The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-19


The public schools arc getting their
full share of the Statess revenues. and
It woull be unjust to retard the work
of the University of Virginia. the vir-
ginia Military Institute. tho Virginia
Polytechnic Institute. and the other
higher institutions by cutting down
F, their appropriations"
Senator Buchanan spoke of the i'm
! portant service performed by tho Uni
vcrsity of Virginia and The States OBJ
legation to preserve it's high standard
| Nirginia's appropriation to the univer-
sity. he said, was hardly comparable
in size with the appropriations Of
/ other States TO their State universities
/ Senator Blanks dcplored the ten
dency to array the higher institutions
of learning against the lower schools
The same tendency to render antagon-
istic the urban and country interests
he said, was noticeable In the fight
over the enabling act and the rolling
stock bill. He shared the opinion,
however, that tho common schools
have not been given the share of the
pubic moneys TO which they are en-
titled, and that Il discrimination was
apparent In favor of the colleges and
normal schools. 1t was wrong. he
said, to attempt to build up an educa
uonal structure from the top.
Would Preserve Tax Rate,
senator Mapp, patron of the amend
ment calling for the $3.50, 1000 increase
met the objection to the scaling of the
! appropriation to the higher institu-
/ ICONS, with the statement that tho seal
ing would be unnecessary II tho Cen
/ eral Assembly declined to ratify the
prolt sed decrease In the tax rate from
y To
'inated that If the tax rate were left
/ unchanged. the public school increase
and the increases to the higher insri-
! 'utlons or learning could both be takon
care of. The State Treasury. he es
.''na'eu' would still have a surplus Of
( more than 100000 mt the end OF the
/ present appropriation period
/ For my part, | had rather foreco
a sentimental reduction OF . cents in
the tax rate IL II will give 10 the nuh-
nc schools the assistance they need so
padiF. know of no general demand
ioF TINS decrease. and ! do know OF
crying need for the Improvement of tho
common schools. But II the money is
not To come from this source. I am
prepared to vote down every increase
TO the colleges and higher institutIon.
| III order that the lower schools may got
what they need. 1t is not a question
OF the higher institutions of learn
.hG getting too much, but of giving
INC pubic schools entirely too little
Echols Defends Committee.
senator Echols took the floor with
- strong defense of the appropriation
piil allotment AS chairman of tho
nance committee he said, he folt
mat 1t was incumbent upon hin, -,
reply to the charge that the con,,n,,
tee HAD made an unfair division 81 80,
FUNDS available for educational mr.
poses p"'
nave been somewhat surprised ,t
me introduction OF this amendment"
said Senator Echols. Il should ne.
To ask the Senator from Accomac ana
my other friends, who suddenly on
press so deep an interest in tho az
iairs of the States common scbooIs
Why they didn't come to R,chmora
when the Finance Committee was on
gagged In making up the appronrio-
tlotl Din! and there plead their caus.
I why did they wait until the budrct
was made UP and then come with mis-
plea at tho busiest time of the sos
siof to make confusion worse con
founded.
This question which it develops. IA
SO near and dear to the heart OF ,bo
senator from Mecklenburg. did nor
cause his heart to palpitate sufficiently
! % bring him to Richmond to press
his plea before the Finance Committoa
Z "nea ii was inviting the whole Stotn
70 help IL in ita work"
Riding on Popular Wave.
senator Echols commented upon the
sudGcnness with which The movement
! 10 secure an increase for the public
schools had descended upon the Senate
| IN this connection, he reminded the
Senate. that human nature was weak
ana has always had Il weakness for
riding on popular wave. The Finance
Committee. he said. had carefully CON
sidered the claims OF the schools M
presented by superintendent Stearncs.
and had divided the estimated reve-
nues among all claimants with ,he
Wow of taking care Of ali interests.
The school controversy said Senator
Echols. arises without fail nj every
session. Four years ago, he said, the
very forces which are to-day clamor-
| ing for larger appropriation to tho
common schools bcset the General AS
scmbly TO supply the State with normal
schools in order TO meet the demand
FOR teachers. Now that the normal
schools are founded and money Is
needed to complete their equipment, In
order that they may perform their
highest duty, the effort is being made
to paraly2e them by taking away their
appropriations and dcvoting them to
the lower schools.
Si2,0o0,OOO for SCHOOLS.
Nearly Sl2,000.00O. said Senator
Echols, Will DO spent by the state dur
| ing the next two years In support of
Ne public schools. Compared with
this amount is Sl4.000,0OO, the Com
monwealth's total income from all
sources, ii was clear. he thought.
that the common schools are enjoy
| ing liberal support Not even tho SUI
perintendent of Public Instruction. he
said could be so bloodlessly after more
money for the schools, If an additional
appropriation meant that the higher
institutions which form an integral
part of the education system. would
have to be robbed.
At the conclusion of Senator Echols's
speech, the Mapp amendment was put.
and 1t failed TO carry bysa vote of 20
to IL. The reading OF the appropria-
ton bill section by section continued
without incident