The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-30
WORKING FOR THE
 LOCAL SCHOOL TAX Committee Considering Ques- ton of Calling an Election VERY ACTIVE MOVEMENT Conference for Education In the South Will Aid in Conducting Campaign.
 Prof. s. A. Ellis Discusses
 Local Taxation.
VERY ACTIVE MOVEMENT

At the recent meeting of the Jefferson County Teachers association. a commit tee composed of Prof. l. W. MeAdory, county superintendent of education; Dr. J. H. Phillips, superintendent of the Bir mingham public schools, and Prof. s. A. Ellis was appointed to select a larger committee composed of business men and educators to meet and discuss the adYis- ability of calling for an election on local taxation in Jefferson county for the schools.
 This committee has appointed the fol- lowing general committee, which will meet Tuesday afternoon at 4 30 o'clock in
 the Commercial club rooms for the pur- pose of taking up the matter:
 Rufus N. Rhodes, Col. T. c. Rush, Judge J. J. Banks, Belton Gilreath, Dr. A. J. Dickinson, M. V. Joseph, F. ". Bar rett, G. M Crulkshank, J. Il. F. Moseley Henry B. Gray, Dr. Samuel Ullman, Job Going, Thomas Mackey. Dr. T. J. Robin son, ". R. Starbuck, w. M. Drennen, Dr. J. II. Edwards, w. S. Brown, William Hood J. D. Moore, Dr. c. c. Jones, J. H. Adams D. K Campbell, J. B. Gibson A. O. Lane, John w. Tomlinson, E. D. Burns, J. NJ. Dill, J. M. Davidson, R. V Allgood, Thomas R. Walker, B. r. Crump P. M. McNeill w. H. Bowen, R. A. Clay ton, Dr. A. P. Montague, F. P. Ham mond, J. B. Cunningham, C. B. Glenn w. P. Taylor W. E. Dickson, H. P. Self I. w. McAdory, pr. J. H. Phillips and S. A. Ellis.
 It is understood that as a result of the Conference for Education in the South held in Birmingham this week, there has | been substantial fund donated for the purpose of carrying on the campaign Tn favor of local taxation.
 Professor Ellis Talks. In discussing the movement yesterday afternoon, Prof. Ellis, member of the original committee of three from the teachers association, said:
 There is a growing interest in the subject of local taxation for public schools of the county.
 "The public funds of the state and county combined are not enough to sup port the schools for a sufficient length of term to educate the children or the country; the state funds apportioned to each child in the state is only $i.3l and the county tax is 40 cents and the poll tax as collected last year will give each child only 22 cents, making a total of only $1.93 per child per year.
 The new constitution of Alabama pro- vides that any county so desiring can order an election on the subject of local taxation by petitioning their board of county commissioners or board of reve- nue to order such an election, at which election all qualified electors can vote for or against a levy of 10 cents on the hum dred dollars for schools only. Three-fifths of those voting at said election must vote for the levy in order for it to become a | law,
 Logical Argument.
 "The argument in favor of local taxa ! ton is very logical. During past years : the people seem to have drifted into the l idea that schools should be taught free to their children because the law now in existence says the schools shall be free, and as result there is a growing dispo- sition among our people not to supple ment the funds of the state and county by private subscription. This state of affairs has led to the closing of schools at the end of three or four months
 '"rhe experiment in other and more suc- cessfu school states has proven that local taxation is far more satisfactory. producing much better than state sup port of public schools, the facts were forcibly brought out by many able speak CTS at the recent conference In our city that local taxation is the only hope for the education of our people.
 Another Strong Point.
 Another very strong point Is that to vote a tax of ten cents on the hundred dollars does not increase our taxes above what we have been paying. We have been paying and are now paying seventy nVe cents on the HuHureu uoiidiS' Dui the last legislature reduced the tax to sixty five cents. Now if we restore that ten cents by a vote of the people favoring its assessment we will not only keep the tax down to the present rate but will gain immeasurably by the ten cents being retained in Jefferson county and applied to the schools of the county, whereas the taxes raised in Jefferson heretofore went into the general fund and was disbursed throughout the state.
 Should this committee decide to have the election ordered arrangements will be made for an active campaign at onee."