The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-01-23
JUNIOR ORDER
OPENS FIGHT TO
SAVE SCHOOL TAX
Sends Circular Attacking Forts
Diversion Plan to All Boards
of Education.
RAILROAD MONEY is
SACRED TO CHILDREN
Strong Presentation Made OF
Facts Relating to Need of
Controlling the Fund.

The State council of the New Jersey
Junior Order of United American Nc
chanics has sent out from Trenton un-
der date of today a printed circular 10
all the boards of education in the state
calling attention ito the attack on the
public schools made by the Governor in
his special message to the Legislature
under date of January 10, 1909" Here
are extracts from the circular; THE
public schools and the public school
funds are of interest to every patriotic
citizen, every school teacher, every
school board, every school child, every
parent and taxpayer. The attack upon
our schools is now open and pro-
nounced Twenty years ago the school
fund was diverted from school uses to
avert d State tax. 1t has since been
bitterly denounced and brought disaster
to those who attempted it. Today Il
recommendation is made again to di-
vert school money, under the excuse OF
avoiding q State tax"
After stating that the Junior Order
led In the Work Of passing the law in
1906 providing for the tax on railroads
for the support Of the schools, the cir
cular says that Governor Fort in his
special message, states that the act of
1906 giving the money to the schools
was unwise and should be repealed
and asks hat $500, 900 of the school
funds be given to the State, the circu-
lar goes on:
Big LOSS involved.
THE annual appropriation to schools
in the appropriation bills that have
been made for the last decade we're
omitted last yer on account of the
condition of the treasury, involving a
loss to the schools of about 100000 an
nually, SO that the total loss to the
schools this year, if the Governors re-
cent recommendation Is carried into ef-
feet, will be about 81, SOC, 900.
at seems remarkable hat the only
suggestion for avoidance of a State
tax is to cut down school moneys. No
retrenchment is suggested or recon-
mended for any other department in
the State. Why should the schools be
asked to bear the whole BURDEN
After saying the act Of 1905 received
the unanimous approval of the State
when passed, the circular reads that
according to Governor Forts own
showing in his message, notwithstand-
ing the increase In the number OF
school children in four years from 1908,
the amount which the taxpayers of he
school district were required to raise
for current school expenses decreased
S2,055, 000;" that is, that h act OF 1906,
giving the railroad tax money to the
schools saved in ore year the taxpay-
ers Of the State s2.o55, 900. And yet
only about half OF the money due to
schools has been distributed.
Junior Orders Work.
The Junior Order says in the circula
that il has saved to the taxpayers GO
per cent. Of their local tax by the eff
forts in having the money from the
railroad tax made part of the public
school funds.
eve are now facing a crisis in pub
lie school affairs in this State" the
circular continues. "Will you at once
take steps to assist us in defeating any
and all attempts on the part of the
Governor to divert the public school
moneys of the State for educative uses
and the benefit of our school children?"
Members of school boards, all par
ents and taxpayers are requested to
ask members of the Legislature from
their county ITO vote against any and
all measures that may be introduced
that Will in any manner affect the pub
lie school moneys" that hands must
be kept off this money, and that every
amount taken from the public school
! funds means an increase in the local
taxes of every individual in New Jer-
sey.