Evening journal., 1922-02-21
Referendum on School Bond Issue Finds Fauor
continued from Flrst Pare

OF room. When the meeting open
ed at s o'clock the crowd swarmed
out into the Railways II was the
largest mass meeting OF Its kind in
many years. and TO those who ar
ranged the meeting It demonstrated
the public's interest in school mat
ters.
In opening the meeting Chairman
Ward said thai he knew OF no better
place than Council Chambers for the
citizens 10 express themselves on the
school bond question. and he intro
duced David A. Ward. superintendent
OF public schools as the frst speak
er.
Il have heard this talk OF new
schools almost constantly since
came TO this city" said DR.. Ward.
Il have visited the schools and do
not disagree with this sentiment for
new schools. Some OF the present
schools should be replaced at the
earliest possible date. They not
only are obsolete but OF insufficient
capacity. and that Is the fact that
wish to impress on you"
DR.. Ward then read the report Of
enrolment in the schools which
showed that on January 81 there
were 2,062 children on part time
The same situation will be duplicated
next year, he said, when 1900 chill
dren would be on part time.
DR.. Ward read figures OF the three
sites selected for new school zones
by the Delaware State School Auxi-
liary 70 show the number Of children
who would be on part time. These
were as follows; Eleventh and Kirk
wood streets. which includes No. /
grammar school. 521 children: Twen-
tieth street. which includes No. "a
school, 62s pupils; and dupont and
Clayton streets, which includes No.
2s school. 6s2 pupils.
The High School," DR.. Ward said,
is now overcrowded and with one
building OF the type suggested much
OF the congestion would be relieved.
The matter OF finances Il not my
part OF the work. II Is for you and
the Board OF Education and City
Council TO decide these questions
but I hope some arrangement can be
made 20 give the children their due
Il have worked in educational IN
stituuons in five states in my life. "
Doctor Ward said. "and 1 have never
found a more loyal or efficient
teachers force. Doctor Ward mad,
a plea for the bond issue. saying
that in such way the city would
be taking care Of "its most imipor.
tant assets. the children"
The first display OF keckling oc.
CURED when former Representativ,
William Lyons. Jr.. arose to question
Doctor Ward. President Of Council
Ward remarked: We have a few
speakers who desire 20 put thl
over" At this remark the audlenc,
started to laugh. President Ware
explained that he meant the speak
ers wanted to present their view
first. butt added I'VE are all Il
good humor."
I Councilman McNabb objected I,
any one being stopped from askinl
questions or talking on the subject
saying: "Mr. President. this Is IN
: only way TO get the consensus o
opinion" Mr.. Lyons was then al
; lowed the floor and he asked Docto
Ward II il was true that school chill
dren from the rural districts wer
p allowed 20 attend the Wilmington
public schools without paying 10
tuition. Doctor Ward said that (
was true, but he could not state Jus
how many children we're attendinl
Wilmington schools from the coun
".
Doctor Victor ID. Washburn
member OF the Board OF Education
explained that the State paid IN,
city school board S751.615. whicl
was based on the number OF schoo
children irrespective OF their resi-
dence. The total OF non-reslden
children attending the schools. n,
said. was not available.
, Edgar NJ. Hopes. Jr., answere,
the question as TO the right OF tn
city TO borrow money needed for tn
new school by reading extracts from
the laws passed by the last Legis
lature. He explained that II was no
, the Intention to borrow the tota
r amount from any one year. but owe
= period Of three hscal years.
I Mr.. Hopes called attention par
ticularly to the fact that the loai
b. spread over a period OF two year
5 would increase the tax rate on tn
500 IL cents the first year. %
b. cents the second year. ? y cents IN
third year. and = OF a cent IN
fourth year. making the total IN
crease cents.
- Tie increase in taxes the speake
(, explained. would mean that on
a $4,000 property the tax the first yea
would be $3.50. second year s1.sl
and third year s1.44. making a tots
. Increase Of s5.04.
L. F. Nelson. an attorney. asserte
that the taxpayer should look be
!, fore he leaped. and he Insisted this
: the proposed bond issue would h
but the beginning. He contende
that IL was more important to cor
slider what was being taught in III
schools instead OF what kind OF
building they were being taught Fl
Mr.. Nelson said Abraham Lincol
had but seven books. but he mar
aged to concentrate what he rea,
o and that was what was needed I,
=. day.
!, Mr.. Nelson referred to the rece
i trip Of City Council and the Boa
,r OF Education to Detroit. saying
a could not understand how m,
l. could learn in two days inspect,
/ OF that system what effect Il had
10 the mentality OF the children.
10 At this statement President wa
objected to Mr. Nelson's remark