The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-11-08
FOR BETTER AND LONGER
SCHOOLS.

50mOIY OF NOFbu CaCO1LI6, D9 ~ IL"
Mebane, Superintendent of Pablo IN
etruction, aud we sincerely hope that
these suggestions will be read and
needed by every member of the next
Legislature and by every n interested
in the eau of education. This little
pamphlet gives new evidence of the
fact that our fusion" Superintendent
of Public Instruction is the ablest We
have had for years. 1t shows that
this Office is now held by a man
whose heart and soul is in the work.
Every voter and every parent should
read it-all of it. For the benefit Of
those who cannot do so, we will give a
brief review Of it.
Among Mr.. Mechanics most import
ant recommendations we note:
"Oae of The most sacred duties the
legislature has to perform is to enact
a law which will stop the sQ%uandering
Of the public school fund for school
supplies"
How important this matter is may
be seen from the immense amount of
money annually wasted for high
priced charts. globes, etc. No legisla
lure true to the people can aft ord to
neglect this matter. Next
mo man should be eligible to the
Office Of County Supervisor unless he
is a graduate from some college, OF if
not a graduate, he shall, at least, first
be required to take. the examinations
for life certificate, and il not comoe-
tent to pass this exa mination, he shall
not be eligible to this important Office.
We have some we'll educated, well
qualified Supervisors, men who have
done faithful work and are prepared
for this work; some men who are
making themselves felt Rmong their
teachers and tbs people of their c0un-
ties, but we hare not ninety six such
men, and this is what we want and
must have"
Another important and wise sug
gestion is contained in this paragraphs:
Elsewhere I have advised that we
have separate committees-one for the
white schools and one for the colored
schools. No man should be eligible to
the Office Of S;bo0l Committeeman
unless he can write his name, is quail
fed to do ordinary business, and is
known to be in favor Of public educa,
ton. Where colored men who are
qualified cannot be found to serve as
committeeman, then in such townships
white men should be appointed to nan
age the c0lored schools. The commit
tee should not be allowed to divide the
school of any one year into two terms,
as is nov done in some places"
And in this: II advise that the
text books be adopted by the State
B)ard of Examiners, which is com
posed of educators, of school men,"
But important as these recommend
atoms are, they are OvershadoWed by
Mr.. M9bane's suggestion that the gross
receipts of the railroads in the State
be taxed for the benefit Of the public
schools.
Mr.. Mebane says:
Il advise the General Assembly to
impose a tax upon the gross rec sipts
of the railroads in North Carolina for
the benefit of the public schools. It
can be done. It ought to be
done. We fad taxes upon the
gross earnings in fourteen States.
Why not have it in North Carolina.
"The gross earnings of the railroads
in this State are more than eleven mil
lion dollars, Suppose We had a law
like Minnesota. taxing the roads 8 per
cent. on gross earninRsG What q
handsome sum, of more than three
hundred thousand dollars, to give in
struction and intelligence to the great
army of poor boys and girls now CROP
ing in darkness, and who must, under
present conditions Of our educational
facilities, grow into manhood and
womanhood burdened with all the
Disadvantages of the ignorant
"Lf the insurance. telegraph and
telephone companies are taxed on gross
earnings in u State. and I am in
formed they are, then why not the
railroads pay a similar tax9
I'VE reasonably conclude that the
natural increase il railroad business
for the next year or so will be equal to
and wen greater than the last year.
a tax OF 8 per cent. OF gross earnings
next year would amount to about three
hundred and sixty thousand dollars.
In addition to this, let US have the