Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1900-10-27
Amendments to the Constitution

Editorof the Beacon:
The amendments to the constitution
/, to be submitted to the people for ratii.
o. cation or rejection, at the approaching
election is matter of vital Importance
= to the people Of this county. II appears
very fair and plausible upon its face but
its adoption will seriously cripple our
public schools. Under existing condi
tlous our school term will be reduced to
four months and it is very probable that
the salary of every teacher will be emf
to have a term of this length. AT pre-
sent the poll tax is made a part of the
general school fund and distributed IN
the counties in proportion 10 the educa.
Ole children in each. The impression
very generally prevails that this tax is
now retained in the counties. This is
true, but it is charged to each county in
the apportionment of the genel al distli. |
butive fund. The law would he if tbo |
amendment prevails that this fund |
would be retained in the county where
collected and not to be charged against
the counties in the general distribution.
Our new constitution forbids compuI.
sorry collection Of the poll tax. This
was offered to the negro as a premium
Tor not voting, and we thought at the
time we were purchasing his retirement
from politics very cheaply. The cry
now goes up that he does not nav his
poll tsI, and this being strictly an edu.
cational tax, he is being educated at the
expense of the white children of the
Slate Now after the people of the So.
called black counties have, for the sake
OF maintaining white supremacy in the
state voluntarily tied their hands and p
liked it so that this tax cannot be col. n
lected except where taxable property q
can be found to sell for it, is it fair at
ms Juncture, and at this late day, this
ming should be thrown in our faces. e.
suits 1t true that the negro is being
'dueated at the expense of the white
Let us see. Ii
The taxable values in the black conn F
les is much higher than in the white
ountles, and this amount collected from
a YaIorem taxation, and the sale Of
rlvlleges is much greater than in tbe y
'hlte counties now they still desire In
ONE IN for their pro rata share of this lie
ind, or in other words would retain tbo co
ana they collect the most of, and send pc
the general distributive fund the one ta
ley collect the least of, and TINS como
iof share of what is paid in by the
lack counties If it is right to retain
10 poll tax, why is it not also right to
'ain the tax collected from other
urces, and thus let each county raise so'
own school fund. st
is 1t not apparent to all fair minded NJ;
rsons that selfshness is at the bottom ful
the whole scheme. The constitution
rceS the education of the negro and :.
ere is no way of getting around IT, -
meme after scheme has been devised ch'
nave the funds collected by each race ,
be devoted to the education Of zach Dal
'e' but none have been found vet that fro,
'uld stand the constitutional fest o7o
her state or federal. Is il NOT obyi ola
to every well informed man that if aac
amendment prevails much more e.
lngent means will be adopted in the 50
OK counties to collect this tax, and
Is quaIlfy many negroes for voting.
am informed by the Superintendent A
1oucatlon that there is a shortage of wall
one thousand in the late enumera. NJ.
OF educable children in Novrboo -.
nty' This Of itself will reduce opr ,. -,
re OF the State distribution fund a,,.t
-, and if the amendment prevails os
ther $1,000 will be taken from ia. ,;aa.
en- IS just about sufficient to run tbe - ~
'ols one month, thus giving us four Isl
this term, - ~
us matter was up when | was A 10 h
noer of the Senate but was opposed same
every member from this county. oive,
lember, every vote for the amend assn,
t is voting TO deprive your own nrico
lren of at least one months school stani
llege' and general Gripping of the come
- loi "nen innovations COM Time
CO. there is no telling where thew Re
stop Respectfully,
WALTER PRICE, w