The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-03
FRIENDS SCHOOL TAX.
The Proposition to Remit the Tax
On Its Property.
THE ARGUMENTS PRO AND CON.
Some Reasons for the Remission OF the
Tax aud Some Considerations that
May be Expected to be Taken into
Account by State Lawmakers

OF the charter OF the Yearly Meeting OF
the Society Of Friends has for Its object
the remission Of the tax that Is now
levied on aud collected Of tho Friends
School.
The proposition to remit that tax In
wolves the attitude of the state towards
that large class Of educational institu-
tions that are not wholly free, and that
are partially UNCONVENTIONAL, to which
the Friends School belongs. The policy
OF the state Is to encourage the spread OF
education by making it as free as posi-
ible. This Is the national policy. There
can be no difference OF opinion about
that.
The question for the legislators to de-
termine Is whether or not the Friends
School Is within the purvlew OF that
policy aud whether che loss OF the tax
10 the public treasury would be compen-
sated for by the added value of the work
OF the school as public educator.
Those who know the history OF the
school, and who consider tue constant
liberalization that has been going on In
It's management, are in position to en-
phatically answer that the tax ought to
ne remitted, both as a matter OF justice
to the school and as a matter of benefit
to the public.
The Friends School is now sectarian in
name but not in fact. The training
given the boys and girls there is such as
they will profit by the most, irrespective
of any special religious bent or tendency,
and the school is practically opea to the
children OF the people OF all and any de-
nomination. IL has funds the income Of
which is devoted to the education OF GER
tain specified classes, as all colleges and
institutions have. But the doors OF the
school are open, as we understand, TO any
child that wishes to enter them.
The Friends school is, to all practical
intents, a school open to all. 1t does not
discriminate. 1t has pupils from all
classes and from all religious denomina-
tions. o ily about one-third of the
pupils now in the school are the children
OF Quakers The proportion Is steadily
1000 Rhode Islanl children. which 10 in
itself powerful argument for the re-
mission of the tax. or rather a demon
stration that the school is entitled to be
counted as one OF the public educational
institutions OF the sta.e.
There are many relslns that the trus-
tees of the Friends School are entitled
To urge in favor of the remission OF the
burdensome tax. One that Is OF great
significance Is that the payment OF the
tax cripples the school more than the
mere payment of the money could, IL the
money were available. IL SO happens
that the funds Of the school are all SO
tied ur by the deeds OF gift tnat none of
them can be touched for any purpose
but the education of the pupils desig-
mated. The tax has to come out
of the real estate OF the school
the splendid park, that is one
of the chief beauties Of the East
Side. Since 1876 land to the
value of over $50, 900 has be.n sold of the
A IN of ~ 4 ha
most beautiful parks 10 the city will soon
be worn away. The city is spending
great sums OF money annually for the
public park system, and is entirely jusii-
fed in the expenditure by public opinion.
Is there any consistency in doing so and
at the same time allowing this beautiful
park OF the Friends School 10 be eaten
up by taxation that Is as unjust as it is
impolitlc
1t appears to be the policy of the state
to exempt such institutions from tax
ton. IL has recently granted charters to
schools that are distinctly sectdrian, and
make no pretensions OF being open to the
general public, and exempted them from
taxation. IL does no. tax Churches. nor
Libraries, nor works of arts. nor the Y NJ.
&. A., nor Brown University, nor grave
wards, nor town and city educational
property. 1t is said tfat there are vari-
Gus s'institutions OF similar nature to
the Friends school. and that are clearly
taxable. that the assessors convenie emily
miss. They do not miss this school; how
ever, as the trustees know only too
we'll.
While the taxing OF the school appears
upon its tace TO be unjust and inconsis-
tent, il would not be wise for the state to
remit the tax without first having
caused to be made very careful and
thorough examination OF all the bearings
- nf
school toward the state and the question
| of the admission TO 1t of pupils not able
| to fully pay tuition aud the other ex-
penses OF an education should be fully
unders ;ood. Would the trustees OF the
| school be willing to give to the state. or
to the city OF PROVIDE ice, certain mum
| Der of free scholarships, or u certain
number of PRIVILEGES for tie reception OF
| day pupils Or have the trustees any
other concession TO offerf 1t is not alto
| ether one-sided question.
If the state con.ess benefit worth
some q, 600 u yeur upon the school, what
| is the school going TO do for the state
| 1t may he urged tnat ths mere fact that
| 1. assists In the general scheme of public
| education Is ample compensation TO the
| state. Perhaps 80, but IL Will be argued
| on the other side tnat tie state preftrs t.
| have some say in that. AT the present
time. the Friends School is a close cor
| poratiop, so lar as tue generai puDiic II
concerned, and it may DC that s trustees
| ara conductors are themselves so com
| pletely convinced that it is doing &
| Splendid and worthy work that they over
| look the fact that the public is not a,
| we'll informed as they. and cannot, there.
fore. be expected to manifest the sam,
| degree of lterest In IT,.
| il mi lht not be "a bad plan for the trus
tees. or Mr.. Jones,tI take the public into
| thelr con fidence aud state wnat 1t is pro
posed thai the school snail do for th,
| state IL the state will consent to waiv,
its right to the yearly pound OF flesh tnat
is now demanded. IL Is generally found
tnnt states are inclined To be generou,
toward whatever is o. benefit TO the stat'