The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-01-20
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Important Amendments to the Ballot
Law Reoomnsndel.
Provisions Tor Higher Educational Facii-
tiles f7r Rural Districts and f0r An
other State Hospital for Convict
Insane Strongly Urged


Legislature. From the message the fol-
lowing paragraphs on schools and roads
viii prove OF especial interest to Somerset
county people:
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The appropriation of FIVE and one-half
million Of dollars to the public schools
mas attracted widespread attention to the
method Of its distribution among the
several school districts of the State, and
there appears to lie ground for the gener-
al complaint that the distribution is not
fair and equitable, all things considered
The present method is based upon the
number or resident taxables in each dis
trict. AS reported after each triennial as
sessment Icy the county commissioners TO
the Department of Public Instruction.
When we consider thar it is the duty
of the State to provide at public expense
equal common school advantages for all
its youth, the method is clearly at fault
As tho Superintendent Of Public Instruc-
ton in his last annual report has stated,
1T discriulinates against the districts
which lack Industries to hold their adult
population and in favor OF districts tow
ard which the young people graviiate
rs soon as their school days are ended"
Most of the States distribute their school
money upon the basis Of the number Of
children to be educated. This method
diseriminates against the sparsely set
tied districts. The elements to be con
sidered in the distribution OF the school
fund should include not only the number
Of taxahles in each district. but the num-
Der of children of school age as well,
and also the ever present necessity of
maintaining each individual school, the
cost of which is Il constant factor in all
districss, regardless of the population OF
the number Of taxpayers. II one Lhird Of
the appropriation for each district should
be based upon tho number Of laxables,
and another third upon the number OF
children OF school agc. and tie remain
ing third upon the basis Of the number
o. schools in each district, The equity and
fairness of the distribution would be
more nearly approxituated. The amount
raised by local taxation in nearly al of
the school districts exceeds the sum an-
propriated by the state Ia many dis
tricts il is several times greater. There
are. however, few districts tha: fail b.
raise by local taxation as much ~ they
receive from the State. while there are
still others that have failed to levy any
school tax whatever since the increase or
the State appropriation. School tax, g.
well as other levies, is most carefully
handled when il comes ont OF the pocket
OF those for whose benefit il j. expende,
and Is, as a rule, much more carefull,
guarded than tho money which come
from other peoples pockets. The reroc.
mendatiou Of the Superintenderi
Public Instruction. that districts sha
not receive more money from tbs Sta,
than they raise by taxation Is timely
founded on sound principle.
Another aud far more significant
quality in our school system has be, n
apparent with the growth of our pof
don and the necessity for better and his
er educational advantages in rural oils
tricts. The lack of school facilities in q
country Is ceusing mary Of our citi1eU
20 move to tie 5oroughs and cities il o.
der 10 educate their children. T4.s
iency Is harmful both 10 the centers a.
population and to the country districte
Most Of the agricultural communities IT,
the state afford instruction only in tha
common branches. and those living there
in who desire their children 10 advance
beyond the common school limit are com
PEELED 10 send them away from home Z.
obtain such advantage. This tendency
TO leave home for better education is
depopulating the country, and is leading
TO the towns and cities, to engage in Other
enterprises. many young men who other
wise would live oGt their lives upon III
farm. The time has now co,ne, in my
Judgment. when the rural districts should
be supplied with high school facilities
equal to those enjoyed by the towns az
smaller cities of the Commonwealth.
Those Of our farming people who desire
advanced education for their children ar
placed at extraordinary expense in send
iog them away from home, while many
Of the poorer residents OF farming com
muDities are prevented from advancing
their hogs and girls beyond the common
school because they can not afford the ir-
creased outlay
Without the opportunity for education
at home, parents are constantly compel
ed to combat the tendency Of youth 10
stay away from home after they have
formed new associations ard attachments
and have become familiar with the liz,
they find in towns and cities.
The township high school is needed in
our agricultural communities 20 provide
equal opportunities and advantages with
those now IN existence in the towns. II
the population % one -ownshiD. and 9TH
er conditions. shoald NOT require a sepa-
rate high school, two or more townships
could unite and jointly share the expense
and advantage The township high
school viii place the Gtrmer's BOY on the
same basis with the to-.n and city boy.
The 2oth century system Of free education
should make it possible for eve-y boy
and girl. beginning with the common
school, TO continue through the high
school up to the end the college course
PUBlIc ROADS.
Attention is again '.aiied to the uecessi-
" for better public reads. Itappen
that we have about So0ca miles Of pnAi
roads in the various townships of ,te
Commonwealth. not including nrupite
roads ard those found in the ci..e- at g
boroUghs. THESE roads are for the u4a..
part in very unsatisfactory condiiirr
large sums Of money amountiI
10 almost foGr millions Of dollars a
been spent every year oa their inipro,
ment. This great sum Of money .q
aging about SIS 75 per mile expended
nually for many years past should.
on, with intelligence aud economy q
ing the last tifleen years, have ra-
every public thoroughiare in the S
equal to our best turnpike roads. The
is number OF general laws regulasin.
the road system Of the Commonwea!.h.
bat there remain in addition thereto on
ou statue books be.Een four hundred
and five hundred special laws affecting
as many different localities. Before any
further and general Effort at improve
rnent can go into effect. it is essential that
our road system be simplified 50 as to be
brought under the control of but one or
two general laws regulating all the dis
tricts in the State and forming the basis
Of system for permsnert improvement
upon which future legislation may he
built.