Evening journal., 1920-05-04
STATE SCHOOL
Unit ISURGED
Statewide Budget and Tax
Rate, but Retain Coun-
ty Supervision
MUCH INTEREST IN
HEARING AT DOVER
STAR Corresnondeni.

Stan Correspondent.
DOVER, May 4-COntrary to eX-
peclations there was a small attend
ance at the public meeting Of the leg
islatiNe commission named 90 revise
the School Code, In the chamber Of
the House OF Representatives ycster-
day afternoon. Most OF those who
attended were In some way connect
ed with the school system Of the
county. Most OF the discussion dur
ing the afternoon was relative 10 the
is0 days attendance feature OF the
code and the suggestion that a uni
form. school tax throughout the Slate
be fixed
L. r. Melvin and n. B. Cain, Of
Frederick. and y. +. killen. Of Fell
ton. members OF the school boards
u those towns, attended The meeting
and discussed In H-general way the
matter OF transportation OF children
TO and from the schools.
J.. V. McCommons, OF Wyoming. a
former Speaker OF the House,
spoke OF hearing the suggestion for
State unit and inquired II that was
doae what the need would be for
county boards and superintendents.
p. :. dupont, member or the com
mission, said the idea In that regard
was only 10 have a Statewide tax
rate and State budget, but that there
would still remain as much need for
county boards and county supervi-
sion as ever. MIR. dupont also went
into an explanation al the sugges-
tions made for a future bnilding
program by The issuing Of State
bonds
Mr.. Melvin. OF Frederick. inquired
II II was not a big risk TO depend on
such an uncertain revenue as that
received from the issuing OF charter,
by the State 10 take care OF pro
gram OF that kind.
Chairman Handy explained that i
was not proposed TO depend on thai
revenue, but on the income tax which
would be increased TO two per cent
II necessary 10 care for building
plan.
Air. soper, suggested that Their,
would be a large number Of citizens
who would not participate 10 ilnanc
ing the school project If 1t had L
depend entirely on the income tax.
Mr.. dupont stated that there Is nd
personal tax in this State eXcep
through the income iaXX. 10 was eX
planned. however. that the real es
tate and poll taxes would Affect prac
tically everyone.
Mr.. NcCommons asked Mr.. duPon
as one OF the largest income taXpay
ers In the Stale, II he thought
per cent. rate would be excessive.
Mr.. dupont replied that the rate o
30 cents on the 500 Of assessed rea
estate is much higher for those pay
ing a tax i'm that way than the
per cent. income tax rate would be
Continuing. ne said Il don't see hov
anybody could find fault with a
per cent income tax In view OF IN
necessity for money to run IN
schOola'
Colonel Theodore Townsend, o
Milford. who many years ago serve
on a legislative commission 10 stud
The school laws with a view OF recon
mending changes TO better the .sys
tenn, told something OF the work o
that commission and or the opera
ti0n OF the old law Colonel Town
send advocated the county unit. bu
a uniform school tax rate through
out the Stale. In conclusion. he sale
be did not blame people who Oh
iecied TO the code, but II was large
~ case OF them not understand
ing 10.
CLIFFORD NJ. Simpler Of FELTON,,
member of the Kent County Board q
Education also favored the uniforf
State tax rate but the retaining Of Oh
county units otherwise.
ID. Minlin Wilson Of Dover. state
that II a tax rate OF about 30 cent
is fixed, he did not think there voul
DE much objection TO the code arOun
Dover.
Mrs. w. F. Bitter Of Bay Road Ker
county objected TO the compu.sor
attendance feature Of the code an
suggested that compulsory educi
ti0n" would be better than "cOmpu
sorry attendance Mrs. Bitter, who
the mother OF a number Of childrel
said she moved to Delaware troll
Pennsylvania several years ago.
developed that she has hcen havin
trouble with an attendance 0ilic,
over her f3-year-Old daughter wh
she has been keeping from school 81
explained that she has been IN poo
health and that il was necessary Il
her 10 keep her daughter home 10 al
sist her. The attendance officer an
supervisors she declared were more
nuisance than anything else 81
said there were many other mOttc
in the county who object 10 this fe3
ure OF the code, but will not con
before the commission 10 voice the
objections. The speaker also declar,
that she did not believe In woman
, suffrage.
Mrs. Clara Rash Of near Dover. vi!
said she Vas the mother OF nine chi
dren also objected to the cOmpulsOl
attendance feature. She said u ".
not necessary TO so TO school 10 leal
how 20 make candy and put up fru
as that could be taught at home.
Mr.. Melvin said he thought nii
: months instead Of ten would be su
lcient for the school term.
Mr.. McCOmmOns suggested that a
compulsory attendance feature be r
- duced from $50 TO $50 days a yea
and that there be six school days
at least > i-2 school days each we,
so that the $50 days could be yctt,
In and the children released carly
the spring.
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