The Brunswick daily news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1903-1906, 1904-10-02

against two OF the proposed smead'
ments to the Coastitutien. which are
to be voted on at the election ON DC
tober 5th. It will be because they Dc
not understand the fsIrss hing pur
poses and effects OF these proposed
amendments.
In 1877. the peopls q Georssa
adopted the present CenssdntioR q
the State. In recent years. hardly
Legislators has adjourned without
submitting for ratification by the peo-
pie one or more amendments to this
Constitution. The thinking man hest
tateg before changing this organic Jaw
In any particular. A large majority
Of the voters of the State. engaged as
hey are in various pursuits, are neces
sarily uniformed as to the Purposes
and effects of these amendments Q
As a County School Commissioners
deeply interested in the education OF
our children, appeal to the people
to vote against the amendments pro
posing to limit the State tax rate TO 5
mills, and the amendment providing
for local taxation for school purposes.
In my judgment these amendments n.
yolve the most radical and dangerous
legislation proposed In the history Of
the State. More than one hundred OF
the smaller and poorer counties 81
Georgia receive more money from the
school fund Of the State than they pay
into the Treasury for all purposes.
This benefits the poor children in the
rural Districts and works no injustice
to the wealthy commercial centers. ne
cause the tax imposed to raise the
State school fund is levied ad valorem.
The contention that the ricn counties
are bearing the school burdens Of inc
poorer counties is without foundation
The facts are that the wealth Of the
State Is being taxed TO educate the
children of the State. and county lines
have. and should have. nothing to DC
with the question. Georgia is IRE 70
cably committed To the principle oil
State education.
It is not unnatural that the larger
counties Of the State should be iissat
lsfed with this condition of AFFAIRS
Originating as far back as 1896. there
has been an organized ard constantly.
growing effort to engraft upon the sys
tenn OF public education in Georgia the
principle and practice Of local taxa
hon q
The proposed amendment which The
people will be called to vote upor
rs the entering wedge Of that effort
II this amendment should be adopted
undoubtedly large numbers of sch 30
districts wouM be organized In Geor
gia, and large sums raised BY loca
taxation. When this condition arises
he enemies to the present public schoo
system would have In their hands the
one weapon with which to successfully
light State appropriations to public
schools. They would point TO the fact
that the people by their votes had
committed themselves to the principle
OF local taxation. and thereby tacitly
approved the withdrawal OF the state,
ala They would point to the fact
that whereas large sums are now nee
sssary to be Appropriated by the state
tor the maintenance OF public educa
ION, such amounts would then be I'M
necessary and extravagant because
81 the large sums raised by local tax
alton. AS necessary and certain 70
suit the States appropriation to pub
'ic schools would. within a few wears
be cut In half. With the States an
pronriation reduced, the counties tba,
nave but little wealth, as comnared
Rith the number OF their childra,
would have to levy a heavy local tax
or do without schools. The resul,
would be that the wealth would leavc
ne country and be carried to the cen.
ters where its share of school taxas
would not be so burdensome. The opar.
alton Of such system would devas.
tate the rural districts and centrslize
he wealth of the State. Besides i
would destroy the unity and efficiency
u our present school system. Again
he sole benefit of the law provid,ne
or the uniformity of text hooks--tha II
u grading the schools-would be lost
Is counties which vote local tax are
not bound to use the books adopted by
he State
Our friends who are adyocatinS tho
adoption of this amendment i,eis,
that the object Of It Is merely to allow
the counties which desire II to lew
local tax as an auxiliary to the State
appropriation. thereby giving more
money. longer terms and better teach.
Nrs. This is an innocent and attrac.
-.