New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1904-10-08
OUR SCHOOLS.


ard read his inaugural address advo
eating a Million Dollar bond issue fol
the building and improvement OF
school buildings, the press of the State
said IL was an excellent scheme.
He was proclaimed the friend OF
Education.
The Dailies of New Orleans. and
more particularly the Times Democrat
Landed the proposition.
There subsequently arose a faint
cry. that it was borrowing money at
great interest: that it was placing in
| the hands of the Governor great
fund to be used for political purposes.
BY some influence. to which we
know not the original, many of the
former journalistic friends of the
measure are now antagonizing it.
Some put it on the basis of antagonism
to Governor Blanchard This is, Of
course. unreasonable, aud we cannot
appeal to the reason of such.
Let us consider. with the fair
minded. however, this proposition.
Let us do 1t from a local standpoint.
There is no doubt but that we need
funds with which to build schools
and to improve those in existence. The
local School Board is burdened with n
debt approximating Twelve Thousand
Dollars.
1t is evident that it is not in
position to pay the back debt, build
new school houses and continue the
school session to its full extent.
Some say that we cannot now pay
teachers. why build schools. If we
had not to take from our ordinary re
sources TO build and maintain new
schools. we would have funds add
tional with which to employ add
tional teachers
Under the proposed bond issue the
proceeds of the Million Dollar bond
issue will be distributed in the var
ious parishes for this purpose of school
The duty of making an equitable
of the funds will devolve
ON the State Board of Educstion. The
enemies of Governor Blanchard saws
that this would be used for his politi
cal advantage.
The State Board of Education des
troyed the accusation by ordering that
the fund he distributed among the |
different parishes according to the
number of educable children in each
Parish. Each Parish will then re-
ceive it's first share not according to
the pleasure of any one, but on the
basis Of the educable children.
This is the manner in which the
annual appropriation to the general
school fund is divided and it is equit-
able.
II the bond issue should be voted
for, the Parish will than receive |
thousands of dollars, according to its
Just rights to be used for school pur-
poses.
Let il be noted. that to vote for the
bond issue does not increase the taxes
1T all
The State cannot charge the tax
PAYERS more than six mills. 1t
,liarges that now; it will always
charge it.
If the people should vote for this
,ond issue. the State will truly have
IN additional debt; but it will be paid
without ali increase i'm the rate of tax
ltion. II will be paid because the
ncr eased valuation Of property will
Increase the revenues of the State. II
he funds thus increased, be not bound
0 some good purpose AS is education
1T will find some other outlet from
he Golfers of the State; but the tax
aver can little expect that at anytime {
he mills charged him will be de-
reased. This indebtedness thus in
urred will then be distributed among !,
he parishes; and will Immediately
ecrease the burden resting on them in I
ne construction and maintenance of c
he schools.
The benefit will come without in +
lease Of taxes That the State should /
ay interest for this money. is evil
ent; but not only will 1t he paid
ithout additional burden, it is a
nsible mode of raising funds with =
hich to aid Education. 8
The opponents say that the State s
lould preferably divide yearly what L
will pay for interest among the =
arishes. This i'm unreasonable. If =
e need any help. it is to suffice in D
ding us to dc for school buildings P
| we need and that at once. That a
quires large sum. II it should be :,
to divide yearly an amount r.
ual to the interest we would pay ON r
Q bond issue, not only would we al