The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-12-06
TAxATIoN MUST HALT.

TAXATION MUST HALT.
A sane. conservative sort Of man IL
the editor OF the Union City CONNER
cial. He has fashion OF saying what
he thinks In terse. vigorous English
regardless Of whether the crowd hap
pens 10 applaud. There was an educa-
tional meeting in Tennessee n week or
two ago which ended, as such meet
ings usually do, In n demand for more
school tax. And this demand was the
last straw which set the aforesaid edi-
tors typewriter going. After thor
oughly dissecting Its report. he found
himself in agreement with the confer
ence on only one point---that there
should be. at the least. n six months
school term In every county. But he
insists that no increase of taxes is
necessary to bring this about.
Tho Commercial Insists that II was
continual and progressive increase OF
taxes--not the method OF assessment
which produced the political overturn
In Tennessee Extravaganza went hand
IN hand with the increase OF taxes, in
fact kept little In advance of It. II
Is asserted that there were no political
issues In the recent campaign. Tho re-
suit was vote OF protest against reck-
less waste and extravaganza. And
yet the political vnmps take no heed,
but keep right on, as II nothing had
happened" exclains the Commercial.
A bill 10 proposed to make the school
tax to be required by the state so cents
on the 500 worth OF property instead
OF about ~ cents as at present. And
all that the teacher may receive better
pay than at present.
Our contemporary declares itself un-
equivocally for good pay to teachers,
but declares that present revenues at
ford potential sufiiciency to pay them,
II would economize in the system now
In effect, eliminating Implications. Here
Ia where the Commercials suggestions
become interesting. II would begin by
consolidating tho three state normals
into one. Failing In that, It would sus-
pend the teaching in those normals Of
all branches which are included in the
curriculum Of public high schools. This
would greatly reduce the teaching
force and the consequent expense. II
would abandon, once for all, the insti-
tuition at Cookeville. The savings thus
effected would be turned into the school
fund for the better payment OF teachers.
II Ia declared by our West Tonnes
see peighbor that, while tho states Of
ficial personnel 10 more elaborate than
necessary and that savings on this ao-
count are possible. II In the needless
and supernuous institutions that are
soaking up tho peoples tax money. II
would not neglect the trimming OF the
states list OF retainers, but would ex-
poet TO accomplish most by using the
to and others, In the concluding para
graph OF the Commercials foroeful edi-
torial, II observes:
'The only way 10 get public bills
that are fair and just to every mar
representative to relinquish his right &
local measures, II II takes that to dc
II, until the state Ia rid OF political
Jobs. There seems tc be no other way
The big towns and counties arc forevc'
and eternRly after political pie Rnt
sop. and the representatives all owe,
the state should drop everything, locn
claims and all. nth the system of gov
eminent In Tennessee 10 built for EN-
, cheney and economy. and that kind O
government which spells business In
tcgrty as well ms progress, II In all
mistake TO suppose there cannot b.
| progress without extravaganza"
, The foregoing statement was not fol
/ lowed by the bracketed words. "lou'
, and prolonged applause but something
Of the sort was due, As the CONNER
I, cial remarks elsewhere II we wanr 4
I snve on taxes, we must do wthou
some ~ the things w now have. Their
, are probably good many that coul
. be spared Most ~ the critlclsms q
q the educational system are prlctica
Il and constructive. Three normal school
4, are an ample sufilcicncN but II all ar
In continued, the overlapping Of course
n " study with the high schools "ou'
p very well be eliminated, This woul
make them great professional 0WShin
schools az was contemplated, thong
=, the attendance and the expense hll
=, would BE- much less Impressive,
The recommendations OF the Com
mrrc!aI are at any rate. entitled
careful porusn hy legislators Thee
. should set then faces like Etrc aRa'o
~, political iohs tor political tohS co..
money There h hardly any tenn
u now much ocuuumN the people WoL
~, s. ,uu An honest crIuu ought tn
D.. made TO cut politics entirety out
our school administration. n vel
TO cons idatc and CUtrcinte various II
,a sutuuuns Il the cEisntur, can NAL
ot "A crcdDtah, record on the score
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