The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-03-24
PROTEST CUTTING OFF APPROPRIATIO IONS FOR STATE SCHOOLS
Would Mean Burden on Small Towns, Says Speakers
 Opposing Measure


 Hartford, March 24-A1though the hall of the House was given over to the committee on education for the hearing yesterday, much smaller room would have sufficed. The at tendance was small but the inter est manifested was keen throughout.
 The first measure considered was practically a portion of the message of Governor Ho1coLnb to the General Assembly on educational matters.
 Harry R. Bartlett Of Holland thought it would be a great mistake schools. The small towns would be greatly affected. The large foreign population would undoubtedly oppose any big grants on the part of the towns for the schools. It would be utterly impossible for many of the small towns to maintain the schools It would mean a greatly increased tax rate. It would be a. backward step.s
 The recommendations of Governor Holcornb was then read in order that a clear discussion would follow:
 The recommendations are as fol- lows:-
 Prior to 1871 the only money paid by the state to towns for school pur- poses was the income of the school fund.- In that year an appropriation. in addition to this income, was made to be distributed in proportion to the number of children between the ages of four and 16 years in each town. The amount of this additional ap- propriation has increased until in. the last year it was $487, 7,573.39. In 1908 it was provided that a. certain sum should be appropriated to each town having grand list of less than $500.000; to be distributed upon the basis of the average attendance of children in it's schools. The Hmita- ton as to the grand lists of towns frN hn Hn 1i6 61r5 I7 sJ,1 to $2,500.000; and the prop oltion of the expense of the schools contri1 buted by the state has been increased, until, in the last fiscal year SEA- 177.44, was expended under this law. In addition to these two grants vari- of the attendance of children at high schools are now authorized, and for this purpose, in the last year $87,- 089.42 was spent. The state has therefore, in the last year, expended $698, ,S70.25 for the maintenance of schools, and has, to that extent, taken upon itself burden which belongs peculiarly to the cities and towns of the state.
 ..The total amount appropriated in the last fiscal year for the purpose mentioned is $1,254,7s4.93. This rep Fesents, a tax of a little more than 1 mill upon the grand list of the state. If the revenue of the state derived from sources other than that of a direct tax was sufficient to pay this amount, in addition to the necessary appropriation for distinctively state purposes, little if any; fault could be found with its expenditures But in view of the present inadequacy of state revenue, I believe that the Leg islature should leave the matter of ap- propriation for hospitals to the local ities they serve; should place the bur den of the maintenance of county homes upon the counties: should re- quire towns to which, insane paupers belong, or the relatives of other in sane persons, to pay the actual cost of their support at the insane institu- tions of the state, and should care fully consider a reduction in the amount of state funds distributed to the towns. for, educational purposes. The only alternative to such a course which affords with good government and good politics, is to lay a state tax sufficient to meet the expenditures au- thorized for these purposes.
 x-Representative Case of Bark hamsted told the committee that the present law was satisfactory. It originated a result of the educa- tional need in the small towns The speaker hoped economy would not start by spelling the schools of the small country towns. His town to- day has a good system and the teach CTS are fairly well paid. The bill originated with the state board of ed ed and the present law resulted. De-