The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-06-04

The members of the class of 1897 con-
cluded their high school course under
the most favorable circumstances last
night.
The fifth annual commencement ex-
ercises in the Salt Lake theater at
tracted a very large number of friends
of the graduating class and others in
terested in the affairs of the high
school, and the tteater, including all
the galleries. was crowded.
The curtain was raised about $3.50
o'clock, and the young ladies of the
class presented a charming appear
ance on the stage, dressed in appro-
pirate costumes Of white, and each
holding a boquet of roses Besides the
members of the class, President ]. Z.
Dooly of the board of education. DR..
Millspaugh, superintendent of city
schools, Rev. A. L. Hudson of the Uni
tartan society, and Rev. Clarence T.
Brown, pastor of the First Congrega-
tionaL church, had seats upon the stage
SUPERINTENDENT MILLSPAUGH
PRESIDES.
The exercises were conducted by Su-
perintendent MillSpaugh, and in his
opening remarks he referred to the
change in this years programme in
the matter of not having any essays or
oTations delivered by members of the
class. He said that it had been thought
best to substitute a short programme
which would include two addresses and
several musical selections. He also
called attention to the fact that it had
been intended originally to have Prin-
cipal w. r. Malone of the high school
deliver the commencement address, but
owing to Professor Malone's illness the
address would be delivered by Rev. Mr..
Hudson, pastor of the Unitarian So
ciety.
MUSIC AND INVOCATION.>
The exercises opened with a piano
duet by Miss Margaret Robertson and
Walter Jenkins, and the invocation was
offered by Rev. Mr.. Brown of the Con-
gregational church. Then, after a few
remarks by Superintendent Mills
paugh and the singing of a chorus.
Since First 7 Saw Your Face" by
scholars in the lower grades of the
high school, President Dolly delivered
the following address:
PRESIDENT DOOLY'S ADDRESS.
Parents and Friends-We meet here to-
night to receive the high school gradu-
ates of the seventh year of the existence
Of the public schools of this city.
The board is gratihed at the continued
Increase each year in the number of
graduates-and to know that every school
in the city has honored representatives
among their number.
The interest manifested by parents and
taxpayers in the success of our schools
is gratifying to the board. We feel that
our efforts to promote and improve the
education of the rising generation OF our
city meets with your approval and Will
receive, in the future, as II has IN the
past, your almost unanimous support
1t is admitted that the cost of the main
tenance of our schools has been at times
criticised-but in almost every case TINS
criticism has emanated from persons who
have not examined the subject Proper
Investigation will show that this clCy re-
ceives only about % per cent of the taxes
paid by its citizens for the support OF
the public schools.
The money expended for improvements
is not only for the present our school
buildings are permanent and are an or
nament to the city. When competed ana
equipped they will suffice for the century
Hence the cost of maintaining them is
reduced to the minimum The Wlsdom OF
erecting and equipping school buildings
in a first-class manner will be evident
when we consider that the estimated cost
of repairing the public school bulidlnss
of the city of San francisco, 10 MAKE
then, habitable for the ensuing year, is
SOS. 77S-a charge of nearly 81 per capita
of its population. A similar expenditure
for repairs in this city would amouhl 10
$4,000 per annum- This IS almost en-
tirely avoided by the permanent charac-
te- of our improvements
The completion OF the bulldlng no" pc
the Eighteenth ward and high School,
viii make our city the Athens OF TINS IN
ter mountain region. and as an educa-
tional center 1t will not be eNceiled Dy
any city of like population in the Union
During Utah probationary perlod-tnat
is her territorial eXistence-eVery ooiiar
sDent for the education of her chlldren
was derived from direct taxation Dur
ing the short period that has elapsed since
she has been an honored member OF our
r:,:on of states. direct taxation mas Deen
tha only resort to obtain the necessary
funds for the support of our school sys-
TEN. ,,a..s-o.,
&, IT'S wisdom to provide for the better
educat:on of the youth of our state. has
granted large area of land TO our uni
versity, agricultural college sehool 5or
he deaf dumb and blind. and has do
mated double the usual land grant Tor the
support of the common schools Inc con-
st:tution of the state of Titan augmehSs
this fund by adding thereto the proceeds
of all property that may accrue 10 the
stete by escheat or forfeiture. and all
uncla tined shares and dividends OF any
incorporation Incorporated under the laws
~ this state From these sources, up
to the present time. large fund mas
beeu accumulated. the interest of when
will be annually paid into the state schooi
fund and distributed TO the several coun-
ties for the support of the common
schools ,;-- =,
create a fund. the interest of which VIII.
in the near future, relieve the taSpayers
Of -,uch of the onerouS burden now I'M
When YOU consider the high character
IF olIr public schools and that the cost OF
tuition and books is but SI6.S9 per CAPITA
the charge of extravaganza in their equip
rnent ard maintenance is not deserved
The public school system was torced
upon us by manifest necessity The prin-
ciDIe that education of the people Is
the protection of constitutional govern
ment. rendered L imperative that the
children of the coming state of Utah be
provided with an effective system OF edu-
cation. When this necessity was fully
realized with one accord. the people
EFFORTS and interest that Utah entered the
Union fitted to cope. in many respects. IN
educational advantages, with her larger
sand weather. sister states Public inter-
est has ever been the guiding star OF
the public school system in the United
ness 10 progressive suggestions its recog-
milton OF merit and its intolerance OF pre-
tense there would be not the t3.-eteSt
evidence OF vitality or progress All poll
tics partisanship and sectarIaniSm must
be nut aside and severely ignored Ihe
good of the children. the welfare of So
ciety and the perpetuation of our govern
r,lent must be the first consideration. me
mental and moral duty of the parents IS
to provide their children with good edu-
cation and one that is commensurate with
their surroundings.
If the people of Salt Lake City desire
to carry on the work so well begun. II
must be urged that they abandon in no
degree the supreme and abiding Interest
and support they have thus Tar mani
festedr
/ take great pleasure in presenting to you
tonight, the members of the High school
class of %. who. by unfinching perse-
verence. have finished their High school