Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1913-07-03
Mr.. RAULSTON
ON BUND ISSUE
Reasons Why Scheme Should Be
Opposed by Taxpayers.

Hon. John T. Raulston and a repre-
sentative of the South Pittsburg Hust
Ter, relative to the proposed schoo
bond issue. 1t will appear in tbs
Hustler tomorrow.
Q. l presume you have seen our last
issue of the paper and see that Profes
scr Kelly says you are not familiar
with the school situation of this Coun.
typ
A. Yes, / have read what the Pro.
fessor has to say, and of course, you
could not expect that a man of my
profession who devotes his exclusive
time to his business. would know all
the details of a matter which is in nc
wise connected with his business. For
instance, l don't know the exact mum
Der of children in Marion County,
neither do know the exact amount of
funds available for school purposes,
but think that in a general way,
have pretty good knowledge of the
situation, and am fairly we'll acquain-
ted with the financial condition of the
County, the tax rate, ETC., and know
that it would be outrageous for Ma
rion County to, at this time, burden
itself with an additional $50, 900. 90
indebtedness
@. But Professor Kelly insists that
the school system of the county should
be bettered independent of these con-
ditions'
A. That reminds me of the doctor
who would kill his patient to stop the
ravages of disease. If you so burden
the people with taxes that they can't
feed and clothe their children and
buy books for them, then you totally
destroy the school system. In other
words, if you SO impoverish a man that
he is not able to send his children to
school, he gets no benefits therefrom,
even if he has commodious school
house within 100 yards of his own
house, but Mr.. Kelly gets off on this
in order to obscure the issues in the
case. There is nobody that know
anything about who opposes the prog
ress of our public schools, but what
am insisting on is that we keep with
in the limit of our means. To illus
trate, as have heretofore said, we
should deal with public affairs like we
deal with our private affairs. 1t is all
very nice for man to be able to dress
his family in expensive clothing, pro-
vided he is able to pay for them, but
I have no sympathy with the practice
of some of my neighbors who dress
their families at the expense of the |
merchants and make debts they will |
never be able to pay.
O. But Professor Kelly seems to
think the school houses in the country |
districts are not sufficient; what do
you think about it, MI. Raulstonr
A. AS general rule, he is in error
as to this. He knows just as we'll as
the people know that you cannot main
tain a school in the country districts
after cold weather begins. Children
can't 60 two or thee miles through |
mud and rain to school during the
winter months. So far as know, the
houses are amply sufficient in most
districts for summer and fall schools,
and this is all that can be had in these
rural district. even if $40, 10000 hous
es are built in every precinct.
@. Possibly you are right about
that, but the Deptford district is
wholly without schoolhouse of any
kind.
A. Yes, this is true, and they had
q house worth anywhere from 81, 900 to
90, 900 in my estimation, which was
sold for $3.50. co. If mistake
has been made in the sale Of this prop
erty in this particular district, must
the whole county be involved to the
extent of $50, 900 to correct this one
mistaken If this is the purpose of the
bond issue, and think it highly prob
ably that it is, l would rather contrib
ute something out Of my individual
means to help the people of that dis
trict build a school house, and am
sure great many others would be
willing to do likewise.
@. What do you know about the
general sentiment among the people
the county on this ques-
tions
A. Well, know great deal about
it, and I will venture this assertion;
That If 1t were left to the people, it
would lose anywhere from three to ten
10 one, and l now make the advocates
Of this bond issue this proposition: If
they will submit it to the people and
Il does not lose three to one, l will not
,
@. Do you think they could at once
sell the bonds if they we're issued, Mr..
Raulston'
A. feel that everyone who is at
al familiar with the bond market
now knows they could not sell them
IN any kind Of reasonable basis.
Tennessee recently failed to sell her
ponds; Memphis has failed to sell
hers; Chattanooga, Baltimore and
yreat mapy other cities have failed to