The Alaska citizen., 1917-04-02
BURNS WRITES TO COUNCIL. OF
 SCHOOL -LL 1 =

1 explains the lnrr.cacas of rhs srh1l. ] problem as it cou'.aa-a t.n Ala=..a 1 icgizIatu~e lie uea.o-a ."a ufarr. one of them that contained in the bill introduced b. Representative C.. | K. Snow p-uF.0.ur that ra" territory furnish uIy per o.af of ii.. aut.. necessary 70 operate the schools or l the incorporated towns, and tha olLes plan for making appropriations n l accordanc" with the number ol aa.- | attendance at tua various schools The letter contains no mention ol the Allan bIl, and i- is therefore supposed that it was written prior to the time that Representative AI lan5 plan vas figured out The let ter is as follows:
 Juneau. Mar h, 13f7
 The Mayor and City Council of Fair
 banks,
 Fairbanks. Alaska
 Dear SIrs:
 beg to acknowledge receipt Of your letter of February ( and l as sure you that it will give Iue great i pleasure tn present your memorial to the LCgisIaUIo. Further l au pleased to assure you raat speaking almost with certainty, this session of the Leg stature will pass such r0- medial legislation that the schools of the munic. palitics in the Territory will not suffer from lack of sufficient financial support. In going over the school situation with the various members, find that lt Is almost tAo unanimous consensus of opinion among the legislators. that the Ter ritory should assume ali least fifty per cent or more Of tha total cost of maintenance of the municipal schools of tho Territory.
 The big question thai conlronts us is a jast and equitable agp3r- tionment CT the school .gun..s that may be appropriated by tho LaEts- 1ature. Yol will appreciate the a-m- culty of tha problem before us Hara by referring to the GaFt-no.5 report for 1916. This report shows that the per capita cost of education varies greatly in different parts 0r the Territory. In Petersburg 1t ia sf1; in Juneau it is S54; n Idlaarod it is S237 and in i'aisbau.s it is $l11.
 There a,c two plans no~ under consideration by the House Commit tee on Education, Of which C, k. Snow, of Ruby. is chairman Tho first of these plsns i direct ap- propriation of money bE the Terri tory to the various municipal schools. based on the total days ormdac" during the lat school year and the per capita cost ot eaGearion n the different municipalities. Tho second plan, which is being Gathored by Representa- i've Snow. provides abou, as follows.
 Fifty pc cent of the total amount . expended fir the maintenance of pub . lie schools within the limits of any incorporated town or city of the /. first class in the Territory shah be !. refunded t1 the school l.uG oi tho said incorporated town or city from 1. the moneys of the Territory, except . that no incorporated town or city shall receive more than $15,0o0 dur ing any one school year of ten months"
 Quoting further from Mr. Shows plan:
 "The Treasurer of the School Board in any incorporated town CT city shall prepare an accurate detailed account . showing the expense of maintenance . of the public schools of such town or city and shall forward same to the Governor at the close of every . three months"
 This report shall be subscribed to under oath by the treasurer of the school board.
 Upon the receipt of this expense . account by the Governor, and its . subsequent approval, tho Secretary of . the Territory would issue a warrant on the Territorial Treasurer for G1ty per cent of the total amount set forth in the account This warrant . would be made payable to the trea- . surer of the school board submitting the account.
 Under this second plan, Fairbanks would receive about $11,OO0 school money from the Territory. I will . forward you in the first mail @ copy of the final draft of the bill as 1t leaves the hands of the committee . on education.
 l need not assure you that every . effort of mine during this session of . the Legislature will be first toward the schools of the Territory. for . that is our paramount need at this time. If any matter presents itself wherein I might be of assistance do not hesitate to command me, either . by letter or wire. i
 Yours for better and more schools, i
 w J. BURNS,
 Representative Fourth Division.