Milford chronicle., 1921-03-11
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM
PUT UP TO ASSEMBLY
TAX SYSTEM EXPLAINED; LEGISLATURE
TOLD EXPENSE CANNOT BE REDUCED
BY REVISION OF OLD LAWS.
WARNED OF CHEAPNESS
The MEASURE GETS QUICK ACTION In
HOUSE, SIX SECTIONS BEING READ
ON MONDAY.

it was up to them to decide if Della
ware is to have a school system the
equal of any other State, and were
warned that the cost of the school,
system of the State could not be
cheapened by reverting to the archaic
laws of four years ago.
The proposed new school law, un-
der consideration in the House was
fully explained by the three members
of the executive committee of the Cit
liens Committee who drafted the bill,
Robert G. Houston, of Georgetown; 4;
James H. Hughes, of Dover, and DR..
R. w. Cooper, of Newark.
"This law which confronts you for
consideration, represents the nearest
approach to democratic school sys-
TEN yet attempted in Delaware" Mr..
Houston said.
Mr.. Hughes reminded his hearers
that as Secretary of State in 1899, he
had helped place the incorporation
law of the State in operation, and
strongly denied that the corporation
tax of per cent provided in the new
law would affect concerns seeking in
corporation here. 81 represent many
such concerns in the State" he said,
"and in my opinion they are not af-
fected in any way by this bill.
eff you consider this measure a po-
litical one, one to be bartered and
traded with, pity you," Mr.. Hughes
said, referring to reports that there
were political considerations involved
in the measure.
Doctor Cooper stated that the pro-
posed new law did not represent his
views, nor those of Mr.. Houston or
Mr.. Hughes, but were the result of
weeks of study and careful consid-
Grafton, and represented a fusion of
thought on what is best for our
schools. do not destroy this work;
if you think something is not right,
strike it out, but retain the good fea-
lures of the BILL" Doctor Cooper ap-
pealed
At the conclusion of the addresses
on the bill it was decided to read the |
measure by sections. Up until the |
time of adjournment of the House six
sections had been read without dis
cussion. The measure is a special or
der for further consideration.
After going into the history of how
the executive committee of the Citi-
zens' Committee was named to draft
a new school bill, Mr.. Hughes said
in part:
"Our committee was instructed by
members of the Legislature to draft
a new school bill and provide for a
reduction of tax on real estate and
personal property of at least one
half. We were instructed to omit
provisions for the transportation of ]
pupils and provide for county public !
schools that would go above the sixth
grade if required by the people of such '
districts.
with those instructions we have
attempted to draw a new bill. We {
have not followed out our own ideas ;
entirely but have sought to draft a
)ill in accordance with those instruc-
ions.
''You now have before you the best '
hat we could prepare and we believe
hat you have good school bill for n
Delaware. We have left out the pro- I
-isiOn providing for the transportation d
# pupils and have cut down the tax
ate on real estate to 25 cents on the C
100 assessed value. We have met b
he objection made to the old bill and v
AVE provided for graded schools
bove the sixth grade in the rural Sec q
ions. -
Result of DiIigent Study S
"In drawing the bill we have listen
d as far as possible to the demand a
hat the schools be returned to the a
eople of the State. Provision has d
cen made for a state board, four of
he five members of which shall be A,
elected by the people. Provision is al ~ ~
D made that the county boards and e.
le district boards shall also be cleo
I'd by the people.
"It is true that broad powers have a'
cen provided in some instances for d. d.
le state board, but such powers must D.
2 placed somewhere, but it must be
that four out of the five B.
these state board members must be in
ected by the people. The county to
)ards and the district boards in some
stances are also given broad powers, II
1t that had to be done and as is the ur
Lse with the state board the MEM Gl
RS of those boards are elected by the
,ople We think we have gone as far of
the people of Delaware demanded no
making the law democratic by NJ
acing it in the hands of the people. MI MI
W is no good unless some provi- :
IN is made for the financial end of Oa
nning the schools. When the tax on OI
al estate was reduced to 25 cents, NC
me other provision had to be made =
get the money.
This was done in two ways. The Tu
aduated income tax was provided col
d the three per cent tax on the bus pal
ess of corporations done within the ter
ate. We believe these two sources T
hcient to provide funds for the pub Mr.
schools of the State and without ne1
use provisions the State would wo
We to provide the funds from the or
neral fund of the State. By this r
thod the support of the schools is Gr;
tain and sure and at the same time eve
burden of tax on real estate is CIR;
ieved. Under this plan the State die
lool system is supported by the pre
tie and contributed to by the wealth civ
the State. wei
Tax Snag ON Bill pee
Some find objections as to the cor
alton tax feature. have no COM
int to make of those who disagree .
h me on that point. I don't want U
drive AWAY the corporation tax. t1el