Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-11-28
TAXPAYERS STAND
BACK Of SCHOOLS
Unanimous in Voting 7 Mills
Tax and IndOrsing Policy
Of the Board

BY an almost unanimous vote the
taxpayers of the Salem school district,
in mass meeting assembled at the high
school building, last evening, turned
down an amendment to eliminate the
l.6.mill levy for a new school building
for South Salem this year and, without
a dissenting vote, adopted the report
of the board Of directors, calling for
7-mill levy for school purposes for the
coming year, 5.4 mills Of which will
bring $70,40O, and l.6 mills will bring
$20,90O for the erection of new school
building, total of $9l GAO, upon to-
tai assessed valuation Of $l3, 100000
which, together with an estimate of
$4O,500 revenue from state and cOun.
ty taxes and $4,000 estimated revenue
from high school tuition fees, will bring
the total revenue for the district to
$l35,640.
Progressive Plan Is Endorsed.
In adopting the report as a whole
the taxpayers also enthusiastically en-.
dorsed the program of gradual improve.
ment of the school system of the city
and the paying OFF of the district in.
debtedness, which will require period
of several years, and placed the stamp
of approval upon the spirit of economy
and business-like management which
has been displayed by the present board
in making up the budget for the en-
suing year and substantial provision
for the future growth and welfare at
the system. The meeting was con.
ducted harmOniously throughout, and,
after the taxpayers understood the sit
uation as it was explained to them by
Mr.. Lee and Mr.. Barnes on the part Of
the board, the program Of progress and
imprdEement was heartily endorsed.
g. am in favor of the best school
system that we can possibly afford, ="
said William Brown after A. n.
Moore S motion to adopt the report as
a whole was seconded and stated by
Chairman Miles. "l have heard u
great deal of grNmblnG of late, how
ever, about extreme taxes, and am in
favor Of ecOnomizing wherever it is
possible without cripping the effiei.
ency Of the schools, Therefore, if it is
possible that we can get along with.
out the new building tais year and
make provision fW it next year, or
some other time when times are better
and we can better afford it, would be
willing to pass the new building matter
over. If this can be done | am in fa.
yor of confining the levy to mills
and making provision for the new
building some other time.
Strong Believer in Efficiency.
I" am surprised at Mr.. Brown s at.
titnde Of economy at this time and in
this connection, said Henery Meyers,
facetiously, as he took the floor. "Mr.
Brown has already educated two of his
children in the public schools of Salem
and has two grandchildren growing up
to be educated and ae, above all men,
should be the last to want to curtai
the school system of the city. Look
at me. | am paying as much taxes as
anyone and have no children to edu.
cate, Still | am not grumblng abWt
high taxes aud crying economy. Neither
do | believe in building schools at the
expense Of the teachers, for what we
require more than anything else is eff.
ficicncy in the teaching staff, and I
would like to see them paid more. The
city Is to be congratulated upon having