The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-02

he conditions prevailing In Alabama if is but fair to say that the problem of developing our school finances so as to guarantee the perpetuity Of cur democratic government is that or oe- termining how our revenues are 10 De increased perpetually to meet the graa- ually increasing burdens. The problem of increasing the production Of wealth is laid at the door of cur public school system. That the obligation of eau- eating the children of our state should rest upon the state on the basis cf wealth has a new meaning when the relation between progress and puolic education is understood.
 Effort to Improve
 Looking toward the removal of the constitutional inhibition which has tended to keep Alabama at the foot of the educational ladder, our legislature has passed a bill authorizing the sub mission of an amendment to the pco- pie of the state. authorizing any coun- ty upon the vote of the qualified elec- tors, to levy a tax, not to exceed 3
 mills, for educational purposes with the further proviso that vixen any county is levying as much as miils any district in the county, with the ap- proval of the county board eff educa- ton, may levy tax for educatioral purposes in the district to be voted by the electors. not to exceed 3 mills.
 Tt has required the best efforts of the friends of education in the state to secure the passage of the bill authorizing the submission of this amendment after 2 campaign extending over more than a quarter of a century. It remains to set whether the taxpayers of Alabama are Willing to give to any county and to any districts thereof the right to say whether they will provide a reasona ble amount oi educational opportunity upon their owr initiative and at their own expense. Int county that has enough funds to equiI and finance it's schools will not be affected at all and under no condition can any tax be voted until the same has been duly advertised and voted by a majority of tn, qualified electors in the area concerned There Is a sentiment against taxation ana even the possibility of taxation. so mucf so that for very many people reform means legislation which will make tn, other fellow pay the taxes This is un democratic and is founded upon prejudice pa ssion and narrow -mindedness Taxa tion for schools is not political ques | tion in the restricted use of the term, no Is it a party measure, in the narrow us' of that term. It is merely a provision fo offering the same fair chance and squar i deal to the ragged, barefoot boy on thu 1 hillside that the state already offers t, | his city cousin; the same provision for in telligent motherhood to the pale-face' working girl of a white county as to he 1 healthy cousin the black belt
 If we sum it all up, the humble statu 1 of public education in Alabama is the log i ical outcome of our practical repudiatioi | of the doctrine of local self-governmen | with it's attendant apathy of public opin 1 ion and poverty of public revenue.
 'The only remedial measure Is local tax
 ation, whose chief virtue is that it devel
 ops the people through their efforts t govern themselves Local taxation VII provide increased revenue and that is i'm perative but "Its finest fruit will be tn personal interest each citizen will acquir for the betterment of the school, the be