The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-16


 municipal taxation. But this benefits districts which are so fortunate as to fall in the class mentioned need prac- tically ali of the municipal taxes for other purposes. However. 1t Is chiefly on account of this limited power of local taxation that the incorporated cities and towns are outstripping the other districts in educational advance ment.
 Why not give this power tc all dis tricts? If the people of a community desire to levy a tax upon their prop erty for the purpose of providing bet ter educational advantages for their children who will say that they should not be permitted to pursue such a course2
 The right of local self government is principle for which the people of Alabama have always contended: yet. in the matter of providing education for their. children. 1t is a right which the fundamental law denies to them. This constitutional inhibition should not be permitted longer to exist. The next Legislature should submit to the people for their adoption an amend ment having for it's object the removal of this palpable, retarding, and hurt ful defect. That it would be overwhelm- ingly adopted by the people have not the slightest doubt.
 The Poll Tax.
 The poll tax provision of the con- stitution could be made better. There are too many exemptions. Since the entire tax goes to the schools. there is no good reason why anybody with in the age limit who is able to pay should be relieved of payment. If cer- tain people should be paid for certain services. let them be paid from fund 10A ElW the schools of the children for such expenditures.
 Again, this provision of the consti- tuition Is defective in that it makes the payment of the poll tax a purely voluntary matter. This not only re- duces the income for schools. but it tends, unnecessarily to reduce the mum Der of qualified electors, which is al- ways dangerous in governments where the people rule. It says in substance to men otherwise qualified for the franchise: You must pay for the priv ilege of voting; or, to state 1t differ ently, refrain from voting and the State will pay you from the educa- tional fund the sum of one dollar and fifty cents per year. l submit that if men must be paid for refraining from participating in the administration of government, payment should not be made at the expense of those who are endeavoring to prepare themselves for an intelligent exercise of the franchise
 If under existing circumstances, 1t be considered necessary that the pay ment of the poll tax be made a condi- tion precedent to voting, the desired result could be secured by limiting the withdrawal of the privilege of voting to the year In which default in pay ment is made. The end aimed at by the constitution makers would not be jeo- pardized. if, within a reasonable time of the year. the poll tax should be made collectable by legal process
 Relating to Administration.
 In some respects the constitution is very imperfect in it's provisions per taining to school administration. Let us study briefly those provisions.
 No qualification is fixed for the of- flee of State Superintendent of Edu- cation. Any voter is eligible for elec- tion or appointment to that high of- flee. This defect has appeared in each of the constitutions. Be it said to the credit of the people that, notwith- standing this defect. the practice of electing to this office professional edu- cators only seems to be firmly estab- llshed.
 Under this wise custom we are en- toying efficient state supervision. The continuance of competent state super vision would be guaranteed. if the con stitution required the State Superin- tendent of Education to be a profes- sional educator of experience, of recog- nized ability. and of high character.
 The provision which limits the tenure
 (Coutinued On Page Tenl