The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-07

Furnish Basis of a Deeply INTEREST,"
National
Taxation as Related to the Public
Schools was the theme of discussion at
che first session Of the national council
at the First Unitarian church this
morning. Albert G. Lane OF Chicago, dis
trict superintendent of schools. and Ma
than G. Schaeffer of Harrisburg, Pa,
discussed the phases of taxation as re-
lated to teachers salaries and school
maintenance respectively.
l. Their papers we're instructive and
showed careful study of these difficult
problems. Mr.. Schaeffer laid stress upon
the great returns obtaired from money
invested int the schools, both from
financial standpoint and from the stard-
point of mental culture.
=. The discussion which followed these
two papers was characterized by great
earnestness: The address of DR.. Mich
olas Murray Butler, president Of Co.
lumbia university, was the feature DR..
Butler advocated the remission by local
communities OF all forms Of Indirect tax
ation, and eontended that the state
should collect from indirect taxation a
sum sufficient to defray the cost of
teachers salaries, and that this money
should be distributed among the local
communities to be expended by them; ;
the communities to bear only the cost
Of buildings and permanent improve
ments, and the minor items of mainten-
ance.
- Miss Nicholson in the Chair.
president of the national council, was
unable to be present at the opening ses-
sion, and the council was called to order
by the vice president Miss Mary E..
Nicholson of Indianapolis. Rev. DR.. J.
E Bushnell Of Westminster Presbyterian
church, offered prayer, Miss Frances Vim
cent gave pleasing vocal solo, giving
two Scotch ballads. MARY Of Argyle"
cs'The Banks of Loeb Lamond."
The papers Of Nathan G. Schaeffer,
state superintendent Of public instruc-
tion in Pennsylvania, by Albert G. Lane.
district superintendent of schools of Chi:
3 cago, were then read Mr.. Scha effer paid
tribute to the west in education. call
ing attention to the fact that the people
of this section were accustomed to the
idea of free education from the kinder
sarten up to the end of the general and
professional courses of the state uni
versities~
J. M. Greenwood, superintendent Of
cussicn upon the papers Of Mr.. Lane and
Mr. Schaeffer. " The question of taxa
tion,e he said, with the many various
systems employed In the different states
for raising school revenues, was a very
complicated one. He indorsed DR., schaef:
- fo hn nor al ~ oH1
eating the public to a, higher sense of
honor in tax paying. The reports of city
sucerintendents of schools upon the cost
Of running, said Mr.. Greenwood, were
never uniform, and seldom complete. For
this reason logical arguments upon the
question Of taxation could not be based
upon the expepse Of maintaining the
schools, as shown by these reports. Even
u in the states Of Minnesota and Massa-
chus etts the school reports, although
made out more carefully than in any
other states, were incomplete.
Reckless Boards of Education.
Great harm had been done to the cause
of education, said the speaker, by reck-
less boards of education and superinten-
dents, in piling up unnecessary expenses
= an school maintenance until the limit
was reached and reaction set In. Care
rnnst be taken to expend the school mon
eyS properly, A. IaiS PNoPHN w 49,
tinue to tax themselves for the support
of the schools. 7. .' H..
Aaron Cove of Denver, Col, agreed with
Mr. greenwood in ascribing to poor fnan-
ciaI management many, of the, obstacles
70 Ihe progress Of the public schools.
Most Of the trouble in the management
If the schools was due to this matter Of
finances. Many superintendents and
q boards of education were. too ready ito
authorize expenditures without regard to
their necessity, or to the ability of the
community to raise the money. Mr.. Cove
cited the state Of Kansas which some
wears ago was plastered over with school
bonded Indebtedness, due to the fad of
: huHding costly schoolhouses. This had
done untold harm to the schools of Kan
sas s.
Dr. schaeffer quoted remark Of DR..
Nicholas Murray Butler-'sYou can't make
the schools better than the people want
them to be, nor will they ever become
worse than the average of public opin-
ion,
Honesty could not be legislated into the
public character; 1t must be taught and
inculcated in the schools. In the matter
OF taxation, legislation was not needed
SO much as proper education.
Newton G. Dougherty of Peoria, ILL.,,
said the great curse Of education in Illi-
nois was the erection of costly buildings
and the issuing of heavy bonds.