Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-04-06
CHAUNNE1 W. BEUW NJ
Burling ton, March 2S, 1893.

Ex-StAte Superintendent Palmer of Wa
torbury Exprss.rs some Ideas Concern
ing Disputed Questions.
To the Editor OF the Free Press:
am unable to detect so many difficulties
in the way OF executing the present school
laws as some do, and l regret to say that
think you are in error in the positions you
taks in last Saturdays editorial.
/. The State school tax law of 1890 is not
repealed by section 39 of No 81, acts of
1892, which says; "All acts and parts of
acts inconsistent with this act are hereby
repealed" A bill, as | understand, was in
troduced into tho Senate for the express
purpose of repeating that law, and the SEN
ate after consideration finally refused to
pass it. This is conclusive proof that the
Legislature did not intend to repeal IT,
Again, it is difficult to soc how one Law can
be "Inconsistent' with another Law so long
as both can he fully and legally executed
without collision. The execution Of the
State tax law will not conflict, in any re-
tpect, with the execution of the town system
law. The tax law is to be executed this
year in the same way and under the same
conditions as in the past two years, for sec
| ton d, which you quote, declares that
| the State treasurer shall divide annu-
ally the money among the towns,
"in proportion to the number Of legal
SCHOOLS sustained the preceding school
year. Not one reason has been or can be
urged against the enfor cement Of the tax
law that could not have been brought
against it during the past two years. A
law may be inequitabls in its operation and
not 'inconsistent' with any other law. Tho
danger il not that there will 10 too many
com bin ations OF small schools, but too few
| The per cent State tax law was a mere
| compromise agreed to In the last hours of
| the legislative session Of 1890. Its purpose
was to equaizs the taxes between the towns,
and 1t 10 ono OF the best school laws ever pass
| ed In this State. That kind Of legislation is
regarded every where in the United States
as extremely beneficial to the small rural
schools, and should not be lightly set aside.
The town directors should consolidate the
small schools for the good OF the schools.
| Suppose that two small schools in a certain
town are united to two Others 1t is true
that the town would draw S72 less from the
State treasury, but by the combination, il
it maintained the same grade of schools
1t would savs the expense OF
supporting the two schools - a
least SEES. But the town ough
to use this money go gained, or large par
Of it, in improving the other schools
Hence, while proper combination Of thu
small schools would slightly benefit tb
larger districts, II would add to the efticieno,
Of the smaller schools. Indeed, grant wha
you claim namey,--that combination
would result inequitably to the smal
schools, whether that would render the lay
imperative is not question for the Stat
treasurer to decide, or even the courts, bu
for the next Legislature TO determin
whether the method OF division ought to b
changed. Also, on your claim, the tax la'
would be binding until there was a cor
solidation of the districts Hence, it fo
lows valid law can be made inopsratiV
and void by the action of the board {
town directors This, Of course, Is imposs
BILE.
2. Division Of the public money. Tn
selectmon ''shall annually divid
the school moneys in the treasury OF sue
town among the school districts in sue
town, etc. School law of 1888, Sec. 23S
No, 8, acts of 1890, Sec. 2. This is til
law of the State. No attempt has bee
made to repeal or modify it in any respec
Therefore, nothing can be palmer tina
that 1t is the duty OF the seleotmen I
divide the public money this spring. Blu
it does not follow from this that the
should pay it all over to the districts.
u. Surplus In district treasury-Ihe onl
question Of any difficulty, as 1t appears
me, In the execution Of the school laws, r.
: latss to the disposition OF this surpu
There Is no statute that governs, and Their