Milford chronicle., 1920-04-02
SUGGESTS CHANGES
TO THE SCHOOL CODE
PIERRE S. DU POINT APPEARS BEFORE
THE HOUSE COMMITTEE TO MEET
OBJECTIONS.
IT MEANS LOWER TAXES
THE BILL ALREADY PRESENTED WOULD
BRING THE RATE AS LOW AS so
CENTS.

Taxation on real estate will be
lightened in the event that the bill in
troduced by Representative Gregg,
now pending in the House, becomes
law, the members of the House COM
mittee on appropriation and the
finance committee of the Senate, were
told today at a joint meeting. The bill
provides for the diverting of S490'000
from the States general funds to the
school funds.
The members of the committees
which heard arguments were as fol-
lows, House, Gregg, chairman; Han
ratty, Dean, Jester, Mulvena, Pardee
and Sherwood; Senate, Walker,
chairman; Brown, Long, Bennett,
Gormley. Also the following members
of the State Board of Education,
George B. Miller, chairman, Pierre S.
DUPONT, vice-chairman; former Speak
er Hervey P. Hall Smyrna; A. B. Peet,
Milford Walter Marvel, Laurel
In the explanation of the bill it
was stated that it was backed by the
State Board of Education and would
relieve the present strain on realty
taxation. 1t was pointed out that un-
less the bill was. enacted that that
much money would have to be raised
by taxation. The money would be dis
tributed by apportionment and it is
estimated that Wilmington would re-
ceive approximately $19O,OOO as its
share.
Would Cut Tax Rate
By passing the measure the COM
mittee was told it would enable the
cutting of the tax rate to as low as
so cents and in rural districts to A
cents. The members present failed
to express themselves either way and
il is likely that the measure will be
reported within a few days.
Mr. DUPONT also appeared before
the House Committee on Education
earlier in the afternoon and discuss
ed with the members some of the
objections he has heard raised to the
new law and which he thinks can be
incorporated into amendments to the
codo. Henry P. Scott, vice-chairman
of the Delaware Auxiliary Association,
which has charge of the distribution
of the DUPONT fund for new buildings
was also at the meeting but took no
active part in the discussions.
The personnel of the House Com
mittee on Education is, S. j. Warning
ton, chairman; Lester, Clendaniel,
Jones, Hart, Hardesty and Mulvena.
All members of the committee were
present with the exception of Mr..
Mulvena. Mr.. DUPONT desires to see
the code given a fair chance. While he
opposes it being repealed at this time.
he says it should be amenN and
went over with the committee obiec-
tions that have been made that could
be adjusted by amendments.
Some amendments that he suggest
ed to meet objections were as follows:
Right of local boards to reject any
teachers. The local boards under the
code have not this authority
Reducing maximum tax rate to 81,
It being $3.50 now under the code.
Consolidation of schools left to the .
lecision of the districts being consol- I
dated. Under the code consolidation .
could be forced on them.
Reduction of the compulsory at
tendance feature from 1S0 to 14O
lays.
Giving self-made teacher same
chance as college graduate providing
jhe passes the examinations.
Mr.. dupont said he had also heard
objection to the tax system under the
,ode and the unit system suggested as
he better method. He did not think
iome of the districts under a unit
ystem would be able to build school
louses. 1t is learned that this is one
# the strongest objections to the
.ode. In many of the districts it is
claimed that under the code the dis
riots will raise much more money
han it will require to operate the
chool of that district and they object
o raising the extra amount which
-oes into the general county fund.
those who have investigated the mat
er, however, doubt that many dis
riots raise more than enough to look
fter building program and all other