Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1921-02-03
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! WHAT TINE PUBLIC THINK 8
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Editor Reflector: At the special
session of the legislature In 1920 an
emergency school measure was en-
acted which reads: "School district
bonds, purpose. that section 9177 OF
the general statutes of Kansas fol
1915 be amended to real as follows
! Sec. 9177, that for the purpose OF
erecting and equipping or purchas-
! ing and equipping one or more
school houses In and for any school
district IN the state OF Kansas, the
board OF directors of the same shall
have power TO Issue the bonds Of the
district In an amount not to exceed
ave per cent Of Its taxable property"
(Up to that time the bonds that
could be issued was limited to one
and one-half per cent?
Another emergency measure was
enacted at the special session Of the
legislature last year that reads:
Elimination Of levy, that section
1882 Of the general statutes Of
Kansas for 1915 be and the same is
hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 1882, the authority Of the
qualified voters Of any school dis
trict at the annual school meeting as
provided to vote a tax for general
school purposes is hereby limited to
the extent that no tax shall be voted
for such purpose at any such meet
ing which shall be in excess OF six
ana three fourths mills upon the dol
lar Of all the. taxable property OF
any such district"
Common school districts can now
be bonded between three and four
times as much as formerly and one
third more can be levied for general
school purposes. At the time OF the
special session Of the legislature
everything was abnormal and prices
for everything was exhorbitant.
Judging from the past and from the
present Indications everything the
earth produces that is appropriated
by man win be as low or lower than
they were before the abnormal times.
The prices for labor and skill will be
as low or lower and the burdens OF
debt will be harder to bear.
The sections in the school laws !
am referring to should be amended
to read as they did before the spec
iai session Of the legislature last
year. Limitations would not be so
necessary II 1t were not for the pro-
lection of taxpayers in districts
that contain a small town and a few
surrounding farms.
A certain school district In Dick
inson county has two-story school
house large enough to accommodate
eighty school children. There are
not more than one half as many
children belonging to the district at
the present time as the school house
accommodates. The school is
handsome, well built structure and
is in good condition and is well
furnished and equipped. Notwith-
standing the facts the voters last
spring whilst the bars were down
and having an opportunity that new
er appears but once voted the very
limit the emergency measure would
permit for a general fund and they
voted to have a petition circulated
to call an election to bond the dis
trict for fifty thousand dollars to
build a school house. It was dis
covered however that even with the
measure in force twenty ,
six thousand dollars was all the dis :
trict could be bonded for An cleo
lion was called to vote the very lin
lt.
will mention here that the dis :
trict only contains four and one ;
half sections. The very big major {
lty Of the voters had no taxes or
no taxes to pay. The nom
taxpayers could then outvote the tax
,ayers nearly two to one.
The new school house that Is be-
ng built, II ever finished according
% plans and furnished and equipped c
Judging from what has already been b
,pent) will have cost $4,000. The v
heating apparatus and plumbing has s.
,ost $4,000. Many Of those who de- n
,ided by their vote that new school q
house should be built have never
contributed enough money In taxes Y
o buy enough wire for the clapper D
Il a school bell. Nearly a score Of n
hose who voted for the bonds have
llready left and more are ready to s
'ollow. The few farmers at the II
.dges and the few tax payers In D
own have more reason to complain o
han did their ancestors at the time G
4 old King George Bird.
Taxpayers here always have been
he friends of schools and one Of
hem Is the author Of the section in Il
he school laws that gives a small in O
,orporated town a chance to become A
part Of township or rural high O
chool district. q
I have confidence that as the mis-
ortunes Of people Of this district c
ire a consequence Of the emergency r
measures that were hurried through b
t the special session Of the legisla. q
nre last year the big state Of Kan n
las will lift them out Of their dihi-
,ulties. II Is too preposterous and
.ruel to 20 not needed. r
JOHN TRoTT.
BACK TO NORMALLY AGAIN