The San Francisco call., 1905-02-16
THIS CITY WILL
LOSE LARGE SUM
BY NEW SYSTEM
School Fund Appor-
ti0nment to Be
Changed.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SACRAMENTO, Feb Ex-senator
Rowells amended bill providing for
the reapportionment of the State
school fund on a basis of $3.50 per
annum for each teacher the balance
Of the fund to be apportioned on the
daily average attendance, will pass the
Legislature and, without doubt, receive
the signature of the Governor. Sena-
tor Wolfe made determined but un-
successful attempt to-day to Kill the
bill for the session. His failure means
a great loss to San Francisco for the
next few years, but, as school Director
Roncovieri remarked tonight, it may
prove a blessing in disguise.
When the San Francisco Senate de-
legation canvassed the vote and saw
the probability of the bill passing, it
sought a compromise, but the only
amendments it could get were a re-
duction from $500 to $3.50 per teacher
and the change of the date for the bill
to go into effect to September 1.
When the bill came up in the Senate
this afternoon for amendment by the
author, Senator Rowell, Wolfe asked
that consideration of the measure be
indefinitely postponed. In support of
his argument he presented protest
which he said, had been handed to
directly interested in the measure.
This protest is in part as follows:
The Governor and the Superintendent OF
Public Instruction. with the intention OF I'M
proving educati tionai conditions in the sparsely
populated districts. have proposed new
method OF distributing the State school FUND,
based the presumption that the state is IN
duty bound 10 provide equal educational 1acli-
ities for all its pupils and, therefore that
some mode OF distribution must be adopted
that will compel the centers of wealth TO come
10 the assistance of the poor rural districts
San Francisco last year not only supplied 10
the State school fund the amount she after
ward drew out Of ii, but S24s, 600 more to go
to the help of the poor counties The most
that any other county contributed IN TINS way
was little over $11, 900, and yet San Fran
cisco would have agreed TO a measure pro-
posed which would have called upon her 10
add nearly 500, 600 more 10 her contribution
OF last year. We think she cannot fairly be
charged with unwillingness to do her share
Under Senate bill 2Se the following counties
Alameda S43. .29o Los Angeles s26. US. Marin
$261, Orange $1947 San Bernardino Sl191, san
Francisco $215, ,495. San Mateo SAB and Santa
The plan of distributing the greater portion
Of the State fund in prooortion TO average
daily attendance instead Of the total attend
ance. is clearly a blow aimed at the counties
that have in future may have their schools
open for long annual terms.
Everything goes to show that the changes
in distribution proposed by Senate bill 23o
have not been well thought out. and are likely
to work great injustice.
Wolfe's plan to indefinitely postpone
was successfully opposed by Senator
Rowell who said that the question had
been discussed from every phase for
the last several years and that none
better could be devised than that con-
tanned in the bill under discussion.
81 have Just been assured by School
Director Roncovieri of San Francisco"
he said in conclusion, that opposition
to the bill has been withdrawn by the
San Franciscans that came here to
oppose IT." The bill was then amended
to conform with the later plans of the
author.
The bill will come up for final pas
sage before the end Of the week.
The school fund apportionment bill
introduced by Assemblyman Slaven
was called up for second reading in the
Assembly this afternoon by its author.
Thompson of Los Angeles offered an
amendment making the rate of ap-
portionment of funds $3.50 per teacher
instead of $500. MCGOWAN of San Fran
cisco introduced another providing that
the measure, If passed, shall go
into effect September l, instead of July
1. Both were accepted by Slaven, the
special order for next Wednesday and
the incident was closed for to-day.
Wednesday being a holiday the bill
will probably come up Thursday. Nc
Gowan's amendment does not end the
efforts Of the San Francisco delegation
against the bill as it stands. By ex
tending the time for the measure to
become operative, the metropolis Will
be saved $50 900 this year of the $215,-
600 il is doomed to lose each year If
the bill become law, as the appor-
tionment for this year will be made
before the date fixed by the amend
ment