The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-20

abama less intelligent Jess patriotic
 or less worthy of the exercise of thii right than those of other Statesf
 believe the people of Alabama may b.
 relisd upon to dischargs th.s trust wire. Fly and patriotically. But granted foi the sake of argument that the masses
 of the people are not intelligent enough l or responsible enough to be trusted with local self-government in the mat ter of taxation for schools. there would be no serious objection to temporary modification of the election franchise so far as 1t affects the increase of tax | ation. With the question of negro suf- frage definitely solved. provision might be made that any citizen who has prop CT educational qualifications. and who Is a property owner. should be entitled to vote upon proposition to increase the tax rate. Such safeguards might serve to protect the rights of property against the possible depredations .,s ir-
 responsible elements, would prove an
 incentive to intelligence and thrift and
 would place a premium upon tax pay
 ing as duty of patriotic citizenship.
 1 do not favor this, but 1t would be bet
 ter than nothing. I shall not discuss at
 length the question of tax-limitation.
 The tendency today in the majority of
 the States of the Union is to limit the
 rate of school tax that may be levied
 by the legislative bodies of the several
 taxing units ,but to provide for direct
 legislation by vote of the people,
 where a rate beyond the prescribed maximum rate is desired. It is doubt less wise for the people. through the Fundamental law of the State. to limit their representatives in the district municipality. County or State. by pre- scribing both the minimum andd maxi mum rates of school tax that may be levied by the legislative body of each unit. but 1t does not follow that the people, by the same instrument, should abrogate their sovereign right to re- duce the tax below the minimum rate, or to increase 1t beyond the maximum limit prescribed for their servants. A Democratic Government pursues suicidal policy when 1t declares the people incompetent to decide tor them selves what Improvements they need in their local schools, and what sacri- hces they are willing to make In order to secure those Improvements.
 Argues for Local Option.
 Another important argument for To- cal option in taxation for schools Is the diversity of conditions in different geo. tons and communities of the State. One community receives from the State fund an amount amply sufficient to provide for such school facilities as 1t needs for six or eight months in the year. Another community. with radi- cally different conditions. can scarcely maintain such a school as the people want for three months. The former community does not need local taxa tion; the latter does. An increase in the state appropriation that would provide for the needs of the latter, would give the former q needless surplus. The Legislature Is now doing all that 1t should be in the line of direct approria- tion. Any further increase in this ap- st this time. without local taxation, would, in my Judgment, prove a serious blunder. It would involve a practical waste cf large portion of the State school fund, by placing 1t in that do not need 1t or will not properly Use 1t. There are commu- nities in Alabama that do not want