Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-04-05
The Present School Charter
and Its advantages.
Is SUFFICIENT AND STRONG.
Under Rock Islands System
Has Become the Best.
Not Wise to Experiment I'M
der Any Circumstances.

Rock Island has operated under a |
special charter, which has always
been found not only sufficient, but !
advantageous. Under the original
constitution of the state private laws
could be enacted for the special gov
eminent of ceria ain localities, and it
was under such opportune circum-
stances that the Rock Island school
district became incorporated, and it
has given to the city one Of the best
school systems in the state. The
N sni!old advantages of the special
charter have always been appreci-
atcd and esteemed in Rock island,
and the fact that in the long period
of time that the schools have flour
i.h he'd not a word has been raised
against the law under which they
we're governed until the advent in
Rock Island of Amentis is sufii-
cient in itself to arouse the suspi-
cions Of the peop.e aud to convince
them that they had better let well
enough alone. The proposition to
throw off the charter was
one of the departures emanating
with Ament, aud was advocated
in the board by Dr.. Kinyon
and upheld before the public by the
Union. Indeed ;he petition to sub
nit the matter to the people at the
present election Was written by the
editor OF the Union, who so vigorous
~ cbampioned the cause OF Ament
and Kinyon a year ago now. 1t is
therefore the haGfiwork Of the same
cunning influence that was driven
out of the schools a little over a year
ago, and should be repud lated again
now. The persisteacy OF the deter
mination to abolish the present sys-
tenn entirely is the strong est proof OF
the design on the part OF the promo
tiers of the scheme. A year ago the
proposition was rejected oy the san .
vote which threw Amen out, with
which it was iden Siied.
Advantage E.ioyed.
The privileges within are extended
to district under special charter
have never been abused in Rock ISL
and. Under the general law there is
invariably trouble in providing suit
able buildings. l. becomes necessary
TO vote on every proposition to erect
such buildings as may be from time
to time nece .sary, ard a number of
retired men. who may be no longer
patrons OF the schools, have the
power to resist such Improvement in
the schools as may he essential 10
their pres ervation or advancement.
Under the general law all the war
rants would have to be drawn in an
ticipation Of tho tax fund, debts
could not be paid promptly and or
ders for incidental expenses would
have to be held or discounted. In
deed in the present state CT school
finances it is doubtful if the
schools could continue to operate
1t has been necessary to erect 8
large number of school buildings
in the past few years. 5000. OUo
having been SO invested, but the re.
suit is system Of school buildings
tina: would not have been possible
otherwise, out which are today the
6oest index to Rock Islands true
character. Sill, Notwithstanding
these wonderful improvements. the
existing Indebtedness is bat SOS, GOO,
and under the manner in which the
schools are at present being gov.
erned, this amount will be absolutely
wiped ont in five years without 3
cents additional increase in tax.
ton. As q matter Of fact, the board
o, t Of last years tax levy decreased
the bonded Indebtedness $40,
10 ~ ,La
bers OF the board do the business
that under the general law it would
require nine or II to do, and as it is
COW the responsibility for an az,
may be readily traced. whereas i,
could not be 80 ca lily done with ar
Increased number of directors. Il
the proposition to discard the spe
cial charter should carry tomorrow
the present board would cease to be
June 80, and an Ell tireiy new board
would be elected, and this, obviously
is what those who are opposed to the
government as established by the
people last June, are praying for,
feeling that out of nine or IL they
could probably elect portion Of the
members il not majority.
The present board with the ad-
vice of Supt. Young has some excel.
lent ideas under consideration for
the coming year. one Of which is the
establishment of a training school
which shall be the doorway into the
teaching corps. Through this a
cadet system of teaching will be
provided ut cost which will be nom.
inal, and which will insure to the
schools teachers always trained.
The advantage Of such an auxiliary
will be seen at . glance, AID this is
but one Of many plans that are now
under consideration. The schools
are now running along SIN oothiy and
being conducted economically, the
preset board being one IF the best
the district has ever had, and If for
40 years the sPecisl charter hiss oper-
ased satisfactorily. there - no valid
! treason Why at this particular time