New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-05
THE STATE SCHOOL FUND.
ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO MAKE THE CITIES
PAY FOR COUNTRY SCHOOLS.

VIGOROUS DEBATE IN THE ASSEMBLY on A
BILL To GIVE THE RURAL DISTRICTS
100000 MORE - THE CITY MEMBERS
STRONGLY OPPOSING THE MEASURE.
PROM TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rnrnrSEI
Albany. March 4.-while New York and Brooklyn
do not have sufficient school buildings to accommo-
date the children who should receive education, and
as n consequence thousands OF city children are
growing to manhood and woman]loOd llll'cratc ana
ignorant it would seem that the state should not
step In ard deprive the cities named OF any oil the
money which they raise for their schools and trans
fer the money thus taken the support OF schools
in the rural districts. Yet this strange policy on
the part of the State is proposed by Mr. fech' Oh
Cortland County, in bill introduced by him appro
priating for the support of schools in the country
districts 100000 more of the state school moneys
than they now receive. New-iork. EIoohNh an"
other cities must pay this sum.
To-day the bill came up in the Assembly on 4 tl'r"
reading 1t was Immediately opposed by the Representa-
vcs of the cities. ir. Blumcnthal, of New iorA'
pointed that If the bill had been operative last year
New Yorh would have been deprived OF T'booo OF hc'
school money and Brooklyn Of $4,000; ana o'her
elite, woud have received less than was apportioncd
to them, in about the ratio OF their population 'o
that Of Ncw-York and Brooklyn. If the present Dil'
becomes law they will lose about the same amount
Of money. The amount raised by tax in the state
tax levy for the support Of the schools OF the state
is abont ~ 800 600. OF this the cities In the state
paw about - per cent or 5000 600. aud the towns
pay about % per cent. or si.2O0,0oo.
The proposed shifting OF the school burdens OF the
country upon the city populations IS not the first
Instance Of th, kind. Up 70 1eol, the basis OF dlstr
button of the state school moneys was the natural
one Of population. In 1851 this system wa, changed
in the interest Of the country districts, so that II was
provided that third OF these school moneys should
be divided equally among the districts and the re
naming two thi.d- should be appor'ioned
among the cite, and counties Of
the state according 10 their population
The effect % this system Of apportonmcnt Of the
school moneys that the cities, which stiil con
rihuted two thirds Of these moneys. received in return,
from the state for the support of their schools, only
ahou 40 per cent instead Of nearly % per cent; and
the towns which contributed only one-tlird to these
moneys now received about so per cent of the same
money
Matters continued in this favorable shape for the
rural districts until l-7J. when again the men VINO
1.-Two In them thought they could make some money
at the expense of the city populations lhcI tncre
fore again modl,d nc ba.i, Of reappot'ion.
mcnt and provided that ono half Of the state
school MONEYS .hould be distributed equally
among tie school districts, Instead OF one
:hiri A. acforc and the remaining hail onh
shomid Ice apportioncd on the basis OF population ia
stead Of two a. -'> on Thu basis. a. bc"rr. rms
va, "A pretty j. -. lat profitable 10 the ''1n'rN a.,
trict,. Under it. during the first two YEAR "i H.,
operation the cites lo.t 10000 OF their school,
moneys. New York paid So 600 Of this sum ana
Rr,oklNn 81 600 ~ H. since l--1 these TWO cite
have ON the average lost 10000 yearly bN th'
operation of the law The To-, 81 Brooklyn i the
me years ha, been -ll2.o0 Sow another attempt
e. made 10 shift to tho shoulder, Of Guy populations
fhc financial burden 81 educating children m the
country Nhcrr l. this Injustice r. stop VIII II
stop short Of c'r taxpayer, paying t'lo whole eA
pcnsc Of supporting the country voter, ,u ,n, 3,
The A--"uhly today did NOT pas the hi hu' "
rcc.v.d fffv .cVcn vote iu it, favor ONLY ci@h
vote. short Of the -Ntl five vote necessary 10 pa
A. The city A-scmhlymCn cast thirytwo vote
nran~t IT,