Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-14
E|OO[ TAX CRITICS.
Unfair, SAYS DICK
h. eclares in Annual Report Ed
monds Act Made Rise
n Mandatory
SLAMS on "HAlF TRUTHS"


i n ~ raising the 1922 school tax was based
s'only half the TRUTH William Dick,
: Detetary of the board, stated today In
- annual report.
Council made the 1922 city rate
Q.75. a reduction from S2.15. while the
Board Of Education increased the
eighty cent school rate TO ninety five
cents.
The result of these moves was that
the combined city and school rates had
q net reduction of twsnty.fiv cents.
Members ot Courcil scored the board
for boosting the school rate.
Councilman Hail. Ware spokesman,
: declared It would be well to carry the
matter tc the next Legislature and re-
Nse the method Of administering tnc
public school system here.
Asks Fairness of Critics
But Mr.. Dick today declared it was
the Legislature itself which made the
tax Increase mandatory. The report
stated:
"Criticism is being freely offered in
some circles that. although the city
authorities are engaged IN reducing taxes
for 1927, the school authorities are in
creasing taxes; all of which Is true,
but it is only half the truth. These
selfsnme critics should be fair enough
to add what they very well know, that
the increased school taxation by the
Board of Education is made mandatory
by the provisions of the law known as
the 'Edmonds Act passed by the last
n 70 a 10
mand. as were the tax increases of 1920
and 1921, made necessary by the re-
QuiremsntS of the act known as the
Woodruff Bill. passed by the Legisla-
ture of 1919.
.In other words. the board can no
more violate the command of the Legis-
1Ature as expressed in the 'Edmonds Act
than can City Council refuse to appro-
pirate the amount required to pay the
city or county employees whose salaries
are fixed by act of Assembly.
AS to the charge OF egtravagance in
expenditure. as COMPARED with a few
years ago. II the present initial salary
OF teachers (S12O0) is compared with
the initial salary of the teachers five or
six years ago $4,000. then perhaps at
first glance II may be considered ex-
travagant but when Camden to the east
of US and Baltimore to the south of us
are paying beginners $1,000 and New
York to the north OF us and Cleveland
TO the west of us are paying their
teachers beginning salary of $500,
l am afraid the citizens of PHILADELPHIA
will have TO pay for such extravagances
whether the school taxes are levied by
the City Council or by the Board of
Education.
People Must Pay
IL the school authorities. however
constituted, are to meet the demands of
the people for increased and improved
school plant, after providing for its an.
nuai needs, the people must expect to
nay for II.
''Let no one delude himself with the
belief that issuing bonds TO meet school
expenses does not carry with il m
charge against current reve-
nue. True. it is spread over a period OF
thirty years. but in the end it is
costly method of providing public i'm.
provements. whether il be school houses
or other public Improvements.
In the early part Of this year the
superintendent Of Schools recommended
10 the Committee on Property build
ing program of 10000 900. which
extent of $4,000 900. This is only n
drop in the bucket. If Philadelphia is
70 meet the requirements of the school
code OF pennsylvania. as will doubtless
be shown in the school survey which
the. State Superintendent has been con-
ducting for the last year.
"PhiIadelphia has been moving con-
servatively-not fast enough for the
people who want increased and better
schools. and willing to pay the bill.
but too fast for the people who wan,
these improvements. but oppose increase
IN taxes with which to meet the cost.
The policy of the Board has been
toytry to get one or more school houses
each year out of current taxation, and
creating by bond issue the larger por.
deA OF school funds needed for the capi-
III outlay account.
- Expects Criticism
.s.The Board expects criticism of its
eeelon In the raising OF school funds
end expenditures OF the same. and vel
comes it. 1t also expects that such
cSiticism should be based upon the
truth
In 1921. the report continued. the
revenue receipts. from city and State
sources, totaled SlS.3si. .i0G.OS with
loans Of 81, ,040, 900, bringing the total
receipts to $40, ,4o4 196.Os. The total
amount paid out during the year was
SIN. $50, 7SS 0G.
The old question Of an administration
building was revived in the report. 4
parkway site was suggested. The sale
Of 1519.1525 Arch street was recon-
mended as means toward acquiring
site, adding the proceeds TO the 500.
600 appropriated for an administration
building. plus proceeds from the sale
of. abandoned school properties.