Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-25
SUBSCRIBER.
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
 Editor State Herald:
 I have no interest in the personal as- pect of the controversy between Dr. J. H. Phillips and MT. James Weatherly rela
 tive to the payment of the city school tax. As a father and a tax payer, have an interest in the public schools.
 Everybody admits that the schools must be maintained. It will never do to close them altogether, even for one ses- sion; but does it follow that the present expensive system must be maintained? If so. then we are apparently confron ted by the choice of either maintaining the system by the continual levy of an un- constitutional tax, or by charging the people tuition for the boon of free" ed uca ation. Will the people consent to be charged tuition, or will they insist that their free schools shall remain free? There is but one answer; the schools must be free, even at the expense Of the present system. If necessary, the whole system will be reorganiZed, and reduced to a basis of expenditure which will not exceed the legitimate public school reve- nues. But in order to avoid this wise and economical action, or, rather, to in- sure the maintenance of the present sys- tenn, with all its expenditures, 1t seems
 to be urged that the people shall sub-
 init to an unlawful tax, in excess of, and in addition to, the legal taxes which
 the government can make them pay.
 Did the people notice the account in the papers one day last week of the Judgment for $3000 obtained by Henry B. Gray, as treasurer of the, board of edu- cation against Tax Collector Francis? We'll there was such a judgment, and
 the amount of it represented the whole of this unconstitutional tax which had
 been paid voluntarialy to the tax col- lector, out of a total assessment of, say $50 900. The tax was delinquent on the first day of January, but up to the date of the suit, say February 19, Cnly 10 per cent of this tax had been paid with out protest by the citizens. There was also paid between S5, 900 and $6,000 under protest. which wast not sued for; and perl haps one half of the amount sued fer was paid by poor people in small sums in utter ignorance of their right under the constitution to resist it's payment. Here then, is 90 per cent. of this tax which IS withheld from the public schools. The questions raised are, shall these citi- zens be stigmatized as unpatriotc? Or, are they doing right not to pay an illegal tax, even though the expenses of the schools must be cut down, and the whole school system be reorganiZed? ?' It is respectfully submitted that 1t is immoral to teach the people that their organic law, the constitution of their state, can be violated in any case. Once they are taught that It's safeguards can be trampled upon successfully the door is thrown open that leads to cor ruption, and general misgovernment. Public and private virtue cannot be maintained except through the Zealous watchfulness of wise and thoughtful citizens, who should ever promptly fFown upon every step involving breach of the l laws, committed as we'll by the rich as | by the poor; and especially should wise and thoughtful citizens condemn those acts committed under cover and cloak | of official authority and power. which