The Alaska daily empire., 1915-07-24

No one who gives the matter serious thought will question the need for making the public schools of Ju' ueau as efficient as possible It is more important that we have good high schools in this Territory than n is that they have them in sections of the country where colleges and universities and the opportunities for higher education are near at hand. In fact The Empire believes that as possible there should be vest extension Of the work Of the high schools in Alaska because will be long time in all prooab nity before we win have the population necessary to maintain colleges or technical schools up here It be- leves that this extension should include technical training one or two years regular college work and nigh, schools SO that Alaska boys and girls could be advanced on the way education as far as posst be without having to be sent to distant cities away rom parents and home Nothing else would add more Co the desirabnity of Alaska as place in which to live nor would anything else be greater inducement to bring to this country the class of people that we need. Then 1t is worth a lot to the communities to keep at home as many as possible os the boysand girls who are preparing themselves for life's work Their presence in the community adds to the joy of life and the more they can be kept here the likely are they to remain and become Alaskan citizens. and aid in the development og our commonwealth. Then. more important perhaps than all. there are people in Alas ka and doubtless always will be- who are unable to send their children to the States their higher edu cation
 However. the action of the City Council in not in creasng the allowance for the public schools for the ensuing year must not be judged wholly from the view point as to whether or money could be profit ably used by the school board It must in large measure be considered the viewpoint of the fnan cial condition of the city and the municipal needs
 When the present city council assumed office a year ago last April it found the city in debt and under the law. made by Congress. this is unlawful cond ton It also found fast growing city. Juneau was spreading out over new requiring more improved streets and sidewalks The developing traffic demand ed better thoroughares everywhere and more of them The increasing population and extension of the city re- euired increased police and fire protection In every branch of the municipal government there was more business. and. of course. greater cost
 The law fixes the tax limit at two per cent and as stated iorbds debt beyond the anticipated reve- nues This meant that the council faced the problem of paving off a debt and meeting greater demands for municipal service with ironbound limitation to the amount of revenues at its disposal
 In spite of the fact that the council eliminated many Improvements which h felt should be made and curtaied Che expenditures everywhere much as it believed that it could without destroying etticnecy it was unable to do more than pay off portion of the debt the first year.
 Notwithstanding this condition it increased the ap- populations for the schools year by the amount of SeoOO-auowing S2oooO as against allowance of S1s' 900 the year before.
 This year the council has determined to complete the payment of the ctys debt ii that is possible With that end in view 1t has decided reduce the costof the police department and is further curtailing expend ures in other lines Under the circumstances it decid ed that could not permit another increase in the cost of the public schools.