Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-10-25
STUART SCORES IN
SCIIGOL TAX ISSUE
Would Further Relieve Local Taxa
tiOn Burdens From State
Revenues.
IS A POPULAR PROPOSITION
Pennsylvania Has Been Most Liberal
In General Appropriations For Edu-
cational Purposes.

In General Appropriations For Edu-
cationaI 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 a 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 pur-
pose the abolition of the school tax
on real estate thereby relieving espe'
ciallv 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.
1T has a large number of clubs in
various sections of the state. 1t has
the support of some hold-over sena-
tors. 1t has many candidates for as.
sembly pledged to the measure.
Candidate Stuart has indorsed 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
it's lust 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.
An Abundance of State Revenue.
/ "The only question ever raised has
/ been whether the state has the tinan'
! 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
I supplies for last year was Sl5,537 ,02O.
ITO meet that bill the state now
has surplus of over Sl1,25O,OOo,
/ which by the beginning of the next
fiscal year will reach at least Sl6,75O,.
! OOO. Then there can be added to this
| the sl.500000 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
,und This SIl.250.OO0 surplus plus
$500. 900 regular school appropria
ton. plus $4.5OO,000 new capitol ex'
penditures. will give us S2L250,OOO
with which to pay the $l5,537O2O OF
! teachers wages. text books and sup
niles and leave $6.000OOO 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 IL
intelligence. as she is in materia
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
nuallv from the state treasury to the
several counties for public school pur
poses.
The records Of the state treasury
show that 1882 $50, mainly collected
by the state in taxes from corporations
was paid to the several counties during
the year 1905.
Pennsylvania Leads the Way.
Pennsylvania has, without question
the best public school system in thu
world.
No state in the Union appropriate
ANYTHING like the sum of money whicl
is annually set aside by this common
wealth for the maintenance and de
velopmont of the free schools. NJ
state makes anything like the liberia
provisions made by Pennsylvania TO
the education and training of teacher
and the conduct of state norma
schools and township high schools.
The cause of popular education ha
ever been fostered by the Republican
party, and that party has been instru
mental in the passage through tn
legislature of laws which have serve,
= to strengthen and to upbuild the mag
, nificent free school system which pa
been the subject OF universal com