The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1906-10-24
STUART SCORES IN
SCHOOL TAX ISSUE
Would Further Relieve Local Taxa
tion Burdens From State
Revenues.

Pennsylvania Has Been Most Liberal
In General Appropriations For Edu.
catlonal Purposes.
The ringing declarations Of Edwin
S. Stuart, Republican nominee for Gov.
ernor In favor of the enactment OF
legislation to abolish local taxation for
public school purposes and in favor OF
giving greater state aid for the build,
ing of good roads and for charitable
purposes, have met with popular favor
His statement made in Jefferson
county that he is opposed to the car.
rying of large surplus in the state
treasury has also resulted in expires.
sions of approval in many quarters.
Candidate Stuart's views regarding
the school tax are especially pleasing
to the members of the Pennsylvania
State Association for the Abolition OF
the School Tax.
Theodore p. Rynder, secretary of
this organization, says:
I'VE have an organization extend.
ing over the state having for its puY.
pose the abolition of the school tax
on real estate thereby relieving espe-
cially small farmers and city home
owners of their heaviest tax burden
and establishing the principle that
public revenues must pay for the pub
lie education.
"The organization is known as the
Pennsylvania State Association for the
Abolition of the School Tax.
''It has a large number of clubs in
various sections of the state. It has
the support of some hold-over sena-
tors. 1t has many candidates for as
sembly pledged to the measure.
Candidate Stuart has Endorsed it in
at least two public speeches.
"The measure we propose would en-
able Pennsylvania to go on with its
great system of education and give to
every child within the commonwealth
its just dues-an education that would
fit it for the battle of life. 1t would
solve the problem Of adequate wages
for teachers and adequate schools for
pupils.
AT kaAa
"The only question ever raised has
been whether the state has the finan-
cial means to do it. AS briefly as may
be, let me answer that question.
"The total cost for the whole state
of teachers wages, text books and
supplies for last year was $l5,5S7020
ITO meet that bill the state now
has surplus of over $11,250,000,
which by the beginning of the next
fiscal year will reach at least $16,750,-
900. Then there can be added to this
the si,500,000 of annual current in
come, which during the last two years
has been applied to equipping our
new capitol, as well as some addi-
tional amounts that went into con-
struction, and also the amount here
tofore appropriated for the sinking
fund. This S11,250,000 surplus, plus
s5.5O0,00 regular school appropria-
ton, plus $4,500000 new capitol ex-
penditures. will give us s21,250,0O0
with which to pay the $15,537,O2O of
teachers wages, text books and sup
plies. and leave $6.OOO,000 and all in
terest and additional revenues to be
added to apply to the ordinary ex-
penses.
There are abundant sources OF
new revenue Justly used in other
states that can be availed OF by the
next legislature should any new reve-
nue. be needed
"Mr. Stuart's pronounced stand on
this issue will, in the event of his
election, enable the state to take this
great advance step in public education
and make Pennsylvania the leader in
intelligence, as she is in material
prosperity"
What Counties Got Last Year.
While Mr.. Stuart is advocating
further relief of local taxation from
the general revenues Of the state, he
does not overlook the fact that enor-
nous sums are now being paid an
nually from the state treasury to the
several counties for public school pur.
poses.
The records of the state treasury
show that s7S32,35O mainly collected
by the state in taxes from corporations,
was paid to the several counties during
the wear 1909