Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-10-31

CouIrIGuIlOnS, II tll6 u0Or5 OF tne
parochial schools Of the city Of Will
mington were closed, provision would
have to be made for educating in the
public schools 2,32I children. From
the foregoing statement published by
the authority of tho Board OF Educa.
tion, 1T appears that at present the
public schools require an Investment
in public school property for each child
to the extent of s61.TS, and AN annual
current expenditure of s20.S0. If the
public schools were obliged to receive
the z, 327 scholars now attending the
Roman Catholic parochial schools it
would require an Investment in per
manent school property amounting to
about Sl43. 762 06, and an annual
current expenditure amounting to
Sie. 401. 60. By the policy of the Roman
Catholic Church maintaining its paro-
ohial schools. the city of Wilmingtu is
relieved of the necessity of investing
about SAB, 1852 06, in permanent school
property, and relieved OF the necessity
of eSpending about SIS, d01. GO annually
for public education. 1t ia submitted
that should the Roman Catholic paru-
chial schools Of Wilmington close their
doors it would become incumbent upon
the school authorities here To incur
great expense to provide public educa-
tional facilities for the Uhiidcen now
attending the said parocaiRi schools,
This additional expense wou d require
additional taxation. it is, therefore,
submitted that in SO far rs the State
accepts rehef from large expenditures
by reason OF this work done by the
Roman Catholic paruGhial schools, no
construction of tax Laws ought to bo
made imposing on thsie pafochial
schools engaged III great public worn,
any burdens or egpens9e not early and
distinctly expressed IN the law.
The trainers OF our State Constitu-
tion in 1897 were justly considerate of
the cause of free education ia Della
ware. The clause in the Constitution
eaempting from taxation and assess.
ment Tor public purposes all real and
personal property use ! for school pur-
poses was adopted by the convention
with full knowledge on its part Of the
system of education OF the Roman
Catholic church authorities in their
paroohia schools The cause of the
parochial schools was fully presented TO
the convention and their system of
education clearly described. In framing
the exemption clause, above set forth,
the Constitutional Convention had
clearly in mind the system OF paroohial
school education as conducted by the
Roman Catholic church authorities in
Delaware, and the action of the con-
vention fayoring the cause of free
education ought to be given its fullest
operation by the tax authoritie9 of
Delaware. The properties assessed for
taxation, as sisters residences, belong
ing TO the various Catholic churches in
the city OF Wilmington, are owned by
the said churches as part and parcel of
their free educational p ant. They are
as much part of the educational plant
as the recitation rooms. The churches
derive no revenue osjpcome whatever
from these sisters residences. and 1T IS
confidently submitted that they are not
properly taxable.
In the figures submitted as to the
number of children educated in the
parochial schools in Wilmington, the
number in the colored orphan asylum,
maintained by st. Jospeh's Society for
l!Olored Missions was not taken into
consideration. but the WORK of that in.
stitution emineDtly justiies its exemp-
tlon from taxation. 1t receives for nur-
ture and education little colored boys,
unfortunately abandoned and having no
means OF support These are housed,
clothed, fed, educated in the rudments
of learning and trained in the princi-
pies of Christian morality. Hundreds
Of these little fellows are educated free
in the school of the orphanage main
tanned by the society. Merely to men
tion their work is sufficient to convince
every one that the State ought not to
impose charge on such society for
performing SO noble work in training
into good citizenship these poor, but
deserving ooored boys. The need of
Christian education was never more
keeniy felt by the republic than now
when recent regrettable events have
made the thoughtful keenly realize that
the surest foundation of States pros
perity lies in tho Christian intelligence
of it's citizenship.
William Michael Byrne.