The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-03-29

4 NN@N--
stones: I've beg you to remember that
while il is fun for you it Is severe pun
ishment for Us" We are told that the
high mill rate that is paid Is no indics-
ton Of heavy tax burden, that il IS ow-
ing to an unjustly low rate Of assessment
N the districts where the high millage
rate is found. l cannot tell how this
may be in other portions Of the State, bat
I do know that in my own county, where
the mill rate in some districts runs as loE
as two and in others as high as ten the
county commissioners have been endeav-
oring for years to equal q as nearly as
possible the assessments 50 that no dis
trict in the county shall be compelled 10
pay an unjust share Of the county taxes
And know, moreover, from a CON-
parison of the prices have received for
lands have sold during the last few
years at trustees and administrators
sales with the assessed values Of the same
that the discrepancy between the assess
ed value and the real value, If there be
any such discsepancy at all, is not very
great. But, sir, let the question Of agree
ment between assessment values and real
values be settled as il may, l do know
that there are in some Of the mountain
Gus districts Of this state men who own
farms, not very productive / viii admit,
who with the helpo their families are
a0le by close economy 20 make a living,
- whom the tax burden is not myth
but reality. Men who are Just as patri-
otic and as much concerned for the good
Of the country as any Of Us. Some Of
them proved their patriotism when the
very life Of the nation was at stake by
placing themselves in that line that stood
ike a wall between their country and
everlasting ruin, and to-day they are say
ing to Us, Ease up the burden little.
comrades if you can The march IS
long one and the knapsack is getting
heavy 50 lend Us a neighborly hand II
in your power.
BIT, Mr.. President, do not wish 70
consume the time Of the senate and
shall therefore say nothing further upon
the Importance Of permitting the inereas-
ed appropriation to be used IN some de-
gree at least, to relieve local taxation.
But do not argue, Mr. President that
this is the only object that We should seek
to secure by a proper use Of the increased
appropriation In many o. the districts
of the Commonwealth, We have been IN
able in the past to provide our schools
With the most improved and brst appara-
tus 50 essential 70 aid our teachers 10 their
work. Our school buildings and grounds
are not what We could wish them 70 be.
Undesirable sites for school buildings
have been purchased at low prices Or ac-
eepted as donations because school boards
did not consider that the people were
able to bear the expense ofseeuring more
desirable sites, at a great cost We have
been rejoicing in the fact that through
the liberality Of our State legislature,
a better day has dawned- school boards
have been planning improvements in
these directions. With the additional
funds coming into their hands to meet
the running expenses of the schools, they
have been eherishing the hope that they
may be able 10 increase the tax for build
ing purposes. The hearts Of our boys
and girls have been filed with Joyous ex-
pectatiOns, as visions Of more eomforts-
bic houses with better furniture and nice
ly ornameated grounds have arisen be-
fore them. And now, SIR, shall We say
that those expectations shall not be real
zed? shall Ee, sir, with one fell stroke
kuock down the hopes upon which
thousands Of children In our rural homes
have been building? Shall We say to
them We do not regird your desire Tor
more comfortable surroundings, OF your
appreciation Of the beautiful, and there
fore, notwithstanding the fact yea have
dared TO hope for something better, you
must content yourselves with the IN
painted walls and the scanty furniture of
the sold school house by the creek p L
hope, sir, that when We come to record
oar vote upon these questions that even
my friend, the gentleman from LIneas-
er will say NO"
There is another line in which our
people in many Of the rural districts have
been hoping 10 be able to make improve
.ments and that IS in raising the standard
Of efficiency among teachers. With the
aid heretofore given by the State, We have
not been able to pay our teachers the sal
aries that we'll qualified and competent
teachers can command If the minimum
school term is permitted to remain as it
is, directors will be able 70 pay better
wages, our teachers with increased ssla-
ries, viii be able TO devote nearly halfo
the year TO self improvement, either at
their homes or At school, and We may
reasonably hope that in q few years much
better work will be done and substantial
improvement in the condition Of our
public schools will be secured What We
need most in the rural districts, if you
viii allow Us to judge for ourselves, is not
a logger term but better teaching. and
We only ask to have chance and feel
sure we will be able to work out this
problem to the entire satisfaction Of ALL
The people have as yet had no opportu-
nifty TO devise and carry into effect plans
for improvement The increased spprO-
priatiOn IS a new thing. The people have
scarcely recovered from the surprise
that was given them by the passage Of
the measure, and for rs to say DOW that
We are not going to trust them as to the
use 10 which il will be applied until they
have a chance to prove their intentions,
would be 10 act upon the principle Of The
Datchman who m Ide ii rule 70 whip
his boy in the morning for the mischief
he expected him 70 do during the day.
There is, Mr. Chairman one other con-
siderztion that l woaid urge as a reason
why this matter should be left Just as it
is, and that Is the fact that ! feel sure
that in many districts the additional
month, II it were added to the school
term would be a dead letter. Many Of
the farmers Of our state cannot, with the
nra.anf r,riess ,f farm, nroIucfs rftlin,