Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1889-02-21
To Increase the school Levy.

the State. gained victory to-day which
they have fought for for years. Il was on
ordering TO IL, third reading House bill No.
II. introduced by Mr. Altizer, Of Calhoun,
and increasing the State school levy from
ten cents ON the hundred dollars 10 fifteen
cents. The measure. in some form, has
been before every Legislature for ten years
back Il has been fought bitterly by the
Weather counties, and they have always
shown enough strength 70 defeat in in the
House. The secret Of the opposition Is
that these counties already pay in much
more 10 the State school fund than they
draw ont under the plan of apportiOnment.
The difference is a clear loss TO them. An
increase in the levy increases the loss.
Mr.. Altizer introduced the present bill
early in the session, and, as one of its
friends expressed it, they made "a gilt
eiged canvass" forit Thewool was pulled
over the eyes of not few members whose
constituents viii be direct losers BY it,
Chew. Garden. Haneu and Sprigg lead the
fight to-day against the bill, and Atlzer'
Dorr Davies and Kee for IT, Both sides
struggled hard. but there was no breaking
the ranks of the country" members and
they finally carried it by decisive vote.
PEEK. Of Nicholas, opened the debate for
the friends of the bill He said that the
Legislature had been liberal in making ap-
preparations TO all the State ins buttons
There was no objection to these on the
ground that the rich counties like Jefferson
and Ohio, would have to pay more than the
counties of Nicholas and Webster, why
then should they object to this bill on this
particular grounds The gentlemen con-
tended that it was unfair TO them because
they paid out much more than they received
This was not the only fund in which this
was done. The State had an irreducible
school fund Of nearly 100000. He could
show where it came from. The county Of
Ohio paid Sis Of it and the county Of
Webster S24S20 the county of Brooke 5000
and the county of Lincoln $4,000. This
fund was distributed over the State in pro-
portion 90 the enumeration, and the county
of Ohio got FIVE times as much advantage
from it as the county of Lincoln. Mr.
Peck explained that the interior counties
could not run their school houses for they
were already at the uppermost notch. In
Webster county the people were taxed fifty.
four cents ou the hundred for three months
and fourteen days Of school, and in Jeier-
son county they paid sixteen cents for ten
months and five days of school.
Mr.. Gibson, Of Jefferson, objected To
these figures and showed that in the major
ity of the districts of Jefferson county the
school levy was from 80 10 40 cents on the
hundred dollars. A hot controversy be
tween Gibson and Peek followed. The for.
mer contendcl vigorously, that Jefferson
county already paid am immense sum To
support schools in the interior counties. and
he objected Co am increase in this species
robbery Jefferson county last year paid
S3,l5S more into the school fund than she
got out. The Is cent levy would raise THAI
sum to nearly $1,000 On the other hand
Nicholas county received Sl,S45 more than
she paid into the State fund, aud the Decent
levy would give her half as much more
Peek replied and made ana effective point in
urging the necessity Of providing good
schools 90 attract immigration
Col Chew, Of Jefferson. took the floor To
oppose the bill. The county which he rep.
resented had been denominated a rich one
If i, was rich he did not know it. The
land in Jefferson county was appraised at 81
very high rate His people were alread,
burdened with taxes, and they were not
prepared 90 assume more. These couutie,
which were now demanding the increase
levy, would soon be the rich counties
They had inexhau>tblc wealth and were
developing rapidly. I'm few years. if thi,
bin passed, they would be back here de-
handing "a repeal. What they ought toa>k
now, and Inc had so held in every Legisla
lure boz which he had sat. wa, TO apply th,
.reducible school fund to this purpose
To would De ample and supply all needs.
AT thi, time Col Chew said it would b,
hardship TO ask an increase in the stat,
levy The counties of Ohio. Marshall
Harrison, Marion and Others came here and
said they had been swept by floods. their
roads had been cut to pieces. their bridge,
swept away, their crops ruined They could
bear uo further taxation. The same was
true of counties in the eastern Pan Handle
The bankruptcy of farmers in the magnif-
cent Noore6eli valley showed that thew
were in no prosperous condition. and were
able 20 pay no greater amount for school
purposes than they did The bill should
not, In justice to these interests, pass at this
time.
Col Chew concluded his address with a
timely warning to the friends of the b n
CHAT they would injure the school system o,
insisting ON passing it now.
Never Bets or His Olrn HogSe