The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-24

terest and much misunderstanding seem
to hive developed. I have no desire TO
effect legislation on so Important a sub
ject without first having O comprehensive
study and thorough understanding OF the
proposed Legislation and its probable Ct
fects. With this end In view I respect
fully submit the following:
FlrstIrhe free school system en-, W. vas 11 an
derwood Constitutions. The people At the
time were not welded to it-,in fact the
acts Of the General y, Assembly OF Ma ,css
thorlties the constitutional right to}tax
themselves to the extent OF five mills
on the dollar. that the full exercise OF
this right was then regarded as danger
Gus to the property Interests OF the state.
This fear has to large extent been DIS
sipated. yet this restriction remalned on
and even then was not wholly removed.
Much complaint has been heard that GER
tain localities would not tax themselves
blame. when the General Assembly had
uniformly adhered to the policy Of re-
strcting them. Even as late as 1850 80
an act was passed that eliminaed IN, ,hs
boards OF supervisors to levy tax icr
schools. All OF this restrictive legislation
was unconstitutional, as decided IN Two wv,
i
Supervisors of Washington county VS.
Saitville Land Company, 80 Va. 6i5.
In the examination Of free school legls-
laton since the adoption o. tmH gh9 9act
was developed that with tho exception
OF the act Of July II, 1870. not g single
act other than restrictive In characler
has been enacted by the General Assem-,
bly, OF Virginia, so far as local taxat!on
in counties Is concerned. and no act OF
vital Importance has been passed since nc
lad such little attention BY our Ia. lay
An ' act OF March 81, 1871, denied the cities
the right TO levy q greater tax than ,t tnreS
12 1878, made 1t the duty Of CltX coun-
ellis without power to withhold" TO- a.,
low the sums required by tho city sc q !,sa
tan douBo the am su Appropriated ~
tho State. and did not exceed q tax rae ti.e
Of three mills on property. but ieI ,,, ,,.e
city Councils free 70 nPPbopra.e funds
Of tho city. Therefore, the cities have n,,e
since 1878 been practically free 70 deyelop
their schools, while the comn, ,.e = ha nG
that lett eft TO the discretion Of the board
Of supervisors. many Of whom know pui
little Of the needs Of the schools AM, anu
per s to t do. The freedom Of the cities
to give such support ms they pleased 70
schools has In no instance, 80 fhr as !
am Informed, given rise to any .np 1UI nor
have the property interests suffered IN
tho slightest !, -
offered a bill making IT. the duty OF tne
Client a, - in amount to raise the sums re, re-.
5quircd by the school boards provldeu maj
the tax Is not greater than me coHsrtt ~
tonal limit Of FIVE mills; 80 Ia much rsme M
deriving derra sI its support from the State and
from local taxes. 50 far as can e., n i,mai
5appropriation Of 100000, has never. done
anything more for the. colnmon SCHOOLS
than the Underwood Constitution com
pp rituI bout $50 per student for higher
Education, while BY last statement !, from Or.
the auditor the common SCHOOLS WIZ, re-
eelye slsl per CAPITA OF s nsr cent top Of
the school population I've Y t1e G M]c1a
try many Of them IN poor :. = slnnid
where even high local tax rat 9nn %sptto to
e I'd them Therefore It IS pecessAt *
70 ga aaceompish this havs offered "a Ply
SSyng r ovep s state oaacosodng
hs fdserg gFG pSs into 3 t ~
;sood tor a prop eaa,Ht tits e maxi,
Special fund OF this approprlation o WnaGa
as as in the judgment Of IN local ,and seT Ehs
boards may be for the public 10 g gian Is
bas sea u upon The BELIEF lhat nl9Em treat
first first place and unwse In the etf ses3}nd ant
bdpo wo b,t NO Would ID have him educated for
tt The things that he must do; The u ld ae,t
that moral and intellectual dey se pMh,4a
Will make him ne sfqpa! w w feou a
na fact or history, ana W. are simply Do,
ceIving ourselves and running the negro 1;r3
in pretending. assent 70 dos,r.n et mn IN
pI 'rns eyerysday lie. The Negroes 20.
ssition ii this country must be q, !. q q
useful subserylenc and the sooner u y u Is
Mfh THIS a octyine tt,oropgll MY inculcAt
suoys ratlona! az tustA sat R!ls shaA 'A'l