The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1916-01-22

SCHOOL CrTS.

nNANtE extracts OF an articlc
~ by Director T. u James, of
4 the state Taxpayers associa-l
ton. published IN yesterdays Herald
viii cause not only mcmbets oi the
Taxpayers association but taxpayers
generally to look forward with great
interest To- the complct, article. which
1t IL Indicated viii appcar IN the ini-
tial number Of the New Mexico Tax
Review. the monthly publication OF
rhc Association, which II To- be sued
ON February ist.
The advance summary of this ~
ticlc shows a number of very inter-
csting things. Perhaps the first of
these Is thn, an exhaustive and intel
iigcnt inquiry has been made into
school operating costs In this state
The first time any such inquiry has
been nude. When we begin to get
thc facts about public expenditures
accurately and clearly compiled and
before US. We are going 10 make
Roadway in dealing with waste and
incfncicncy. The summary indicates
Also the unmistakablc intention Of the
director and officers OF the Taxpay-
ors' association to conduct that or
g~anization's work. not in a spirit OF
criticism and fault finding. but upon
"A basis OF thorough, fair mquiry-to
seek the facts and where wrongs are
found to undertake To supply n work.
ing and workable remedy before tear
ing down an existing system
III is the purpose Of the Taxpayers
association, writes Mr.. James. ito
discuss school costs In the spirit laid
down In the report, with fairness to
public education. n with fearless
nous IN dealing with waste"
That IL the attitude that IL essen
tinl to effective corrective wort, In this
stat,-fairncss and fcarlcssncss. The
report referred to is that OF the Ma
tionai Tax association. on increases in
public expenditures. and the reference
is to the particular part OF II. dwelling
on the tendency to pass over waste
In school administration because of
the unanimous popular support of any
expense that is believed to lend aid
to public education.
II " In those branches of the pur
&c business for which public support
Is strongest. and which are In them
selves most worthy OF support and
backing by the taxpayers. that II is
inefnCicncy. and where petty graft
and reckless expenditure OF public
money may bc put over" most easily.
Politicians are not blind to this truth,
and nearly always in every community
there are men quite ready to take ad-
vantage Of The public tolerance OF al
most amy expenditure for purposes re-
parded ny prime public necessities.
The average cost per pupil day.
for teachers wages. In the public
schools Of New Mexico Is ~ cents.
The average operating cost is II
cents Into that average so, for
teachers wages, costs varyinv from
A. cents ~ one county 20 q" cents in
another. aud for operation. from 10
cents 10 SO cents. Clearly something
is wrong here in administg'f. n of
school finances. Plainly. 90 on
ia some couutics h. woefully u de-
ul4to or In others TERRIBLY wasteful.
~ is facts that the Taxpayers Of
Now Mexico want and that the well
nrp nt the state demands II the
Taxpayers association furnishes those
upts u viii have accomplished It's
mission thoroughly ana wisely The
|tu>payors themselves may reasonably
Ur expected 60 attend TO applying the
corrective treatment when It Is point
ed uut Go them, backed up bv ,acts
Every action Of the Taxpayers as
.iat.uu thus far has strengthened
ln the public confidence ond has
shown that u merits the fullest sup
u.ft from Individual tnxpe,ers who
w"ald apply tho uaht remedy 10 the
taxation. r't'uuo aud administrative
ills ol this stat,