Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-01-20


are excessive for results obtained.
The Tidings believes both sides are
honest in their contention, but in
view of the fact that high taxes are
one of the things that most of all
are holding back the development of
jackson county, it is glad to see the
matter thoroughly discussed. Both
articles are therefore republished in
full as follows:
Under the caption, School Graft
is Opposed by County Court" the
Medford Mail Tribune of January IA
/ publishes an article purported to be
, an interview with County Judge F.
l.. Tou Velle, in which the school sys-
tenn of Jackson county is attacked as
a graft upon the public fund and a
ty. Coming from the source it does,
and on account of the numerous mis-
statements contained therein, we be-
lieye this article demands an an
swer. 1t does not appear just who
are accused of this graft, but graft"
is a strong term to apply to the ac-
tions of public officials for doing the
very things enjoined upon them by
the law. 1t is to be remembered that
Mr.. Tou Velle brought criminal ac-
ton for libel against certain editor
of this county for the use of similar
expressions.
Says Judge Ignorant.
If the county Judge is correctly
quoted in this interview, it is very
evident that he has not given much
consideration to the matter and has
not familiarized himself with the
facts in the case, otherwise there
would not appear so many mis-state-
ments.
The first mis-statement, or rather
this is misleading statement, APP
pears in the headline, would have
law repealed by Legislature, and en-
force minimum instead of maxi
num-" AS a matter of fact which
the judge ought to know, the schools
now get the minimum in the very
things he complains of. The law
provides at least IS per capita from
the county for all children of school
age, and in accordance with this pro-
vision the county court levied tax
of 1.6 mills, which is the very least
it can levy under the law. In some
more liberal counties from SO to
$14 per capita is provided, but Jack
son county gets the minimum, $S.
The high school levy is 3 of mill,
which is also the very least the law
permits, and this law was made ap-
! plicable to Jackson county by vote
tion, by an overwhelming majority.
The people demanded this by a vast
majority, and the county provides in
accordance with this demand the
very least it can.
Ought to Pay More.
The article further says: "The
people of Jackson county are paying
far more for schools than they are
for state and county or municipal
government" The levy for county
school fund is 1.G mills and for high
school 3 OF a mill, against 10 mills
for general county expense and IL
for state tax. This does not include
warrant redemption nor road fund.
Hence it does not appear that the
county is paying moro for schools
than for county and state govern
ment. But it ought to pay much
more. The county judge evidently
overlooked the fact that there were
( employed in this county for the
school year 1911-12, 231 teachers,
while the number OF county employees
is perhaps not over 35 or 40, and
cries graft" because the county pro-
vides nearly as much for these 231
teachers as it does for general coun-
ty expenses OF course this 1.6
mills and 3 of mill does not pro
vide all the funds used for the
schools, but it is all the county fur
nishes. In addition to this nearly
every district in the county is COM
PEELED to vote upon itself a special
tax for maintenance, ranging from
l mill to 10 mills on the dollar, or
even more. This the people vote
upon themselves, and the county
court, the county educational board,
not the county school superintendent,
has anything to do with it.
People Want High Tax.
There is no tax the peoplpe will
so readily vote upon themselves as a
school tax, and any attempt to weak
en- the support Of the public schools