The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-26

cal taxation. Under our present consti-
tuition the local tax cannot be levied ex-
cept upon the recommendation of two
successive grand juries and then upon the
approval OF two-thirds of the voters of
the last registration list of the county
1t frequently happens that one grand
jury will recommend local taxation and
the next grand jury will refuse to recon-
mend 1t. 1t has also frequently happened
that two grand juries have recommended
the tax levy and a vote is taken, and
while well-nigh unanimous vote has been
cast in favor of the tax for schools. yet
the indifference of the voting population
and their failure to go to the polls have
resulted in the failure to get the requisite
constitutional two-thirds.
The legislature should take some step
necessary to simplify this matter and
make 1t easier for the people to secure
local taxation for their schools. when
majority of the people interested really
desire it.
I'VE can turn the tide of population
into the rural districts in this state just
as soon as we can provide a school sys-
tenn in the rural districts that will educate
the children.
There are thousands of people in the
cities and towns in Georgia eking out
wretched existence, who would be glad
to so back to the country if they could
educate their children in the country.
He speaks of the interest throughout
the nation in rural schools. The ideal
system, he says, was found by the COM
mittee of the national association, to be
that in vogue in Chatham, Bibb and Rich
mond counties, in Georgia, and this sys-
TEN he has urged be adopted throughout
the state.
He speaks enthusiastically of the good
work of the women's clubs in the state
and the interest they have shown in the
education of the children of Georgia. This
work has been directed principally to-
wards kindergarten schools
He speaks with qualification of the in
creased value of institute work, and wants
to see it extended. He expresses an ear
nest desire to see a system of supplement
tai readers added to the school course,
which would contain the legends of Geor-
gia, and stories of local heroes, especially
connected with the late war.
In regard to the school fund he says:
mo act of the legislature in recent years
has provoked so much favorable comment
all over the country as the act of the last
legislature which added 100000 to our
common school fund. This act of the
legislature is a long step in the right d.
rection. With the 100000 already raised
by direct taxation, we will now have
81, 100000 raised for the schools by direct
taxation.
Gradually our people are beginning to
see how small a school tax we are paying
in comparison with the other states. We
have about 100000 population, so that
this $1,0O0,000 of direct tax is only about 50
cents per head for our population. Very
few states in the union pay so small a
per capita tax for schools. Many of the
states pay over "a per capita for school
population. Only seven states in the
union pay less than 81 and Georgia is one
of the seven
special report will be made on the
school book question.
Mr.. Glenn appends an interesting arti-
Gle on what education is doing to dimin-
ish crime, in which some very significant
statistics are given.