Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-05-12
EFect oftho State school Tax.

The figures furnished by State Treasurer
Field showing the practical working of the
State school tax have been in vestigated by
the mathematician of the st. Johnsbury
Republican, who finds that the law works in
favor of the small towns to the disadvan-
tage Of the large towns. The Republican
learns that tue law mulcted lLiddlebury
about $500 for the benefit of the smaller
towns; bennington about the same, ST.
Johnsbury %9;S1l; Burlington $474G ST.
Adams Sl1S3; Rutland @3l74; Barre about
500, and Montpelier $1,000; Brattleboro
$l40O and Rockingham Bellows Falls
$1,000, and Woodstoc& about $3.50 1t holds
that the law in fact is a law to tax the
larger towns for the benefit Of the smaller
ones, and says that the taxpayers of the
country districts accept the windfall cheer
fully, and Immediately proceed to make
their own school tax just so much less
In discussing the effect of the law the Re-
publican says: "The law benefits no one on
earth except these country taxpayers. No
more money is spout for schools than
before, but the country taxpayers save the
amount which the State takes from the
/
just so with the Huntington fund. The
only practical effect of the distribution of
that fund was that the country districts re
duced their own taxation by the precise
amount Of their receipts from the fund"
There IS manifest injustice here and the
| repeal of the law by tho next legislature
would undoubtedly be demanded by equity;
/ but if the smaller towns are benefited to
| the extent indicated it may be- as difficult to
meut OF representation in the lower House
in proportion to the population OF towns
\ l:ural Free Delivery Eypcrimc nts
Tho news columns OF the FqEE Press
have already contained briof allusion to
Postmaster General Wanamakers letter,
urging the extension Of the free delivery ex-
peFimouts to villages and forming districts,
! just sent TO the Senate But the general
interest in the result Of this experiment calls
for some explanation Of the outlook for its
success. AIR. WanamaEer Letter was ac-
compaaed by batch Of 4i2 newspaper
opinions, oil in favor Of the proposed rural
free delivery extension, and eight against it
| HIlCl IL iS Cialueq were all tlat could be
found. These have been sent in from all
the States and Territories except Alaska,
indian Territory, New Mexico aud North
Carolina.
Senator Mitchell of Oregon. who has re-
ported from the Senate committee au
amendment to the postoitics appropriation
ILL appsopriatng 5000 900 TO continue the
postm0ster.geuera free delivery expert
r!ents, says that be had every reason TO be
iieye that, 80 Ear rs ths Senate is concerned
at least, the amendment will be adopted
ho th.nks, also, Judging from the great
number of lettsrs and petitions received by
members OF Congress from all parts Of the
country strongly faYorinG this test, that the
House, as veil IS tho Senate, will ohecrfully
respond to tho demand.
Tie extension propolel has already been
accomplished in England and other coun
tries and tbgre would 4esm to bs no gooo
reason 1ynj. 1T should not bs made a success
IN Tho United state. II may require somt
time Of course, to extend tie sarYics in tn,
Eow states whers tl.e population il sparse
but IN the o'ler s.atas, aud in tho we'll set
tied portions OF tbe nov states, / see nothing
in tie way =. establishing this service at