The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1910-05-12
PAGE EIGHTEEN

on the local tax proposition.
The weak point in my argument in
reference to good schools attracting
good settlers. ETC., was that I made
1t apply to any community; where
as, had in mind the situation only
as 1T exists in the bearing School
District. Of course, I would not
contend that strictly rural school,
however good, would attract settlers.
But bearing is village on the
Georgia Railroad. Now, you admit
in your answer that country people
move to town to educate their chill
>dren, and this is precisely what [ am
cOntending. A frst-class school at
this place would attract goodly
number Of the weather. citizens
farther out in the country who con-
template moving to town where they
can secure the benefit of better
school facilities. This being true,
the conclusions in my argument as
to the enhancement of property, etc.,
will hold good.
Now Mr. Watson, [ am persuaded
that you have not made yourself IA
miliar with the application of this
local school-tax law. You speak of
taxing people of militia districts, etc.
That is not the thing we have here
at all. The bearing militia district
is divided into five school districts,
one of which is the bearing School
District. These districts are so
mapped out that no patron is more
than three miles from the school
house. Hence every taxpayer is
within reach of the school. The tax
proposition is voted upon by school
districts, or rather was so voted in
this instance. And, by the way, this
is the way [ favor local tax. This is
strictly local tax. Every one in the
district will be benefited by the tax.
justice of the proposition when ap-
piled to a strictly local community
like the bearing School District.
AS to the negro, I am no Solomon,
but | am not fool enough to advo-
cate a proposition to tax white peo-
pie to educate the descendants of
Ham, even if l favored such course.
When the local tax levied in the
bearing School District is applied to
negro education, then count me out.
l am as much opposed to being taxed
to educate the negro as anybody.
But this is one of my best reasons
for favOring the local tax. We can
build up our white school and leave
the negro out. These local schools
are put in charge Of local trustees
elected by the taxpayers. These
trustees contract with the teachers,
formulate rules and regulations to
govern the school under the general
supervision of the county board of
education. They have the disburse-
ment of the local tax fund in their
charge, and it is up to them to see
that it is put where it will do the
most good. Can you imagine a set
OF trustees with any amount of
gray matter in their craniums turn
ing over this fund to a negro school?
Now [ would not raise a strenuous
objection to paying over to the ne
gro school the actual amount of 10
cal tax collected from the negroes.
In this district that would be about
$11.20. This amount would GER
taInly not take many dusky children
out of the cotton patch, nor cause
many pale faces to leave school for
the cotton fields. If the conditions
spoken of by DR.. Andrews and others
exist, in which negro schools are be-
ing supported by local tax collected
from the white people, it is the fault
of the school management and not
of the local tax itself. And if it con-
tinues it will be the fault of the
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