Milford chronicle., 1920-12-24
SEEK EKSCHOOLLAW THAT
WILL REDUCE ETAXATION
AT A MEETING IN DOVER THE CITIZENS
COMMITTEE WAS EMPOWERED TO
DRAW UP NEW STATUTES.
LEGISLATORS WERE HEARD
NINETEEN MEMBERS EXPRESS OPINIONS
ON REPEAL OR REFORM OF PRES
ENT SCHOOL CODE.

LNt OtuuuL GuDL.
A new school law for Delaware
with a system of taxation which will
lower the load on real estate at least
fifty per cent was decided upon at a
meeting of the executive body of the
Citizens Committee at meeting at
Dover on Monday. Full and free dis
cussion of the school code, its advan-
tages and disadvantages, and the ques-
tion whether the present code should
be repealed or reformed occupied the
greater portion of the meeting. Twen-
ty-seven members of the Legislature,
either holdoyers or newly elected, at
tended the meeting and nineteen ex-
pressed their opinion on thequestions
under discussion.
1t was decided that the Citizens
Committee continue its work, all nee
essary expenses being underwritten
by the guarantee of the executive COM
mittee at today's meeting. 1t was al
so decided that the committee have
full charge of the drafting of new
school code, eliminating the objection
able features in the present code.
Object to Taxation
Robert G. Houston, chairman of the
Citizens Committee, presided at the
meeting. The principal objection to
the code, as expressed by the various
speakers was taxation. Another sore
points with their constituents, the leg
islators claimed, was transportation.
Party lines were dropped in the gen.
eral discussion, Democrats and Re
publicans aligning themselves either
for or against the present code. The
bitterest opposition to the present
measure, as was expected, came from
Sussex county.
The, following expressions of opin-
ion were given by the various legis-
lators:
Senator Price, Democrat, believed
the present code would be satisfactory
with fed amendments, especially as to
taxes and overhead expenses.
Senator Murphy, Democrat, said his
constituents thought the present law
ought to be repealed and an entirely
new law written in which local dis
tricts will be given more control and
that the rural schools shall be allow
ed to teach up to and including the
eighth grade. Objection was also made
as to supervisors and transportation
of pupils.
Senator Handy, Republican, believ-
ed there should be some change in
the code.
Senator Short, Republican, favored
draft of a new law eliminating eX-
cessive tax feature on real estate,
suggesting it be cut at least fifty per
cent.
Senator Bennett, Republican, favor
er a state building program and but
few changes in the present code.
Senator Palmer, Republican, declar-
ed fully ninety per cent of the people
in his district opposed the cade.
Senator Alice, Republican, stated
that if the next Legislature did not
repeal the present code the succeed
ing Legislature would.
Senator Richards, Republican, fav-
ored abolishing special districts or
having all special districts. Favored
uniform taxation and teaching the Sth
grade in the rural schools.
Senator Highfield, Republican, de-
clared eighty per cent of people in
his district are opposed to the code
as it now stands.
Senator Hopkins, Republican, fav-
ored repeal as his constituents be-
lieved that only with a repeal could |
any good be accomplished.
Representative Miller, of New Cas- |
tie county, stated that at leasty eighty |
per cent of his people were opposed
to the code.
Representative Megginson, New Cas-
tie, stated the main objection to the
code in his district was the taxation |
feature and that the people were not
deriving the benefits for the amount
of taxes raised and expended.
Representative Corbit, New Castle
county, stated a majority of the peo-
pie of his district apparently favored I
the code as he was elected on that
issue.
Representative Lester, New Castle
county, stated there was division
in his district some favoring and 9th
ers opposing.
Representative Wilson, Harrington,
Clarke. Brown, Paskey, Noble and B.
f. Davis. of Kent county, all express
ed opinions InaI from eighty to nine
ty per cent of the people in their re-
spective districts were opposed to the
code and desired complete repeal OF
same and an entirely new law written:
From Sussex County all but one Oh
the five members-elect of the lower
house present, expressed opposition 10
he code in their districts.