The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-13

to see the city rave both but thought
the schools Of tie county should be
considered first.
Mayor Springer wanted to know. if
such conditions existed in regard to the
schools in other counties in the state.
Mr.. Rountree SAID such conditions
would exist if they did not have a spe-
cha tax.
Mayor Springer said that with the
license at 5000 per year and with thu
present number Of saloons, the amount
derived would BE- 8 5000, but it was
but natural to Suppose that when the
high license went into effect that part
Of the saloons woula go out of business
and if ten or fifteen should do so and
the city give half of the amount re-
ceived to the school, fund the tax de
rived by the city would be less thar
that received before the increase in il
cense. He spoke Of the city having re-
Gently decided 20 establish an agricul-
tural school and said if the revenue re
ceived should be cut down they might
not be able to carry out the proposed
scheme.
Mr.. w. H. Sprunt read a paper
showing the size Of several cities, the
numbe of children and the cost of
maintaining the schools. = Some of the
cities named were Charleston, popula-
ton 55,S07, school attendance 1913,
school expenditure, s64, 9O1. Roanoke.
population 21,4s5. school, attendance
3,04, expenditure s43, 500. Asheville,
49, 94. school attendance, L.
661, expenditure $36, 30, per capita fo-
each school child, $21.S SO. Raleigh, pop
ulation 1858. school attendance 1892,
expenditure 8 1,2N0, per capita. for eacn
child 1868. Charlotte, popula-
ton 1901, school attendance $500, ex-
penditure $50, 600, per capita for each
school child $3.50 Wilmington, popu-
lation 20, 976, school attendance 1905, ex-
penditure $4,000, per capita for each
child sS.72.
Alderman w. H. Yopp was at a loss
to see how the board could agree to
such a proposition at the present time.
said the school fund now derived
about $4,000 from the city in the way
of fine paid in the mayors court.
Alderman Tiencken spoke Of the eff
cheney of the schools and sad they
must be maintained. He said it was
entirely problematical what would be
derived from the saloon license after the
increased license went into effect and
he did not think the aldermen at
time should take the responsibility
Of giving the board of education pact
of the money.
III 1Hdl ~" SCjlSy oIINo " hl1OW Il
the board of education would be willing
to take half of the amount received
after deducting what would have been
at the olu rate.
Mr.. ROuntree said they were not Will
to such an agreement.
There was some contention that chill
from the adjoining counties were
attending the CITY schools. MIR. Blair
asked to be allowed to make a state
ment in regard to this matter. He said
there were not twenty children attend
ing school who did not Live in this city
and that they were paying tuition. He
spoke of the wonderful growth of Viii
mington and said it might be of inter
est to know that when school opened
fall children were in attendance
whose parents had just moved here
some six of eight states and also
many from other towns in this tate.
Mr.. Rountree said if the aldermen did
not think they could give as much as
half Of the saloon tax, that the board Of
would be satisfied with one
third and asked the aldermen to think
over this proposition.
The meeting was then adjourned but
the aldermen remained at the hall for
some time and talked over the proposed
measure. It is not known what will be
the decision of the aldermen but they
all seemed to think last night that there
too much doubt about the number
of saloons that will remain open when
the high license goes into effect to
think of allowing a law to be passed
taking away from the city a portion
of the revenue. The present admins
tration is having much work done on
--l . L. MI +Ao rOnn0Ny
that can be secured to meet the city's
expenses and Zach summer the city has
to borrow a considerable sum of money
to tide her oyer until the taxes be-
gin coming in when the borrowed
none is repaid. All these things being
true the aldermen find it rather diff
cult to accede to the request of the
board of education. No definite decision
was reached in regard to the matter
last night.