The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1920-10-25

Many hundreds OF school districts in
the State that have built UP nne
schools would be sufferers of such ac-
tion. In one county alone, IL '12An
Its effects, If put into operation, are
were vltalized, there are some thirty
districts that would require a levy on
the property remaining in the districts
of from 15t5 mills to as high as 30S
mills to run their schools. The limit
that may be levied under the Constitu-
ton is Is mills. Schools under such adj
verse conditions would have TO close or
be supported by private subscriptions.
This injustice to school districts would
be repeated in varying degrees all
over the state, destroying and injur-
ing hundreds OF school that are now
prospering.
Is it any wonder that the various
Legislatures after an exhaustive inves-
tigation, knowing the facts--knowing
the havoc and destruction it would
cause; knowing that it is tearing down
our present school system instead of
building ii up; knowing that 1t would
be an injury with no means of repara-
ton left under the Constitution or the
law, and knowing that thousands of
children all over the State would be
4 thus left without the means TO be edu-
Gated, refused to yitalize "12A"? Who
can say that the Legislature did not
act wisely in refraining from inflicting
such injury?
Senator Russell has with great per-
sistence pressed this matter. At one
4 time he initiated a bill that would give
( him 10 per cent commission out of
/ the proceeds of districts benefited.
d A in, "a t,.n a. ait
in districts benefited to pay him 10
/ per cent of what their districts would
/ receive. So far as known, he still
/ holds these contracts. He admitted
that If the measure went through he
would realize something like $60.000.00 90
commission. Under such conditions he
cannot claim to be without personal in
terest ef bias in the final outcome His
criticism of the Legislators during the
past years is not without a tinge of
personal interest. Whatever admira-
tion one may have for Senator Russell,
one cannot but feel that his vision has
been clouded-his Judgment warped by
self interest. Surely it cannot be truth
fully said that Senator Russell would
have the people believe, that all the
Legislative bodies of the past who
have refused to follow his demands
have acted from improper or impure
motives; they were actuated by the
highest ideals of justice and right The
Legislatures have refused to take upon
themselves such disastrous conse
quences.
Senator Russell in his argument for
this measure complains that the Leg
islatures have not acted. In view,
however, OF the irreparable injury that
such actions would have inflicted upon
the schools of the State--injury that
was unknown and unthought of when
Section 12A" was adopted, the Legis-
1ature could we'll afford to pass such
grave responsibility to the people who
now must act instead of the Legisla'
ture. The Legislature well understood
this, and in passing the question to
the people, violated no fundamental
principle OF the Constitution
The centers of population are upon
lines OF railway. the very development
of location which has occasioned the
growth of communities in> the towns
and cities. This situation has placed
an added burden upon such eommuni-
ties in the way Of additional enroll
ment of pupils, and to deny them the
right to levy taxes upon the public
service corporations would be eX-
tremely unjust-not only cities and
towns, but many rural schools through
which public service corporations pass,
would be likewise injured
TO destroy or injure the school CEN
ters, would close the door to rural stu.
dents to attend the high schools Of
our cities and villages. School centers
are just as essential to the success of
education as our trade centers are to
the success of the community. This |
bill will take from many of these dis
tricts the taxes from public service
corporations, but does not assume an
additional burden of taxes.
These facts are submitted for your
careful, candid consideration.
A vote mo" upon this measure is
vote to reject the vitalizing of '12A." !
Please stop-think-co consider before |
you vote for a measure that will in /
flict a vital injury upon the schools of |
the State of Oklahoma
GEORGE d. PENWRIGHT,
Pres. Bd, Of Education, El Reno, Okla. /
j. c. SHEETS,
Member of Bd. Of Education, Copan, Okla.
r. ID. DAWSON,
Pres. 3D. of Education, Clinton, Okla.
c. F. GRAYBILL,
Pres. 3D. of Education. Lawton, Okla.
G. G. ABERNATHY,.
Pres. Bd. of Education, Shawnee, okla.