Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1922-10-27
SHOWALTER AND PENROSE
DEBATE 3O-1O SCHOOL PLAN
Continued from first page)


different distribution system The
rural districts in some cases might
be OBLIGED to pay a trifle more. but
would receive their fair proportion
i'm return
Twouty-seFeu PEI cent OF the
wealth in Whitman county is paying
for SIS per cent OF the education. UNI
der the present plan. President Sho-
walter showed
In opening his negative argument
President Penrose cited four reasons
for opposing the bill, first. that il
rests on the wrong principle; second,
that the time is not propitious for it's
introduction even though it did rest
on the right principle, third, that it
complexities the educational system
uniustifiably and lastly that 1T
won't work.
The measure is wrong in principle,
be stated. in that it attempts to put
the primary responsibility OF the
schools upon the state, rather than
upon the district 1T outrages
every principle of common sense to
say that the state must give $50 to
every census child and the county
$40. whether the district needs it
or not. he stated. and offered a
substitute suggestion for the 3O-l0
that the legislature establish a stan
dard OF education for the schools as
well as they can be operated under
a 10 mill local tax. Some districts.
he argued. could take entire care of
their school problem ON the 10 mill
levy. and those which could not
carry on standard school work un-
der their own levy could look then
to the county and state for help.
President Penrose cited the eco
nomic history OF Washinton for the
past 10-year period to prove that
during that period the assessed yalu-
alton of the state has increased but
"a per cent, while the taxes have in
creased l67 per cent. not including
income tax and other emergency tax
methods. During the same period
the school districts have increased
'21 per cent in valuation. "a per cent
in daily attendance and ITO per
cent in current educational expense
The present inequality Of tax
alton is purely a local matter he al
gued, and cited instances where pure
bred cows we're assessed at So N
one county, at $3.50 in another, at
$225 in a third county.
With IA practically arrested popu-
lation and practically no increase in
wealth. is it fair to ask the taxpayers
to give SO more per census child in
state school taxi" he asked
Why are the advocates OF the 80
10 plan so afraid of the legislature
Why are we asked to vote hastily in
November on complex measure.
which in all decency should have the
consideration Of the legislature in
January? were other questions
propounded by President Penrose as
he argued against the alleged un-
necessary haste in bringing about
drastic change in the school taxa
ton system It would be two years
before the full benefits of the 30-10
plan would be realized. he stated
even though the measure were rati-
fled by the vote OF the people No
yember !.
President Penrose called attention
to the present stringent times and
argued that now is a poor time to
ask $780, 600 in additional state
taxes. In closing he suggested that
voters follow a cardinal principle in
voting on initiative and referendum
measures and vote no when in doubt
as to the virtue of the proposed mea-
sure.
At the close OF the debate number
of pertinent questions were asked by
the audience and answered by the
speakers.