Birmingham state herald., 1897-01-07
OUR LETTER BOX.
WHO IS THE RULER OF THE MA
 TON?
To the State Herald.

W AAO 1ho LA11S ieoi<i1A Oi N%A1 ~N~A
 TION?
 To the State Herald.
 The Birmingham News of the Ed inst. informs it's readers that "the ruler of the nation received many callers on the 1st. This bit of news was conveyed in con spicuously large, heavy type in order, suppose, to impress it's readers with the fact that we have a ruler; ergo the country is safe.
 Will the News further enlighten its readers by informing them who this "di- vinely appointed" ruler is, and at what time this transformation from the Presi- dent of the republic to the autocrat of despotism took place?
 Upon what meat does this our Caesar feed?' Is it true that the money brokers, combines and corporations have furnish ed us ready made" ruler and have new nomenclature? In any event, the people need more light on the subject, and I hope the News will kindly give it's readers the desired information.
 That the times are sadly out of joint" is universally admitted, but don't think the people are fully prepared for dicta- tor nor cuckooism run mad
 ANXIOUS ENQUIRER. To the State Herald.
 The paramount question. to be consid- cred by the general assembly when 1t re-
 
 a special tax for the purpose of increas- ing the length and efficiency of the pub lie schools. There are 590,O00 children (white and colored) within the school age in the state, and about $61S,OOO in all is appropriated to the common schools. So Alabama gives a little over $1 to each child, or about 40 cents per capita of population, to the common schools, while about BIO is given to each student enrolled in the normal schools. The taxable property of the state ac- cording to last years assessment amounts to more than $242,000,00O At this valuation, a. special tax of one mill, or 10 cents on each $100 worth of taxable property, would raise $242,000 which, added to the present appropriation to the common schools, would make about $780, 900. With this amount, the minimum length of the public schools could easily be extended from three to five months.
 There is apt to be considerable bum comb raised about "oppressing the peo- pie" with increased taxation, but it will be raised by, or in the interest of those who are most able to bear this increase. The poor man, who receives the maxi mum of benefit at the minimum of cost, should and will be the last man to ob- ject to taxation for state support of the common schools. Here Is my friend Smith who is farmer and has five child ren to raise and educate. His depend ence for the one is a 160 acre mountain farm, and for the other a little three months summer school. His taxable property may be summed up about as follows:
 16O acres of land .................... ,$320 Two horses ......-.-............. 50 All other taxable property ........... 100
 Total ....,.. ..... ....... .....,.. $500
 His part of the Oppressive" special tax of 10 cents on each hundred dollars would be 50 cents! What of his share in the profits? With the increased funds, the length of his neighborhood school could be extended two months with ease. thereby giving school of i've months instead of three. About one month and a. half of this two months in crease would be absolutely free, which, at $1 per month each for my friends five children. would give him the nice sum of $7.50 for his 50 cents investment!
 This cry of Oppressive taxation" is raised every time an increase is proposed for the common schools but always by those who are interested in lodging their just share of the duties and responsibili- ties of the state, chief of which is the ed ucation of its boys and girls. The cry is raised to influence representatives by ap- peahng to the well-known prejudice of the people against unjust and unneces- sary taxation. The time has come when the people should rise up and remove at once and for all time the mistaken idea lIdI tle uldSStS OppOSe ldAdlluN lOI tie common schools, where the immediate benefits they derive are so much greater than the amount expended as to render the cost insignificant
 pr. Curry calls these schools "the col leges of the people," and they are the only colleges" that 90 per cent. of Ala bama's bright boys and girls will ever be able to enter. In these neighborhood schools the states vast army of little men and women," to whom, in a few years, the control and destiny of the state will be committed, must receive not only the rudiments, but the finishing @ touches of the education with which they must meet the duties of citizenship and responsibilities of life. This question will be before the legislature when it recon venes, and every patriotic citizen in the state, every father who has bright-eyed boy. every mother with sweet little girl to be educated in the public schools. should unite in inlpressing upon their rep resentatives that the people are ready and willing for an additional tax to be levied to increase the efficiency of these schools.
 There are some who may say that we cannot do this thing because negroes