The San Francisco call., 1898-05-24
4 BLOW
 TO HIGHER
 EDUCATION New Charter DoOms the High Schools. AN INSUFFICIENT REVENUE. RIG BOND ISSUE THE ONLY AP-
 PARENT REMEDY. Lack of Funds Due Either to the Ig- norance or Stupidity of the
 Framers of the Law.
BIG BOND ISSUE THE ONLY AP-
 PARENT REMEDY.

Should the proposed charter be adopted the high schools of San Fran cisco will be so seriously crippled that
 they may have to go out of existence
 unless a bond issue Is made to insure their support AS the issuance of bonds
 for any specific purpose Is g. matter
 of the greatest moment it goes with
 out saying that many of the educa- tional advantages now within reach of the youth of this city will pass out of existence at the moment the new char ter becomes a fundamental law.
 In the opinion of every one who has given a thought to the subject no greater calamity could befall the city. The end and aim of the public school system would be defeated, and all be- cause the framers of the charter, eith- CT on account of ignorance or stupidity, failed to make adequate provision for the support of the school system as it now exists.
 The funds necessary for the support of the public schools of San Francisco are at present acquired under the pro- visions of section 76 of the consolida- tion act, which reads as follows:
 "The school fund of said city and county shall consist of all moneys re- ceived from the State school fund; all money arising from taxes on property which shall be levied each year for that use by the Board of Supervisors, and which shall in no case exceed the rate of 35 cents on each hundred dol lars valuation of all property, real or personal, liable to be assessed ''
 According to the last assessment the taxable valuation of all real and per- sonal property in this city was $345,- 100000. At the rate of B cents on each hundred dollars this would bring revenue of s1,207, ,000. This amount, add ed to the sum received from the State, s63S, 900, makes a total of $1,S45, 800, the amount that was available for the sup port of the schools of this city for the year 1897. Recent reports show that even this great sum was inadequate to the needs of the schools as they are now maintained.
 Under the proposed charter the money necessary for the support of the schools is to be secured by the follow ing provision:
 "A school tax may be levied, which added to the revenue derived from other sources (the State) shall produce an amount of money which shall not exceed $32 50 for each pupil in attend ance during the preceding fiscal year. as ascertained and reported by the Board of Education
 The average attendance in the schools of San Francisco for the year 1897 was 35, 800. At the rate of s32 50 for each pupil this attendance would produce a revenue of LOSS, 750, according to the provisions of the new charter. This would leave a deficit of $756, 750, which sum could only be made up by a bond issue.
 It is self-evident fact that if the proposed charter is adopted the youth of this and coming generations in this city must be content with a common school education, unless succeeding Boards of Supervisors can be induced to bond the city for the money that will be necessary to maintain the high schools. In other words, the adoption of the proposed charter will be a step backward in the march of civilization