The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-16
CAUSE AND REMEDY.


the state, that an impression, as in
correct as to facts as it is injurious to
to- St Paul. has gone abroad. This
is that the finances of the city are in
keep it's public schools at the old stand
ard of efficiency. Even the best in
formed, who have not followed the de
tails of our difficulties, because they
are not personally interested in them,
will ask the question: what is the
matter with ST. Pauls schools? Aren't
You able to raise money enough to keep
up the work of public education?" For
the benefit of all and the credit of the
city, the causes of the present embar-
rassment may be explained once more.
is empty that the schools are embar-
raised, but because Of three-cornered
difficulty arising out Of the change in
assessed valuation, the charter provi-
sions relating to taxation and the con-
stitutional amendment prohibiting spe-
cial legislation. The charter of st.
Paul fixes 21a mills as the maximum
limit of taxation for school purposes.
That rule cannot be altered or amend
ed constitutionally without adopting
an altogether new charter. By the new
assessment made last fall the assessed
valuation of st. Paul property was re-
duced s30,000,000. This cuts off, as will
be seen, $4,000 from the receipts de-
rived on a levy Of 21a mills. This is
here. The money is here. Necessary
revenue would be raised in a moment
today if it could be done legally. 1t is
neither a niggardly disposition nor
bankrupt treasury that threatens the
work Of the schools, but practical stu
ation brought about by the reduction
of assessed values without legislation
authorizing an increase, in the tax levy
to correspond. r Such being the under
stood causes of the difficulties, what is
the remedy? --1
The G @ b e has already expressed
itself fully. on this point. 1t has no de-
sire to add to the problems of the board
of school inspectors, or to force it's
opinion upon them. 1t is obvious, how
ever, that there is but one remedy
which can be either final or complete.
This is the framing and adoption Of a
new city charter. Desirable as it is
on all accounts, it becomes an absolute
necessity when we consider the situa-
ton of our school finances. The deficit
Of this year will exist forever unless
the limit of taxation allowed for school
purposes is raised. To raise that we
must have a new charter. We can
meet a temporary situation with tenn
porary measures. That is the whole
question today. What shall be done
during the next school year with an in
come for the schools less by anywhere
from $4,000 to 100000 than the re-
quirements Of our educational system?
Most of the plans that have been out
lined are impracticable or worse. We
D6llGNG luaI " CtuI Lie Salaries vi
teachers would be the worst possible
policy. We believe that to raise the
limit Of pupils per teacher to fifty
would be next to the worst remedy. We
believe that the dismissal Of the super
visors, with the possible exception of
two whose work is not needed in any
we'll adjusted educational system,
would be a grave mistake. We do not
think that anything except peanut
economies are to be accomplished along
these lines.
There remains, therefore, only the
choice between cutting off for one year
that portion of the educational work
which is of least benefit to the largest
number of people, err closing. all the
schools during a portion of the year.
AS between these we long ago ex-
pressed our earnest opinion. Where
sacrifice is to be made, we believe in
letting it fall upon those best able to
bear it. The graded schools are the
schools Of the people. The high schools
are, for the most part, the schools OF
the well-to-do, and only a small por-
| ton Of the public school pupils ever
reach them. We should advise, by all
means, the closing, if necessary, of the
high schools for such part of the year
as may accomplish the saving neces-
| Sary to make revenue and expenditure
meet. We are Of the opinion that such
a policy would make a wonderful
! change in the views Of some of the
| gentlemen who have been insisting
most loudly that expenses could be cut
| down without injury. Failing this, then
| the schools must be operated as they
now are until the funds are exhausted,
and then all closed.
Either Of these two choices is mis-
| fortune. We must bear it as best we
may, but it would be criminal to allow
| 1t to be repeated. It will be repeated
unless new charter is framed. For
the sake of the schools, therefore, first
Of all, and for the sake Of many other
| interests only second in Importance, the
people of St. Paul should insist upon
the immediate appointment Of char
| ter commission and the completion of
its work, as provided by law. so that