Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-18
Proposition to Issue Two Mil
lions in Bonds For Schools.
A LADY INSTANTLY KILLED.
A Citizen Raises an Important Question
and Says the Only Way to Answer 1t
Automatically is to Issue bonds and Sc
cure Education For All Children by
1908 The state Board of Charities to
Meet In Raleigh Next Thursday secre-
tary's Report.

Raleigh, N. c., Dec 1.-THE News
and Observer of yesterday publishes
the following:
II was talking yesterday with one of
the wisest and most progressive men in
North Carolina-a ad-gauged bust
ness man. who takes q deep interest in
public affairs, but has no connection
with politics and has no political ambi-
ton or any axe to grind. He is good
citizen and is concerned merely as IL
thoughtful citizen in the education OF
all the people.
do not see,' he said yesterday,
how the education of the children can
be accomplished. in accordance with
Governor elect Aycock's and the Dem
ocfatic platform promises, from the
ordinary revenues of the State. The
tax limit of 66 2-3 cents has already
been reached in most counties, and in
not a few counties q special tax is i'm
posed for such necessary improve
ments as bridges, court houses and
jails.
THE people have been promised
great improvements in public schools.
How is that promise to be kept? There
ore only two ways that 1 see:
First increase the taX-rate for
schools. Owing to the limitation for
ldAtttlOil Ill the IL IL
ful IL any material increase can be
made without denying the counties
enough tax to pay their legitimate ex-
penSes.
Second. authorize the State Treas
urer to issue bonds in the sum of
S2.OO0,000, bearing interest at the rate
of 49, or 4 per cent, during the next
eight years, at the rate of S25O,0O0 each
per annum. Let the $250,000 each year
go into the school fund. Supplement
that each year by an appropriation OF
100000 Gf possible), which would give
an additional $350.0O0 per annum to the
school fund. This would say to the
people In unmistakable terms that the
men who framed the constitutional
amendment had in view the education
OF the children and were ready to Sc
cure it by pledging the credit of the
State as well as by taxing the people.
Now know that 1t would be ex-
traordinary to issue bonds to secure
money for public education, but 1t is
an extraordinary time in North Caro-
lima. 1t was an extraordinary PROPOSE
ton for the people 10 say that after
1908 no young man coming of age
should he permitted to vote unless he
can read and write. That is something
new In North Carolina. 1t Is extra
ordinary. Can the children be made TO
learn so that they can vote by 1908
without some extraordinary effort?
do not think SO. and that is why l sug-
gest an issue of $25O.00O yearly for
schools TO continue until 1908.
The State of North Carolina Is
practically free from debt. 1t is true
that 1t has outstanding bonds in the
sum of S60OO,OoO in round figures. but it
owns stock that today would sell for
more than the entire State debt.
The State owns $4,000, 400 stock in
the North Carolina Railroad. 1t could
q
share the market value OF individual
shares is about $lG0), which would let
the treasury realize S5,750.000 for it,
The state owns $1,000, 900 worth of stock
in the Atlantic and North Carolina
Railroad, which could be sold for $780,
oO0 These two Investments. If sold
would put the State out OF debt If not
sold. they will bring enough income to
pay the interest on the entire debt
when refunded at or 3iA per cent.
So you see that the State now has
no debt at ALL 1t Is free from debt
practically. This new issue of bonds
would be the only real debt the State
would have. Why not meet the extra
ordinary necessity for education
created by the constitutional amend
ment? That is the only way TO secure
an adequate fund.-
STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES.
The Board of Public Charities will
meet mere IN annual session next
Thursday night.
The annual report OF Secretary Den
son. to be laid before the board at that
time will show the condition and needs
of all State and county institution
penal and charitable. A report will
likewise be made on all private and
municipal hospitals arb orphanages.
This Is the first time these have been
included in the report
CAPTAIN benson will present also lpt-
ters from officials in other States, heads
of various charitable institutions, lead
ing philanthropists and others in re-
gard to reform schools for youthful
criminals, giving the most approved
methods OF conducting them. cost of
maintenance per capita and results
obtained These letters represent many
months of work and correspondence
and will be of great value to the Leeis-
lature when il comes to consideration
of the reformatory question.
The Board of Charities has for some
ten years been steadily working for
establishment of a reformatory and it
now begins to look as if their efforts
in this direction are to be rewarded.
LADY INSTANTLY KILLED.
A letter from Ashpole says: Mrs
leila Inman, wife of Morgan Inman,
WAS shot and instantly killed here this
afternoon.
There is n difference of opinion as
to whether it was by her own hand or
not The ball penetrated the eye. Mrs.
Innan leaves a husband and three
children. aged and years and 4
months"