Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-01-23
REPORT OF STATE
SUP. OF SCHOOLS
SHOWS GROWTH
Total Receipts for Year Are in
Excess of Twenty.three
Millions.
Especial to tho Newark star.

TRENTON, Jan. 23.-That New Jer-
sey, though liberal, Is not bearing more
thai It's equitable share of the cost OF
our free public schools, Is a declaration
made by State superintendent OF
Schools Charles ]. Baxter in a sum
mary which he has prepared showing
the actual financial condition of the
public school system of the state.
Mr.. Baxter also says that the education
of the masses Is so vitality important
to society and to the State that many
intelligent citizens incline to the belier
that no portion of the support of the
schools of any district should ever be
dependent upon the measure of correct
educational sentiment that shall pre-
vail therein. He adds that in their
opinion both the proper and the ideal
arrangement Is for the State to assume
the entire outlay required for current
expenses OF the schools and for the
pubic districts to provide the suitable
and adequate school accommodations,
the furnishing OF accommodations to
be, IN the case of each district, a con-
dition precedent to receiving its equit-
able share of State support.
Cost Over Eight Millions.
The financial statement issued by Mr..
Baxter shows that for the year ending
June 30, 1910, the receipts for school
purposes were $23. 10S, 413,37 and that the
total expenditures In the State for all
purposes in connection with the public
schools was SIS, 202, 1859. The income
for school purposes was from three
sources-$S, 1872, 808.8S from State school
tax. State appropriations. school fund
appropriations and railroad taxes;
raised by school districts, SOL ,665. 80,
and from all other sources, "a, 772. 1895. S9.
In the items Of receipts Is included a
balance of about 49, 00, 600 from the pre-
ceding year which Mr.. Baxter says was
obtained, with the exception Of a
small percentage, from the sale OF dis
trict bonds for the erection of new
school buildings and undermining old
ones n by taxes levied for repairs
and the payment of maturing bonds
and interest.
District Tax Necessary.
THE addition of the increase in rail-
road tax to the former State appropria-
lions has not caused a plethora of
school funds" says Mr.. Baxter, "else
every chool district In the State would
not find it necessary to supplement
these appropriations by a district tax
in order to provide an amoun suffi-
cient for the current expenses of its
schools"
Expenditures for the year are divided
into three classes-current expenses,
permanent improvements and special
appropriations n Implications. The
amount spent for current expenses
was 81, 936, 279.43; for permanent I'M
provements. $500, 503.11; for appropria-
lions n Implications, 1886, 492. rs.
Current Expenses Over Eleven Millions.
Ks shown under current expenses, the
current expenses" for the year, for
which this report is made were Sill,
936, 279. AZ, and the amount paid for
teachers salaries, 1884, S04.14, was the
largest item. The former exceeds the
entire amount received from the State
by SO, $50, 470.75 and the latter by $464,-
1864. I'm view of these figures" says
Mr.. Baxter, 1.-The penalty provided in
section 228 for using any portion of
the appropriations received from the
State for any purpose other than the
payment of teachers salaries, fuel bills,
the transportation of pupils and the
tuition of pupils attending schools in
adjoining districts is quite amusing.
The temptation to use State school
funds for purposes other than for those
authorized in the law becomes still far
ther removed when II Is noted that
only So, 79S, 080.39 of the State a%pproprla'
lions are subject to the above ~restric-
tions. The railroad fund, constituting
about 80 per cent. Of the amount re-
ceiyed from the State, may be used
for any purposes included under the
term current expenses"