Middletown transcript., 1897-02-20

stroy the present school revenue. Inc Leg
islature has put a boomerang into the
hands of the teachers. Do the instructors
of youth deserve such treatment 1t is
humiliating to the teachers to know that
their salaries are paid out of fund which
is raised by tax on saloons and jugglers.
Why should this blood money be designat'
ed for a sacred purpose9
saloonsI iuggleryl If these must exist,
let the revenue eriy ed from them 60 into
the state treasury without reference to any
particular appropriat ion. But if such mon
ey must go to any particular object, We
suggest that it be used to pay the board of
those persons whom this state most gener-
ously receives at the county jails, and takes
to board by the month, or year, or num-
ber of years. Why not turn the whole
amount over to pay for prosecuting the cri-
minal class, for which the liquor traffic is
responsible2 This is not given as a tenn
perance lecture. but to show the inconsist-
ency Of these legislative acts. A straight
out appropriation would make it possible
for the schools to get rid of the odious
terms to which we object.
Perhaps 1t may be said that the amount
fixed by our committee is too high. The
argument already advanced, that this state
cannot have an efficient school system
with less appropriation, should suffice;
but our argument may be strengthened
by comparison.
Accord to hecen sus report of 1890, the
population of Delaware was 1853 ,493, and
that of Pennsylvania 5,258,01 or about
thirty-one times that of our state. Pennsyl-
vania raised $21, 600, 600 last year for school
purposes, 81, $500. 900 being the state appro.
priation. Last year the school expendi'
lures of Delaware amounted to 1929 ,008
Had she spent as much proportionately al
did Pennsylvania, she would have spent
over $677 900 for school purposes. Divid
ing $5,5OO,OOO by 81, it will be seen that she
should appropriate over SLIT 900 annually
to keep even with her sister state. In Penn
sylvania school district may tax itself 10
mills, but in the city Of Wilmington the
| tax rate is only 4 mills. In Arkansas
mills may be collected. A tax of only
mills on the real and personal property Of
Delaware would yield an income of over
100000. So it will beseen that the amount
named in section is minimum and con.
sequently ought not to meet with opposi.
tion.
Section 2. Neither the state nor any
subdivision thereof shall use its property
or credit or any public money, or authorize
or permit either to be used, directly or in.
directly, in aid or maintenance, other than
for examination or inspection, ofany school
or institution Of learning wholly or in part
under the control or direction of any re-
ligious denomination, or in which any de.
nominational tenet or doctrine is taught"
PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS.
To this section there should be no OBJ
lection. It contains that principle which
is SO dear to the great majority of the
people of this great nation; namely, the
separation of Church and state. To say
that it is slap at th q parochial schools is
unkind. So far as we know, no parochial
school receives aid from the state; but a
law obtains in Delaware that $500 may be
distributed annually among the Sunday
schools of the state. $500 going to each
county. Some of the Sunday schools, we
are told, refuse to ask for the small amount
due them, and one of the influential re-
ligious denominations of this common
wealth has petitioned the Legislature to re-
peal the law. Section would save the
Legislature that trouble. Something sim
liar to this section is found in many of the
constitutions of other states, and this
identical section went into the New York
constitution, adopted in 1894, practically
with unanimous vote. 1t is also in ac-
cord with the spirit manifested by Congress
which has provided that appropriations by
the national government to sectarian in
stitutions must cease.
In justice to our Catholic friends, how
ever, we would suggest that the Legisla-
ture pass an act making the properties used
for schools free from taxation, provided
that those schools be open to the state super
intendent for inspection, and that the
teachers in such schools hold teachers
certificates; and that they furnish the sup
erintendent such reports as he may require
This would insure accurate school statistics
thing not known in this state at present.
We believe that such aprovision would be
just, as well as beneficial to all concerned.
Section g. All moneys received by the
state from school taxes, 8 tate appropria-
tions, incomes from stocks or bonds, and
all others moneys received for school pur-
poses, shall be inyiolably used for the sup
port and maintenance of thepublic schools
Of this state, and the General Assembly
shall provide that if, through neglect, mis-
appropriation, or any other contingency
any portion Of said school funds shall be
lost, the state shall replace such portion SO
lost or misappropriated."
Section Bis intended to make all school
moneys secure. The state is given the re-
sponsibility. Of course all officers hand
ling the states money give bond, but if a
case should occur In which the bond might
not cover the entire amount, the state
must make good the amount lost, in some
way to be devised by the General Assem-
bly,.
Section 4. A persons of literary and
scientific attainments shall be appoint ted
superintendent of public instruction for q
term of four years by the governor and
confirmed by the General Assembly, i'm
mediately after the adoption of this consti-
tuition. It shall be his duty to make an an
nual report Of the progress of the public
schools, and to perform such other duties
as may be prescribed by Law. He shall re-
ceive compensation not less than that OF
the attorney general, and shall not be re-
moved from office until the expiration Of
his term except by impeachment"
Delaware is the only state in the Union
without state executive educational officer.
Public opinion fayors state superinten.
dent. It Is most desirable to provide for
this Office, which was abolished some wears
ago by The Legislature for political
reasons only. the politicians believing
there was more glory in appointing three
county superintendents than state super-
intendent.