The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1920-10-07
State Superintendent
IndOrseS Amendments

In a circular letter addressed !" to
the friends of public education " State
of Schools T. H. Harris
urges the passing Of the two proposed
to the State COnstitu-
ton that relate to taxation for public
schools, explains fully the tenor of the
two amendments, and cites that the
present rate of taxation for the coun-
try schools will not be increased, but
that provision il made for the voting
of an S-lnill tax as maximum in spec
ial districts. instead of mills, as here
tofore. Mr.. Harris says in his letter
Two amendments on the subject of |
public education will be submitted to |
the voters Of the state for ratification
or rejection IN the congressional cleo
ton to be held November I'd. and it is
proper. think, at this time to explain
what these amendments are and the
reason why their ratification seems
imperative.
The amendments are rs follows:
Act No. ~ of 1920, known as the
Hamley Amendment. This will be
amendment No. ! on the ticket to be
used in the November election. This
amendment provides for Il state tax of
/ mill on the state assessment. II
ratified, this amendment will yield
about S1.iOO.OOO to the schools Of the
state The tax will be collected on the
assessment of 1920, and the funds real
lied from it will be deposited with the
State Treasurer and distributed to the
various parishes on the basis of the
number of educable children in each
\ parish.
Act No. 81 of 1920, known as the
Sylvest Amendment. This will be
amendment No. on the ballot to he
used i'll the November election. This
amendment has two provisions.
(a) 1t fixes the city school fund in
the City If New Orleans at mills oil
the city assessment. l mill of which
may lie funded into bonds and the pro-
cesls used to erect and equip school
buildings.
| co. 1t raises the limit of special
maintenance taxes which a school dis
trict or parish may vote from ) mills
to mills. This amendment does not
provide for any additional school funds
in the country parishes. 1t simply
makes it possible for the country PEG.
pie to vote special maintenance taxes
J up to maximum Of 8 mills where
they can now vote only ) mills. The
amendment does provide for parish
school tax of 1A mills. but since II
annuls tile Ryrne Amendment, or Act
21S of 1913. which provides for a par
ish school tax OF " mills, there vii
in reality he no increase whatever il
the parish school funds should TIN
Sylvest Amendment he ratified.
SUMMARIZING.
Amendment No. /, If ratified. vii
! provide an additional state school tn.
! of / mill, and this will amount. on til
present assessment, to about 81 ,tDO.OO(
and will he distributed to all the pal
fishes on the basis of the school popula
ton.
Amendment No. 2. IL ratified. will II
the city school fund of the City of Ne,
4 Orleans Mt { mills on the city assess
ment. and it will raise the limit {
3 special maintenance taxes in the coul
try parishes from : mills to 8 mill
v provided the people see fit to vote sue
increase in any district or parish.
# WHY RATIFY THESE AMENDMENTS.
The public schools faced complies
l. breakdown unless additional ftlnt
:. could he found with which to pa
. teachers better salaries. This was trl
!, of the country schools and Of the eli
schools of New Orleans. These tv
~ amendments. If adopted, will enab
y the school officials throughout the sta
to meet the situation fairly well. II
y additional 1-laill state tax will email
.. possibly two-thirtls Of the country pa
isles to pay their teachers fairly nd
I'd quate salaries and to attract into {
~ schools teachers of ability and trai
ing. The other one-third Of the n
l. ishes will find it necessary to call eli
r. tons and raise the limit Of specl
maintenance taxes to s mills, as pl
!, viied by the Sylvest Amendmel
- when jIilS HIS uecH uOHt, NAC SSsCl
- parishes having low assessments "
's have fairly adequate funds with viii
to hold good teachers in their schOO
nu The City of New Orleans prolml
er faces a more serious situation than
ar country parishes. The salaries Of
nd teachers of the city have been low
Of these years. and the school lOa
eg- has found it impossible with the ful
,ht at It's disposal to provide many neet
rye new buildings. \ crisis was reacl
about II year ago. 1t became absolut
necessary to raise the salaries of
re- teachers. or close the schools.
the school board provided for a mater
increase in salaries by having lev
- the 2N mills which Act 21S Of j
~. sets aside for the city schools and
T mills out of the 3A-mill tax PROVE
by Act No. 4 Of 1916 The people of
Z city are familiar with the suit VIII
s was pushed through the courts to
7 tablisl the fact that Act 21S Of 1
amnulled that provision of Act IA
Of 1916 setting aside 31a mills for
< benefit Of the schools. 1t was very
Z tunute for the schools. | think. t