New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1916-10-27

But for this law, enacted for the
people by the Republican legislators,
the school districts could not have Sc
cured the new buildings. for the prop
erty valuations were too low to per
nit of bond issues and surplus school
funds for building purposes were I'M
heard OF. Under the law, the state
furnished $125.000 for these buildings
and approximately $4,000 in money
or labor was contributed by the people
OF the districts, who were eager to
provide better schools when encour-
aged by help from the state.
These people got no help from Gov
ernor Mcdonald and his Democratic
administration.
The people has v had aid from
Governor Mcdonald and the Demo
cratic party i'll their desire to secure
better educational advantages for
their sons and daughters.
Governor Mcdonald and the de
serving Democrats" who have been his
advisers either pcrniciouaIy opposed
improvements in the states education
system which the Republicans were
trying to make or by lack OF cO-opera-
ton or cold indit renee were STUN
bling blocks which the Republicans
had 10 push aside in their determine
ton to do their very best by the boys
and girls OF New Mexico and by the
parents who are anxious to see their
children succeed in life.
But now-when the worth OF the ed
ucational advantages secured by Re
publicans and the beneficial effects of
the Republican legislative enactments
for the cause OF education are appar-
ent, and the record Of Mcdonald and
his Democratic party is borne to the
light and placed under scrutiny-now
Governor Mcdonald and his "deserv-
ing Democrats" want to claim for
themselves the credit for these good
deeds, and deny the authorship of the
Republicans. Knowledge that their
W wretched record betrays Melon
aid and the Democratic party as oh
structionists, reactiOnaries or fiabby
nonentities goads them In their frantic
efforts to rob the Republicans of theiI
just title to the credit.
. But the records show where tho
rrnIft holO~ ~p 80 .b0 ponuh'iCan loo
isuatures which initiated End cnactc
the srhral 'oGislati0n, Governor NJ
nonald had TO II orc TO do with secu
ing better o.uc.i.iou for New VI Nc,
chil iron than 70 stand IN tn" Wy o
ON" If il.
To the Rcprtli'an LcGi lature OF
1915 belongs the credit for enabling
eve The poorest districts in the state
10 hold school for their children the
full nine months and at the same time
reducing the total tax required for
school purposes.
The Republican Legislature did this
by the enactment of the so-called coun.
ty unit tax law.
Governor Mcdonald points with
pride to it in his campaign speeches
and tries to convey the impression
that he and his party were RESPONSE.
BILE for 1t.
Republicans framed it, enacted it In,
to law and It made possible longer
school terms throughout the state
without an increase, but with a reduc.
ton in the total amount necessary to
be raised in the counties by taxation
because Republican. congressman had
secured such generous allotments OF
federal school lands and they had beer
SO successfully administered by Rob
ert p. Ervien, Republican state land
commissioner.
Land Commissioner Ervien believes
in the development and groWth OF the
state, not only n education but in at
things. Bv the same token. Governor
Mcdonald has repeatedly exhibited at
an-"go"'s'l to development.
The Republican state l+Nd coiami3
e'oner " . capGhly administered tho
school lands that revenues from then
contributed substantially to the sup
port of the schools, sc when Che Re
publican Legislature passed the coun
ty unit tax law. the total tax was low
er than under the old system although
the length of the term and the operat
ing cost was increased in nearly all
the country school districts of the
state.
The county unit tax law, which the
Democrats are trying wrongfully to
claim as their own, makes seven
months the minimum school year in
rural districts and nine months the
minimum in cities and in rural dis
tricts having Graded schools with four
tcachors. Under its benefits. how
ever, the rural districts whore scycu
months is the prescribed miniru
may hold school a full eight Or min
months.
The splendid effect Of this Law can
not he undorastimated. as Il makes an
actually of the theoretical presutAp
ton Of law that the child in the poor
district, in the sparseiy populated
country district, shall have lust as
good a show for q good education in
the public schools as the child In rich
districts and the centers of p%opula-
ton. 1t is small wonder that the Dem
ocrats ere ervi0us Of the Republicans
who brought this about.
The county unit tax law eliminates
the old system If special district
taxes for the maintenance of schools
and substitutes the better plaa OF the
county, as a unit, being taxed FOR ALI
he schools Of that county and for a
distribution of those tax funds to the
not on the basis ON what the
district paid in taxes but what the dis
riot NEEDS as shown by the certi-
lied budget approved by the county
commissioners. All the taxable prop
erty in the county, therefore, contrib
ties in taxes to ALL the schools in
county, the tax revenue from the
itch districts going as much to the
1oor districts as to themselves. All
he districts, rich and poor, get what
hey need for their school work in
above the minimum as such
needs are set out in the official bud
gets.
In addition there is a per capita dis
ribution to the schools from the cur
'ent state school funds, including the
proceeds OF the state half mill tax.