Evening journal., 1898-03-24

tdiy as dl pIt5euls lut COllcCtOl Oh
county rates may be called upon or
special collector appointed
The money collected over the whole
rcpreso ntative district is paid over to
the clerk OF the committee or commits
sion, but must be expended by him in
strict accord with the items OF the esti-
mate mentioned above No powers OF
abuse or misuse are, therefore, confer
/ red upon him by the holding of all the
money. He must furthermore, give |
| bond; at present no clerk Is required I
to do this
| All books and accounts OF this clerk |
or Of the committee on commission are |
TO be audited by the sub-tlistrict COM |
| missiOners. Another safeguard Is thus |
thrown about the plan.
The Bill as II stands, leaves the em-
| plOymont of all the teachers i'm the
hands OF The committees; but an amend
ment in preparation changes this so
that each sub-district commissioner
employs the teacher for his sub-dis-
trict, subject to the approval Of the
committee. This Is intended TO obvi-
ate the not unprecedented case of en-
plOying poor teachers to save money,
although sufficient means was actually
on hand.
The other powers and duties are
mainly those OF a formal description,
bringing suits and the like.
This Is, in very brief, the foundation
plan of the new bill. IL Is based upon
the accepted doctrine-that the cduca-
tion OF the meanest child In the re-
mOtest district is matter OF interest
and concern to every citizen of the
state, and, I'm particular, to the state
/ ALL
among a common people.
The most insidious argument against
this plan Of the bill is-it destroys the
ancient and long established local gov
4 | ernment.
J Two answers to this might be sub
I mitted; first, a careful reading OF the
4 bill will discover that the material
G rights Of local government are still left
! with each district under the name of a
q | sub-district; second, that the new dis
q | trict presented in the representative
e | district can scarcely be thought TO be
so large as not TO be local In every
O intendment OF that word. II IS sub
- mitted moreover, that school districts
r and school governments were not Gre
j. ated to confer rights upon the voters
l. and citizens, but for the peculiar and
| exclusive benefit of The boys and girls
IS the future bone and sinew OF the state
% II local rights Interfere with mutuallty
In aid and assistance among near
d nelghbors, it comes to look dangerous
a ly like local selflshness. II may also
t. be asked why such ultra-localism Is
d not necessary in political divisions?
= By the plan OF the bill, 10 is hoped
"a that tho future may bring a system o.
~ graded schools In many Of the rura
u districts, and many another desldera
- tum.
ar The plan also solves the codorei
'n school problem presented under tn
, | provisions of the new Constitution
y That instrument reuires the new schOo
y y fund to be equltably apportione
o among the school districts. withou
~ discrimination on account OF color.
The cOlOred schools are not now dis
nl trlcted at all. The Constitution make
10 10 necessary. The experience OF tn
au past, upborne by the better element G
q. IN race now among us, exhibits tn
-. dangers OF giving Them independe1
y, school government. The bill works
~ solution by making colored school
~ sub-districts Of the representative di.
~ trict. A c0lOred sub-district commits
II sioner gives them all necessary righ
I'M Of self-gOyernment, but he Is check,
'ed in abuse or neglect by the cOmmitt,
-, or commission.
M The plan OF a larger school distri,
ch Is net new one; it has been adopte
I'm tried, tested and approved in all IL
og | progressive states of the Union.
The bill proposes to give the clerk {
IA the committee 500 per year. and tl
an two other members of the committee
certain per diem for a limited numb,
IN OF days. An amendment is I'm prepari
~ tion cutting all these sums in halves
NO Section 3 of the bill begins with IN
ni- county board or commission. 1t talk,
ys- the place formerly occupied by Iegi.
latures and Levy Courts in the tram
-e- fers TO and from school districts. 1t Is
he sanitary commission for schools an
lot school-houses. 1t Is the repository Il
er objections, complaints approvals an
Ia reports concerning all school matter
is in the county of its Jurisdiction.
ne cannot settle or determine these, bl
of it reports them all 10 the state boar
" through its senior member who is
m member eX-oificio OF the state boar
,ot The state board thus has the benefit
IN having one man from each county sp
is cially cOgnizant of the school matte
lst in his county IL As composed of thr'
members, who are appointed by n
&C. governor and hold for three years a
if- ter the first set of appointments. On
rec member goes out each year. It mu
ell be non-partisan. The members al
,at paid a per diem for a limited numbl
re Of days.
ow The State Board Of Education is II
Ter sovereign head OF the school govel1
en ment. AS long as Il appears an IN
he possibility 10 secure a state superb
IL tendent for our commonwealth. Just
IN long must and should the state boa
an be body of effective powers. At pre-
is ent, under the existing law, its pOwe
nd are in nubibus. or in gremio legis. II
for new bill makes the board composed
the chancellor and president of Del
ted ware College. These must be contin
it Ing members and hence gives a certa
ec- amount Of stability to the board. Tn,
wn there are the governor. the auditor (tl
es- latter since he must OF necessity seti
nd the accounts OF the school districts al
therefore must be the recipient Of