The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-21
THE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.

The State Normal School opened on
Tuesday with an attendance of 400
teachers. This is about three times
as many as have attended any pre-
vious opening of that institution. 1t
is said that there We're sixty more than
could be accommodated in the dormi-
tories.
Much of the popularity of the institu-
ton is due to President Branson. who
has been untiring in his efforts TO
make it a success. He has shown abll-
ity of a high order for work of this
character. and there is no doubt that
what he has done and is doing for
the education of teachers is highly ap-
preciated throughout the state.
And now the cry comes for help
for assistance from the state. Greater
dormitory accommodations are want
ed and a larger faculty is needed.
There is no doubt that the work the
Normal School is doing is of the very
greatest benefit, for without good
teachers 1t is impossible to have good
public schools.
We have no doubt the Legislature
will do all it can for the school. 1t
certainly ought to. But the question
which will confront that body is this:
Where is the money to come from?
The Governor announced the other day
that the tax rate would be the same
this year as it was last, and that is
as high as it can be fixed There IS,
therefore, a limit to the states income
and this income will have to cover
a good many expenditures. This year.
Notwithstanding the fact that a very
large sum was taken from the public
property fund and added to the gen.
eral fund, there was a deficiency, and
the Governor had to borrow money
with which to pay the public school
teachers. The reason why the state
is finding it difficult to meet the de-
mands upon its resources, notwith-
standing the increase in its income. is
that the pension burden has reached
the enormous amount of $500, 900 or
more a year, and it is still increasing.
AS long as that burden has to be borne
the state will find itself with an empty
treasury.
We have pointed out time and time
again that the law in the matter of
pensions is not being strictly observed
that there are persons-very many
of them-drawing pensions who are
far better able to pay taxes than =
large percentage of those who are be.
ing taxed to assist in paying pensions.
There are two things the Normal
School students could do and thus helm
TO open the way for the state to do
something for the school. They could
use their influence in their respective
communities in favor of limiting pen
sions to those, veterans and widows
of veterans who. are actually in need
of assistance, and also in favor of BIZ
ennial sessions of the Legislature.
There is no reason why a person
who has an income sufficient to pro-
vide him with the necesasries of life
or who is able to support himself
should be paid a pension, and as nine
tenths of the states get along with
biennial sessions of the Legislature
there is no good reason why Georgia
should have annual sessions.
We haven't a doubt that with BIZ
ennial sessions and the limiting of
pensions to those who are actually in
need of them as much as 100000 a
year could be saved. In fact, there
are reasons for thinking that much
larger amount could be saved. Any
way, with 100000 saved in the ways
suggested the state could give the
Normal School all the help 1t needed.
things which ought to be done. For
one thing it would be able to pay the
school teachers as promptly as 1t pays
the politicians who hold offices.