls that are listed, $3S, ,571.06
Loss on 20,201 colored polls
not listed, so,s01 .ss
Total loss to school fundon
polls, $66,S72. 80
Total loss to poor fund Ct
as much,) 17,21s.22
Total loss on polls, $96.091.11
This is what it would be if the ne
groes listed as tceU as the qUhites
and all polls listed a0ere paid the es-
innate does not take into considera-
ton the number of whites that fail to
list and the proportional number of
negroes, which would doubtless swell
the amount very considerably. /
think it safe to estimate the loss to the
school fund from failure to list and
pay poll tax at not less than 5000 /;
and to the county poor fund at $685.
000-a total loss on poll tax of $780,
900.
OF course these figures are only an
approximation, but they are not very
far from the truth. Indeed the returns
and settlements with the sheriff, in
many counties, showvery large insolv-
ent lists. Whatever can be done by
| the county officers to correct this de-
linquency should by all means be
done, and / make the statement to
call special attention to it as a matter
of no small consequence. Surely peo-
pie who get the benefit of the public
schools ought at least to pay their poll
tax, almost all of which goes to the
school fund.
The county officers have gradually
increased the school funds without
any change in the law (the law has
not been essentially changed since
1881 SO far as as the school taxes are
eoncerneD by giving diligence to the
details of collection. point to this
matter of failure to list and pay poll
tax to show where still more diligence
is required and perhaps additional
legislation. S. M. FINGER,
Supt. Public instruction.
Give Us Their Names!