The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-03-27
RALEIGH SCHOOLS CLOSE.
North Carolina Cities Vote Extra
Taxes to Run the SchoOls-Large
Revenues Cut on.

Raleigh. N. c.. March 22.-Here in
Raleigh. the capital of the State. and
known for generations as an educa-
tional centre. the public schools have
been closed since the first week in
March and unless the school board
secures a loan Of $4,000. will remain
closed until next September or Octo-
ber. There was not another dollar
In the treasury to run the schools any
longer because no means had been
found to make up the revenue that
was formerly derived from the liquor
dispensary and before the dispensary
was established from the tax on sa-
looms and from certain fines in GRIM
inal courts that went to the school
fund. A special tax will be levied
to maintain the schools the coming
session.
Before prohibition prevailed here,
Raleigh had q liquor dispensary. a
municipal monopoly Of the trade in
liquors. wines and beers. This was
under the management of prominent
citizens. and all profits from the sale
of liquor here went to the city, the
county and the schools. This dis
pensary was in operation betweeen
three and four years before 1t was
abolished and prohibition prevailed.
In Its first year. 1904, the dispen-
sary paid to the city $4,000 and to
the county $2s.000. For the second
year the legislature changed the
method of dividing the profits. CIV
ing four-tenths to the city general
fund. and three-tenths to the Wake
county road fund. and three-tenths
to the school fund. That year the
profits were increased, the city get
ting $2e.1s1.SS. and the schools and
the country roads getting about $19,-
6S5 each. In the year 1906. the dis.
pensary paid the city general funt
some $4,000 and the county road
and school funds about $4,000, OF
$22,500 each. In the last year of the
} dispensary. 1907. 1t paid $25,20O t.
the city. and $s7.500 to the schoo
and road funds. These were not pro
} Ats.
When prohibition was adopted ant
the sale of all liquors was prohibited
this scource Of revenue was cut off
and the only way to make it up wa
by a considerable increase in taxation
The city taxes were substantially in
: creased at the next levy. but in al
election last year the proposed speci
al tax for schools was defeated. Th'
; schools ran on until the money CAV
out. and then closed their doors. o,
last Tuesday special election wa
held to increase taxes Is cents on tn
800 worth OF property for tn
schools and to increase the poll tax
As cents. This was carried by larg
: majority. But though this increas
In taxation was voted. II will not pro
duce revenue until the taxes for tn
next fiscal year begin to be paid, an
! tie schools must remain closed 70
: the remainder of the session unles
: money Is borrowed to carry them OF
Just at the edge Of Capitol SQuar
Q stands q handsome new high schof
}. building. recently completed. !
which are the ofices Of Prof. Fran
M. Harper. superintendent of school
. When the revenue was cut of so sue
denly. provision had not been mad
for the furniture and equipment. an
these had to be provided by privat
subscription. Generous men and pub
lic-spirited women not only CAV
themselves. but the entire town we
canvassed on last Wednesday by girl
and boys in aF"Tag Day" crusad'
;. which covered the entire city and II
" suburbs. and some $400 was raised
this method to help pay the remain
Ing amount due on the furniture.
II had not been for the generoslt
and public spirit Of the women Of tn
- city. this fine building would have RI
NAMED unfurnished and untenante'
The school board appears to be dc
ing all 1t can to remedy condition
but It's only means of securing necd
ed funds was considerable increas
In taxation.-Haltimore Sun.