The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-11
LOCAL TAXES FOR SCHOOLS.

IN his address to the superintendent
Of public schools in Virginia in confer
4 once at the University, DR.. Paul 8. Bar
ringer spoke specially Of the Importance
of local taxation for local schools. he
rxsd that under the old Constitution local
taxation to extend the length OF the
Lunlic school terra was seldom employed
but that the revenue act OF the new Con-
st,tution favors local taxation. and that
n. friends Of taxation should not let
paes the spirit of change which me put
ting in force Of this new Constitution
will promote. without taking advantage
OF it to the benefit Of public education.
Or. Barrin ser is in error in intiInating
thar the old Constitution did not favor
local Taxation for school purposes. IN
deed. the provision in the old Constltu-
1ion was quito as liberal as that OF the
new. and under the old Constitution d
large number Of counties and schoo! as
Z f,,cts taxed themselves for school pur-
poses. For years past each one OF Tue
rarister;al districts in Henrico county
has been imposing and collecting a spe-
rial tax to carry on school work.
But the new Constitution is quite as
"a. orable TO this scheme of taxation as
the old. and under its provision each ana
every county and each and every ma sis-
4erial district may tax itself within GER
fan limits for educational purposes.
DIR. Bsrringer further said that as Ions
as The money for public schools comes
(
nprn In the same light as the funds Tor
ti. support Of the penitentiary the asy.
Iun, for the insane and other institutions
of an eleemosynery character But when
schools are run even in part by local
Taxation. such taxes are regarded IS more
or less voluntary contributions. and the
re,stion Of the public school to the COM
munity is changed in the public estina-
non
That is absolutely true and that truth
cannot be too often Impressed upon the
tax-payers of this community and that
Local taxation is regarded moro as di-
roc. taxation and the people who pay
special tax for a special purpose natu-
orally feel more interest IN the object
than when the money for such object
comes out of the general fund. 1t has
been discovered in all departelnnts OF
life that nothing SO surely awakens an
interest in any work or institution as
p recuniary Investment therein. When
The people of given oommunl'E TAX
themselves for a public school and see
the money which they pay goes Directly
sato that particular school and olrectlS
Tor the benefit OF the children Of that par
ticular community, they naturally feel
q keener interest in such a school. and
&c is public interest in the schools which
determines their usefulness.
mis- principle has been applied TO ad-
vantage Ia the church, and 50 the envel-
ppe system Of raising money Tor church
purposes has now become universal IL
"a the endcavor Of the official bodies OF
Tho various churches to get every mem
her to make an individual contribution
FOR the purpose chiefly Of stimulating
the interest of each and every such mem
her. Those who regularly contribute,
however small the amount. feel per-
eonA interest in the work which they
would not otherwise have
Coming back to the question OF schools,
IKE suggest that there Is an additional
reason why the people in the various
socal,ties of the State should impose
special tax on themselves for this OBJ
lcct The new Constitution reduces State
taxation ten cents on the hundred. and so
the people may now tax themselves to
flat extent without increasing the taxes
NJ hich they have hitherto paid.
we sincerely hope that every comnnu-
n,Iy IN the State will take this view and
epply go much Of the State tax as has
been RENTED to the local schools II
80. public education in Virginia during
the next twelve months will receive
powerful impetus.