The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-01
CHANDLER OPPOSES
5-u|lL ASSESSMENT
Richmond's Tax Rate Is Low.
est Of Amy City of Similar
Size in the Country, It Is
Stated,

1 Size In the Country, 1t Is
Stated.
] ~ I. ~ . ~ VS. ~
+ IN MS plea for an increased appro-
priaiiop in the new city budget for
the public schools before the finance
committee OF the council last night
DIR. J. A. c. Chandler. superintendent
of schools. asserted that he was
greatly opposed to the proposed 5-miil
tax on real estate in order to raise
funds for educational purposes, tho
appropriation for which should come
out OF the common budget raised
through the ordinary methods of taxa
ton. The increase in taxation, he
SAID. would not be caused on account
OF the schools especially, who were
only asking for an increase of sixteen
per cent. but would arise from the
large bond issue.
DIR. Chandler, who was preceded by
w. Floyd Reams. Chairman OF tho
school board. and A. II. Hill, assistant
superintendent OF schools, asked for
an increase over last years budget
OF $4,000 for pay rolls and s131 600
for maintenance, An appropriation of
1000 was also asked to build one
central junior high school and three
other elementary schools. one of these
for coIoTed children. This was eati-
mated at an increase of eighteen per-
cent for maintenance and sixteen and
two-thirds per cent for pay rolls.
Both Or, Chandler and the speakers
who precedt1 him stated that there
WAS no increase IN the sa.aries of
teachers asked for. except in The case
OF six principles, for whom 5000 was
wanted, ;hat had mot been provided
for in the increasing rates approved
by the council last year. II was
pointed out that an annual advance
is, made in a teachers salary for each
year of service. In comparison with
other cities, the salaries here were
said 10 he very low,
The statement that the schools
were asking forty-three per cent of
the revenue OF the city was rcfuted
by Or. Chandler. who claimed that
they were only ask ing for thirty-five
two tenths per cent, which was the
rata in other cities of equal size. He
said the calculations showing This were
attacks on the schools and were UNI
fair
The present rate of taxation would
be sufficient. continued the speaker.
II II were not for the large bond issue,
which is s1l2 80 per capita as com
pared with s72 in other cities. He
said that Richmond had now the
lowest tax rate 4, The country, and
could raise the rate ten per cent and
still be lowest The sixteen per cent
increase asked by the school depart.
trent, he said, WAS only about one
half of what other departments of
n. city government, had asked for.
Mr. Hfli who was introduced by
Chairman Rearr1s vent into every de-
tail OF the budget, and answered num-
bers OF questions asked him by mem
hers of the committee. He said there
had been a large increase in the en-
rnfinemt at the day yefoais, but n
decrease for the night schools. Ae-
cordingly the latter appropriation had
been cut The average number of
pupils In a class was not forty. There
were aT7 employees In the department,
with twnr.v-scven PRINCIPLES.
New features that had been put into
opera ton. said Mr. Hill. were class
for deiinquen's. which had been very
and the teaching of hotel
subjects and saiesmanship. When
asked about the "hotei subjects" he
said they were the training of walters.
seven -eiehths OF the money for which
was appropriated by the government.
Councilman Morgan Mills objected
to these subjects on general principle.
with the statement that "the teaching
of the children was more important
than training negro walters. Other
features objected to by members of
the committee as so-called 'fril's'
We're the teaching Of millinery and
sewing. especially in the junior high
schools
The main plea of the school off,
cials was for the Increase In the sala-
- na tearhpY1 who
they wished to have 'ivirT wage.
Just enough sasd Mr. Hill ''for
them TO buy tho necessary clothes.
n tterff a. few summon SCHOOLS, iive
com fortaN!y and have a little some
thing to put aside for q rainy day"
AS to the "frills'' objected TO by
some members of the committee. Or.
Chandler said that vocational training
was absolutely necessary now as re-
suit of the change in our economic
conditions He concluded with
plea that the committee would rec
nrm~nd the budget in It's entirety TO
the council for adoption ms all the
items asked for were necessary.
Frank w. Duke, OF tho Mechanics
institute. appeared before the COM
rnittee and asked for an aDnropria-
ton Of 81 Zoo for that school an in
crease Of n 500 over last wear. Ho
introduced II. r. Dawson. the new SUI
who made n brief re-
port of the work OF the school
Judge James r. Kicks gave sum-
mary OF the work accom- pi'sh"d dur
ing the past year in the juvenile and
domestic relations court asking that
the augmentation for carving on this
work be granted An additional sum
fs requested for the purpose of en-
Moving an cFyice assistant and an adj
RN~ {v~~ uriv m SOL
ary Of the clerk OF the court
An orec meeting 81 which any citi-
gems Will be heard m the Question Of
the new budget. will be held tomor-
row night