Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-01-20
Meeting of County School Board
Saturday

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A called meeting Of the County
School Board Of Rockbridge was
held Saturday at the Court House
in Lexington. The meeting was
called for the purpose of consider
ing the question Of increasing the
capitation tax for the benefit of
the public schools. The County
Superintendent, DR.. A. Nash john
ston, presided, and Mr.. j. Scott
Moore, the clerk of the board,
kept record of the proceedings.
In addition to these officers the
following district trustees were
present: Messrs. G.. w. Effinger
and F. F. Harris of Natural Bridge
district; w. G. Houston and F. L..
McClung of South River district;
NJ. P. Dunlap and J. w. Mohler Of
Kerr's Greek district; j. S.Gibson
of Walkers Creek district; w. d.
Deacon o. Buffalo district, and w.
B. Wallace of Central district.
Superintendent Johnston called
the meeting to order and stated its
object. He read section 173 of
the new Const tuition of Virginia.
The part Of ,at section applying
to the raj ( of additional funds
for public school purposes by in
creasing the captation tax is as
follows:
"The General Assembly may
authorize the board of supervisors
of any county, or the council of
any city or town, to levy an addi-
tiOnal capltation tax not exceed
ing one dollar per annum on every
such resident within it's limits,
which shall be applied in aid OF
the public schools of such county,
city or town, or for such other
county, city or town purposes as
tDey snail ueterHlHe.
Superintendent Johnston stated
that it was of the utmost import
ance that Rockbridge should in
crease the efficiency of her public
schools, both as to the quality of
work done and the frightening of
the terms. He said that many
persons now got the benefit of the
schools and yet pay no taxes for
their support. BY the enactment
of this law such persons would
have an opportunity of support
ing the schools. The additional
revenue would be about 81 900
per year. Therefore he favored
action looking to this change.
Mr.. G.. w. Eflinger also spoke in
favor of the increase in capitstion
tax. The people, he said, were
clamoring for longer terms, and
this additional revenue would give
longer terms. He therefore in
troduced the following resolution
which was adopted, with only one
dissenting vote;
"Resolved, That the County
School Board of Rockbridge petition
the General Assembly of Virginia
under section 173 of the Constitu-
ton of Virginia to pass law to
enable the board of supervisors of
Rockbridge county to make add
tional levy of $1.00 capitation tax
for the benefit of the public schools
of Rookbridge,"
The following committee was
appointed to present the matter to
our delegate in the General AS
sembly and to request him to
present the BILL Messrs. G.. W.
Efiinger, A, n. Johnston and j.
Scott Moore.
A resolution was adopted asking
the Legislature to enact a law
authorizing the County School
board of Rockbridge to fix the pay
of district school trustees at $500
per day for their duties, not to
exceed ten days per year. This
matter was referred to the same
committee,
After adjournment the men,
beers of the board, upon invitation
of Superintendent Johnston, re-
paired to Holmes Il Rowlands'
restaurant where dinner was
served.