The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25
ASK THAT TUITION
FEE Be ABOLISHED
Workingmen Memorable the
Mayor and Education Board
TRADES COUNCIL MEETS
Form of Memorial Adopted Regarding
Fee Charged For High School.
President Samuel Gompers
Coming.
TRADES COUNCIL MEETS

A formal memorial and petition to the
Mayor and Board of Education of the
city of Birmingham, asking that the tut
ton fee charged pupils of the High school
be abolished at the close of the present
scholastic year was unanimously adopted
at a regular meeting of the Birmingham
Trades Council held In a hall on North
Twentieth street yesterday afternoon.
This question has been under considera-
tion by the labor organizations of the city
for some time past. The reasons advanced
for a free High school are clearly out
lined in the paper presented by the legls-
lation committee of the Trades Council,
through Chairman c. c. Houston, and is
as follows:
Memorial to the Honorable Mayor and
Board TO Education of the city of Biz
mingham, Ala:
"Gentlemen-The Birmingham Trades
Council composed of delegates represent
ing some forty trades and labor organiza-
lions, with a total enrolment of over 5000
members, the major per cent of whom
live within the city's corporate limits,
and are either heads or supporters of
families herewith presents to your hon
orable body this memorial, in the name of
the white workingmen of this city, and
ask that the tuition fee now charged
pupils attending the Birmingham High
school be abolished at close of the pres
ent scholastic year, to the end that the
future school system OF this city may
be free, and the children of all citizens
have the privilege of attending any branch
or department of same without additional
taxation.
EVERY man who works for wages or
salary in Birmingham is a taxpayer. He
pays taxes in rent charges on dwelling
he occupies, and helps pay taxes on the
shop, factory or business place where EN-
ployed with the profits on his labor.
Interest in City.
1.-THE workingmen feel a keen interest
in the progress sand development of this
wonderful city and believe this fee is u
serious handicap to such development and
progress. 1t prevents skilled mechanics
who seek to give their children every edu-
cational advantage within their means
moving to and becoming permanent citi-
zens of Birmingham, and in many In
stances shuts the dor of opportunity upon
aspiring children of resident working
men, who, after cost of clothing, books,
etc., are considered, are unable to meet
this additional tuition burden 1t Is not
encouraging to civic pride and patriotism
for wage-earner--a city builder-to have
his child bring home from school a note
to the effect that the pupil cannot con-
tlnue In the public schools unles sthe
tuition fee is paid within two or three
days, with pay day possibly two or three
weeks away.
Birmingham. we believe, stands alone
among the leading industrial cities of this
country with such a penalty placed upon
children Of it's citizens for attending any
| part of the public school system.
"If this tuition was necessary as an
| emergency expedient to keep the schools
| in operation half decade or more ago,
| during a period of industrial depression,
when the city tax rate was only 80 cents
| on the 800, and little or no state aid
| given, this cannot hold good today, when
Birmingham is enjoying the greatest
| prosperity OF any city in this section
of the county, with the local tax rate
| increased to 81 on the 500, a special school
tax of 10 cents on the 500, and the state
| legislature, by recent enactment, giving
| a Iar larger appropriation to public
| scaools than ever before in the history
| of Alabama.
therefore with magnificent and COM
.ious new High school building, well
| equipped for training pupils in the use
| fl and practical elementaries for lfe's
| WORK, and with a splendid corps Of
| teachers securing an education in Biz
| mingham should be made easy. should
| be free and one . It's best bids for q
| hl.h order Of citizenship, and it should
Le the duty. as it will no doubt be the
| pleasure, of you gentlemen TO remove
any obstacle that may stand in the way
| of even a single child receiving the fullest
and competent benefit of the Birmingham
public school system"
This memorial will be presented to the
| Board of Education at it's next regular
meeting.
President Gompers Coming.
A letter was received from Samuel Com
| pers president of the American Fedora
| ton Of Labor. accepting an invitation ex-
| tenued by the Trades Council to visit
! Birmingham, stating he would be here
Monday. May 20. Plans will be made
for a rouslng public meeting AMI pro-
eranme of suitable entertainment pro-
| vided.
Several unions reported that new sched-
| ules of wages were pending. The
! plumbers are asking for an increase of
! 80 cents a day, making the scale So per
d. OF eight hours, beginning April !.
| number of firms were reported as having
! signed the contract. The boilermakers
| have received an increase OF % cents
| a day in the contract shops.
Third Vice President J. ID. Buckalaw,
| of the International Association Of Ma