The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-16

L i y
Editor ot@Thc Times Dispatch:
Sir,--Therc Is probably no citizen OF
| Virginia who has not been impressed
| by the great ava kcnng on behalf OF tho
cause OF popular education that has re-
Gently taken hold OF our people, Wheth-.
CT one be Of the great army OF those
| who have approved or OF the small
number who have bccn latently sympn-
lthetlc or even indifferent, nevertheless
one patent fact confronts US. And tina t
fact Is, that there has arisen In our
midst & keener appreciation Of the needs
and the possibilities OF the education
| Of all the people, and determination
to render as effective az possible that
popular education. even thoughit should
be necessary here and there to Increase
the rate Of local taxation. 8 l&
The cduca tional renaissance, 80 hnppllY
inauguratcd by a few philosophical men
ana women, has had a most excellent
initial result In tho MAY campaign"
What Is going to 10 the final result?
Are the people going to permit tho
May campaign" to end all? We trust
not and we believe not. In order that
the good work may go ongto some thor
oughly effective result 1t Is manifcstly
necessary that the potent factor OF local
organization should lend Its aid. and
that In each county of the State, as
has already been done, In many of tho.
cities and counties. there be formed clti-
zen 7conmittcesfbr% associations forsathe
! purpose of discussing, uggestinSa G and
aiding in the execution of such plans
as may seem practicable and advisable
for the Improvement of conditions right
at hand. With such organizations the
people OF each county may soon realize
for themselves the goal OF longer terms.
better paid teachers and better school
buildings, provided thht7thcy are willing
TO assume tho burden of an increased
local tax. I5r
The recent Constitution OF Virginia, at
section 1876, provides for the raising OF
funds for school purposes not to exceed
all told five mills on the dollar In any
one year a. G.. flfty-3cents on the 800
worth of taxable property, to be ap-
propriated and expended by the local
school authorities In establishing and
maintaining such schools as the public
welfare may require This section OF
the Constitution refers TO counties clties,
school districts and such towns as con-
sttute of themselves Ial separate schooi
district. The ivy and collection OF
such d local tax would, be provided for
by tho City Councils In the cites, and
BY tho boards OF supervisors IN the varl-
Gus counties (See Virginia Constitution
section 1869 But this section 136, referring
10 tho matter Of local taxation Is not
the only uttcrance 8sofs our fuhdametltia'A
law In regard to school funds. By sec
ton 1856 OF the Constitution. 5lt ID plo,
yided that the General Assembly shali
pply an annual tax on property or not
less than ono or more than five mills on
the dollar to schools of the primary and
grammar grades for the equai Denellt
Of "all OF tho people OF the state, 70
be appropriated on basis OF school pop
Iulatlon. (seo Virginia Constitution, Soc
ton 1859 3s.
In, addition { to the foregoing, wdi find
mis- o provision made In our organic law
for the appropriation Of the literary
fund" and portions of tho "capitation
taxes for general educational uses (See
Virginia Constitution, section l3i ana
17S)
Wo SEQ then that the cause Of edu-
cation, as Is cm!nently proper, has re.
ceiycd full consideration at tho hands OF
tho eminent men who have so ably labor
ed to- produce a wise and practlcabio
Constitutions
Nor has tho Legislature OF this State
hecn backward In lending tho voice OF
statutory enactment. BY acts OF 1908
and 1901, page sis Virginia Constitution
section 1900 the General Assembly nus
provided that tho board. OF supervisors
loss than 1-2 nor more than 20 cents.
on. tho 800 worth of property for the
nublin free schools of the county, and
tax of not less than Z 1-2 cents nor
more than 90 cents on tho $lU worth
Of property for district school purposes.
we see then that the county taxes tor
educational, purposes. all told. must not
exceed 40 cents ON he $1,000 cents foF
tho county and 90 cents for the district
Forty cents Is tho limit for this purpose
beyond which tho supervisors must nor
20 OF thor own Initiative. The statute
in question, however, goes further ana
maps out a plan by which. on the petit
lion of tile County School Board. the
matter of an increased levy may be re-
forred ia the qualified voters of the
county or district, and, when sueh rel
erence Is made to the electorate, lne
,'people themselves" speaking by the ma
jority Of those voting, may auihorlzc an
increase IN to tho 80 cent limit.
we submit then that under our ihWs
MS Mt present constituted, ample proYlsion
T. made for more excellent school faclll-
ties, If tho people wish such improye-5
mnnts to such an extent that they are
Wiling 10 SOC themselves taxed adol-
tionalIy or TO ask, through the medium
ar the ballot, that they be SO taHea.
y NO urge our people everywhere to or
tganize, TO discuss, to decide what me
nesds arc. ana tn vote, II need be, fer
higherstaxes FOR local education purposes.
rhe small economic burden incdent 'o
the increased tnXaton may, we heileVe.
find frultion In ii great. economic ana
social benefit 10 those most a'rectiy