Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1903-01-23

EDITOR PIKE COUNTY PRESS:
In the call issued by the school
board Of the independent school dis
trict of Milford to vote on the
question of raising $4,000 for the
purpose Of erecting new school
house, the statement shows that "the
last adjusted assessed valuation for
1901 was sl7l ,Os2", they then go on
and say, Guessing of cOurse) "the
assessment for this current year, the
last preceding assessment, not get
adjusted, is estimated to be about
STA, ,000." Now the law does not
take into consideration not get
adjusted assessment but an actual
assessment. See school laws Of Penn
sylvania 1901; section CXLII, page
142. Before issuing any such obli-
cations or security, 1t shall be the
duty OF the principal officer, or
officers, of such municipality or in
corporated district to prepare state
ment showing the actual indebted
ness of such district, the aB1ornt Of
the tGst preceding assessed valuation
of taxable property therein, the
amount of debt to be incurred, the
form, number and date of maturity
of the obligations to be issued there
for, and the amount of the annual
tax levied and assessed to pay the
said Indebtedness, etc, etc. The call
was issued Jan, 16th, 1908, the Fast
adjusted Assessment was made I'm
1901, and to use their own language,
the 1902 assessment was not adjusted,
therefore, they cannot, under the
circumstances take an tHddjusted as
sessment TO base their per cent. tax
for raising the $4,000. If they do,
they incur the penalty of going above
the legal amount for per cent of
the sl71, ,O82 will not by any amount
of Juggling make $4,000, therefore,
the call is illegal. If they adjust the
notice and change the same in the
next issue of the papers, and publish
the actual 1909 assessment clearly,
they can only give 20 days notice,
and the law requires 80 days. Under
these facts then, if they persist, and
raise the $4,000 they will certainly
make themselves amenable to the
law. Are they willing to run that
risk?
Now we want school house, and
want 1t very much, but really, have
the present board shown themselves
capable, brainy () men? 1 think, il
the school children were to have a
real old fashioned spelling bee, and
invite the whole board to witness,
yes, and take part, how many would
stand up? And the people Of Milford,
those who have children, too, elect
: such ignoramusus to guide the affairs
and help the young ideas to shoot
: Sicl A fair intelligent man cannot
be elected, on one Of the most i'm
porsant boards we have; place good
men, men of judgement on the board
no matter whether democrats ol
republicans, only give US the best yOr
can, then we will not have schools
: that are. disgrace. These same
directors, are every one Of them liable
TO punishment, for the law says
'that one Of their number must visit
; every school'at least once a month";
DO they do it? The law specifies
''adequate accommodations must b.
i supplied" and yet some children
y have to sit on boxes because Of over
9 crowded condition of school. Again
j. water closets, must be separated by
; board fence feet high when botl
g sexes attend, yet, it is not done, anC
J. the closets are open, and in full view
; OF the public. Are not these neglect
, sufficient to say nay to these directors
d Let them undertake In the face Of tn
law to raise the si2,OOa and, if Av
taxpayers will send their names il
,e care Of the Editor Of this paper
ar (PKE COUNTY PREssl we will g
m before the court and have every on
~ removed, and Indicted, too. II W
can leave selfish motives out Of tn
Question, we can have a good scho'
board, a new modern school, and
i, corps Of teachers that will give e
, fclent services.
!. Why, one Of the graduates told q
IL his teacher name furnished If ssk'
"a foD ''said in my presence aat
Il gave the pupil a book to copy
article to read at graduation exc
fA cises," instead Of encouraging him
IS, original work, but then that was {
ss. much like work for the teacher v
"a want a new school house, very, ye
bad, but not while we have men
- our present board who neglect {
M work they have to do now. 4
( IA1PAYER.