The Newark journal., 1916-05-11
GOV. HAYS OPPOSES
 SCHOOL TAX RAISE
Declares University Near Fail- ure and Says it Should be Removed to Central Point
An interesting feature of the

An interesting feature of the Arkansas Press Association meeting at Texarkana this week was m address delivered by Gov. Hays from his office at the state capitol in Little Rock. The address was deliv- cred by long distance, 'Ioud- talking" telephone to the edi- tors assembled in TeXarkana, and although the speaker was nearly 200 miles away from his audience the Governors words were plainlyunderstood.
 The principal part of the governors address dealt with the proposed increase in the school tax from ' to 12 mills, and the removal of the State University from Fayettevillet to a more central point.
 Discussing the proposed in- crease in the school levy the governor said:
 Everyone must stand for better schools. We need to inn prove oureducational interests. We must educate the boys and the girls today who are soon to be the men and women of this country, but, after seeing that an effort was being made to get your organization to en- dorse the proposed amendment to the constitution increasing the taxes for school purposes from ' to 12 mills, and know ing the conditions of the State as 1 do at this time, am con- think it is a step in the wrong way.
 'The taxpayers today are burdened; only small per cent of the children of school age at this time are able to avail themselves of the oppor- under present condi- tions. To increase the taxes five mills would mean the lay ing of an extra tribute on the taxpayers of the State of two and a quarter million dollars annually. This, the people are unable to stand at this time.
 q have had requests from practically half of the collec- tors of the State this year ask ing that I do something to ex- tend the time for the payment of taxes and relieve them of the necessity of collecting the penalty from those who have been delinquent in the payment of their taxes. 1 haveresponded in every case, instructing the collectors that while l had no authority to issue a proclama- tion extending the time, if they would keep their books open until the very last date in which they had to make their delin- quent lists, 1 wouldrelieve them of any penalty that might be attached or charged against them by the clerks or by the auditor. This is a serious con- dition-one that deserves our most sincere consideration.
 q have the greatest sym pathy for the school teacher and the greatest admiration for them and their work, but the only good that can see that can be realized from this extra burden would be the increasing of the salaries in a small way of the teachers and enabling the American Book Company to sell a few more charts, desks, blackboards and a little more chalk. If the money that has been expended in this way and paid to this company had been expended in increasing the sal aries of the teachers and in aiding those who are unable to properly provide for themsel- yes, the opportunity of going to school, instead of giving it to this gigantic corporation for such equipments that are prac- tically worthless, we would not hear the cry of the need of in.