Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-04-11

Because they feel that the General
Assembly at its last session dis
eliminated against Wilmington in the
matter OF app rtioning the State free
school fund, some OF the members OF
the Board of Public Education of this
city are hopeful Of having the Legis a.
lures action in the matter set aside,
on the ground Of unconstitutionality Of
the act. The acg referred to appro
priated Sl20.Q00, annually, for the
ensuing two years, in addition to the
interest in certain Investments, and
stipulated that the money should be
apportioned 10 each OF the four dis
triots Wilmington. rural New Castle
county, Kept county and Sussex county
according to the nun. Ter OF teachers
IN each school district, but set forth
that no district should be allowed for
more than ITO teachers, whereas Will
mington has 26i. The claim of upcon
stitutionality of the act is based upon
the following section of the State Con-
stitution:
In addition to the income of the
Investments OF the public school fund,
the General Assembly shall make pro
vision for the annual payment of NOT
less thnn 800. 900 for the benefit of the
FREQ public schools which, with the
income Of the Investments of the public
school fund, shall be equitahly amor
tioned among the school districts OF
the State, as the General Assembly
snail provide; and the money SO appor
TONED shall be used exclusively for the
payment Of teachers salaries and for
furnishing freq text hooks; provided,
however, that in such auportionment
no distinction shall he made on account
o race or color, and separate schools
for white and colored children shall be
maintained. All other expenses con
nected with the maintenance of free
public schools, and all expenses con,
neoted with the erection or repair Of
free public school buildings shall be
betrayed in such manner as shall be
provided by law
The matter WAS brought to the atten-
tion OF the Board Of Education, at its
meeting Monday, by the president
OF the body, Dr. K. G. Shortlidge, and.
after the subject had been discussed
some, was referred, on motion of Mr..
Morrow, to the legislative committee,
with instructions to have the constitu.
tlopality of the act tested. II is likely
that the committee will make an effort
10 institute n1andamns proceedings to
compel the State treasurer to allow
wilmington Its nroportionaue share OF
the fund, on the basis Of all of the 264
teachers, as is the case 10 other parts
of the State, instead of for ITO teachers.
as the act provides, thus giving the
city $50, 160, instead of S25, $50, which
the present apportionment .oalls for.
How successful the board will be in its
move in the matte, cannot be predicted
Some members are of the opipion that
should the act b. adjudicated upoon.
stitutional it would be set aside in ita
entirety and no apportionment could be
made at all, while others incline TO the
belief that at least 500, 900, In addition
to the income from Investments, could
be used, as the Constitution makes il
mandatory upon the General Assembly
to appropriate at least that much for
each year.
President Shortlidge, in discussing
the matter, stated that the income from
the investments amounts to about
$4,000 year, and the Legislature
made an annual appropriation Of
Sl20, 600, the total fund being sl54. 600.
aud he felt that there had been a clear
Discrimination against Wilmington, as
the provision had been made that ia
the superintendent no district ebould
be allowed forsmora than ITO teachers,
whereas there are 264 in this city. III
pointed out that rural New Castle
county, with 1913 teachers and 5000
scholars, would receive s35. 955; Kent
county, with Ill teachers and 5000
scholars, $40, 1856; Sussex county, with
2l3 teachers aud:l0 600 scholars, $50, OE5.
and Wilmington, with 264 teachers (but
allowed for only l10) and 1i,O0C
scholars, only s25, $50. Should vii.
mington be allowed in proportion to
the other three suit divisions of the
State, on the basis of the full number
OF teachers, the city's share OF the fund
would be $50, l60. The present appro.
priation, s25, $50, is s3,: 334. "a greater
than the amount received for last year,
which was s22, 515.7