Evening journal., 1919-09-05
State Banhery for Education, Fiscal Reform

D
study and appoint a special committee
to study them in conjunction with the
educationalists OF the State, and re-
port back TO the association for ac-
ton"
The recommendations were approved
and the officers OF the association, In
cooperation with the committee were
instructed TO take such action as they
may deem proper TO carry out the rec
concentrations.
Advocates School Code.
Pierre :. dupont. vice-presideni 0f the
Wilmington Trust Company and
member OF the state Board OF Educa-
tion, spoke on The New School Code"
Mr. dupont said that before condemn
ing the code persons should thoroughly
understand what % really means II
fear there are many people said Mr.
dupont, who do not really know what
the word code means. | must confess
that did not know until recently when
looked up the meaning OF the word
10 means a collection OF laws. Many
Of these laws are old ones but now we
have simply the one code, or collection
Of laws which control our schools, out
side the city Of Wilmington, which has
a few laws OF its own"
Mr.. dupont said one OF the essential
features Of the new code Is the State
Board Of Education, which determines
the policies TO be pursued in the State.
The Board is now composed OF i've
members who are responsible for the
education Of the state.
III these five men fail TO do the right
Thing said Mr.. DUPONT choose new
men. Don't condemn the system be-
cause OF the failure OF the men prop
erly TO perform their duties"
Mr. dupont referred briefly 10 a sur
vey recently made for the purpose Of
ascertaining the real condition Of the
schools OF the State. Under the old
system, he said. the average school at
tendance was $50 days According to
statistics available in 1915, the average
attendance Of white pupils was 81 days,
for colored pupils Gi days. It would re-
quire from 10 TO % years at that rate
TO get child through school.
Mr.. dupont referred 10 three points
I'm the school code worth considering
taxes. their method Of collecting and
assessment. There has been I'm the
past a great variation in the amounts
assessed I'm various districts through
out the state. The average, he de-
clared has been lower than that Of
any other state I'm the United States,
and II would be found impossible 10
furnish education 10 the children Of
the state on that average.
1t is necessary 10 have some re-
III an. e.
these matters" said Mr.. dupont. The
Levy Court determines the rate OF tax
alton necessary TO produce the required
amount Of money and thus the taxing
power remains in the county.
"Tell your district board what you
want in the way OF education and you
VIII get it. our endeavor is to get
wha! you want If you will tell us"
Guard state Finances.
The report Of the committee on State |
finance. presented by former Governor
Charles r. Miller, chairman, was as
follows:
"Your committee on state finances
respectfully reports that at a meeting
OF this committee. held at the residence
OF the Hon. Charles r. Miller. August
%, 1919. the following resolution was
unanimously adopted and referred TO
the association for action thereon:
Resolved, That it Is the sense OF
this committee that our State finances
Should be managed with the greatest
care and strictest accuracy. and with
the high purpose Of making the burden
OF government on the people as light as
possible: that the revenues Of the state /
should be employed solely i'm the sup |
port OF the essential agencies Of gov |
ernment economically administered, and /
in the promotion OF projects Of un- |
questioned advantage to the State and /
for the general welfare. that any sur
plus of such revenues should be ap-
piled TO the reduction Of the States in
debtedness: that such measures should 1
be adopted as win provide for the an
nual payment Of specified amount Of |
state bonds; and that for the more
iudiciOus and exact administration OF
Stale finances a budget system in the
best form ~ assure this most desirable
result should be established: and fur
ther
Resolved, That we recommend to
the Delaware Bankers Association such
action on its part as will aid IN the
adoption Of better methods than now
prevail for the conduct OF the fiscal ar
fairs Of The State and for fully carry
ing out the reforms hereinbefore set
FORTH"
The recommendations were approved
md the officers OF the association. in
cooperation with the committee. were
instructed to take such action as they
nay deem proper to carry out recon-
nendations
The adoption Of the report was fol-
owed by former Governor Miller with /
m address on the Importance OF con-
'idering the finances OF the state. He
Irged the members 10 take the matter
before the Legislature and have it
ldopt some plan whereby the future
welfare Of the state might be better
guarded. The danger point is our flnan-
'ial system he considered is the return
or corporations. The fees for which
Turing the past five years have jumped I,
rom $4,000 TO s53J,OO0'
"There Is danger OF falling Off in
his source Of income" Mr.. Miller said.
10 may be wiped out at any time by ,
federal law and II behooves us 10 get ,
eady for just such a contingency" ,
He declared the advice and helm Of /,
he State bankers is earnestly desired ,
o formulate some safer plan than that ,
low in operation. Appropriations are ,
made by the Legislature. too often /
Without the members knowing lust
low much money there is in the state (
reasury Z
Clarence c. Killen urged the enact {
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