The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1910-11-03
The School Tax Constitutional Amendment

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The School Tax Constitutional Amendment.
The fifth among the fifteen amendments
to be voted on at Louisiana State election
next month is based on Act No. 257 of the
regular session Of 1910, entitled GA joint
resolution proposing an amendment to the
Constitution relative to the levying of tax
of not less than three mills on the dollar
by parishes, cities or towns for the support
of the public schools of the State.'
The amendment will read on the ballot
ssFor the three mill school tax" and IS
Against the three mills school tax Il
This wording is misleading; and it is now
being explained throughout the State that
the people are not being asked to vote a
special three mills tax, as the amendment
would seem to indicate, but are simply
providing that of the local taxes three mills
must be set aside and devoted to schools in
each parish, ''unless the parish boards of
school directors of that parish certify that
the needs of the schools can be met by a
smaller levy of such taxes
This amendment has received the support
of the school authorities at Baton Rouge,
and the school department will do all it can
to secure its passage, as we'll as that of
amendment No. 8, providing for the issue
OF bonds to build schools and generally for
any other improvement purposes. In spite
OF this support from the State Department
of Education, and although it has always
worked earnestly for public schools, and
has done as much to increase their reve-
nues as any journal, organization or indi-
vidual in Louisiana, the Times Democrat
does not believe either of these school
measures should be adopted; and it is con-
WINGED that their success will initiate more
against the public school system than
would their defeat.
No State in the Union has done more for
schools in the last half dozen years than
Louisiana. 1t has given them every avail
able cent it could, and it has more than
doubled their income and trebled their
usefulness. Nowhere is the value of edu-
cation more fully recognized and nowhere
has the public interest in the schools been
more thoroughly aroused.
But here, as elsewhere, there are some
enthusiasts who want to make the wheels
move faster than they can safely 90, who
by asking more than the people of LOUISE
ana can give for education just now, or
want to give, are only too likely to arouse
opposition and prejudice. tits as danger
Gus to squeeze the goose that lays the
golden eggs as to kill the bird for it's eggs.
The people of New Orleans voted down
four years ago the proposition so strongly
supported by Superintendent ,Aswell and
the whole school organization Of the State.
as we'll as by the Governor, for the is.
suance of a million dollars of bonds for
school buildings, not because they were
antagonistic or lukeware to the cause of
education, but because, they believed that
some of the friends of the schools we're
asking too much, were growing too press
ing in their demands, and apparently did
not realize that Louisiana had other things
to look after besides its schools-levees to
oulld, roads to construct, the veterans to
pension, the insane to care for, etc.
At convention of school officials, held
last summer long programme was pre-
pared OF legislation to be asked of the Gen.
eral Assembly, which contains, among
other propositions, the demand that the
school boards be authorized, of their own
accord and independence the police iuries.
% levy a special parish tax for the public
schools
This proposition, like the Aswell SCHOOL,
pond amendment, although it met with the
favor OF many school officials, did not strike
The popular fancy. The people of Lauisi-
ana are facing too many taxes o-day, and
Ire not willing to give the taxing power to
sixty new bodies, the parish school boards.
The State levies State tax, the police
uries parish tax, the municipality or
Council still another tax. In addition. the
evee boards have right to levy taxes and
o issue bonds. The people have always
'eseryed to themselves the right to levy
'pecial taxes for schools or for any other
purposes of public improvement. To give
he school boards the right, as proposed. to
evy new taxes, met with much popular
opposition. The argument that the School
5oard, being elected by the people would
lot vote higher taxes than the people
wanted carried little weight. Enthusiasts
re only too likely to see the question
through magnifying glasses, and to con-
'lnce themselves that the public schools
re the first essential, call for most of the
evenues, and that the levees, the courts.
be roads. etc., should give way to them. +
This seemed to be the popular view of
he proposition, and the Legislature. in
esponse to this strong popular sentiment.
eclined to pass this tax measure. and Act
70. 257 (amendment No. s. was submitted !,