Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-27
MONEY IS IN SIGHT FOR
DIR. BROOME'S SCHOOL PLAN
But So Much More Will BE Needed Re-
fore All the Old Buildings Can Be Dis.
placed That Extravaganza Must BE
Avoided by All Public Officials

7NlIE financial experts Of the School Board
L have apparently found n way by which
| tho building program recommended by Su.
rerntends,it Hroomc can hc carried out
| within two or three years without increasing
the annual rate Of taxation for school pur.
| poses.
They have prepared budget for 1923
| which prnvides for the payment of all sal.
| aries. tho purchase Of supplies md fuel and
for the interest and sinking fund payments
on the school debt and at the same time
leaves $500, 16l 80 TO he devoted in what
| eyer way seems best to the enlargement and
Improvement Of the school plant. And all
this is done within the tax OF "i2 mills on
the dollar, the current rate.
Now 1t Is possible to use this sum. in
excess Of half a million dollars. to carry n
loan Of from &. .o0O. 900 to sS.OOO.o0 to be
devoted to putting UP new buildings and
replacing the old buildings unfit for use.
This sum has been made available without
any increase in the tax rate because OF the
iEcrense in the assessed valuation Of the
taxable property. As it will be con-
tinu!ns sum 20 be raised each year, Il Will
be sufficient TO carry the loan to its ma
turi:y and to lquidatc the bonds when they
fall due
II is confidently expected that there will
be similar increase in the assessed vaiua.
ton Of taxable property next year aud that
the new revenue that will accrue from the
tax levy at the same rate Will provide
fund large enough to carry another loan.
which. with the loan proposed. will amount
needed 10 put up the buildings which Or.
Broome has said ough, 20 be erected with.
out delay.
Before anything can he done. however. !,
VIII b necessary for the School Board 20
ra,ify tho recommendations Of ts Finance
Committee. Then the loan can be foatel
and the work OF construction can begin.
Tie plan includes the erection OF oac or
two senior high schools. eighteen Junior high
schools ard n large number Of elementary
schools in different parts OF the city.
When these buildings are competed Irc-
visions will have been mad" only for 'he
! mos: pressing needs Of the school system.
They do not provide for future increase in
the school population and they do not dis.
piece al the ont date bindings.
The school y.ant has been neglected t"r
so many years that It has been estimated
that AT least $40 900. .nUh woild be needed
10 IN. il in such condition that il would II"
longer bn necessary I" send children !nt"
lcGera"nts 20 be taught or :" put th"m III
poorly lighted rooms or III buildings in
adequately heated and without modern
sanitary ronvenenccs. But So 900, ,0)N will
do something in the right direction.
The sacr tha. the Finance Committee O:
the school Board has reached the "onc!u-
sion that Or. Rrooms's preliminary r"'om'
-nrnJutions can be carried OUT Indicates that
is members arc alert 10 the "r.s.' ard nav"
dc.i idod 10 do what can b" done 20 r1"ct II.
We. .hsro remains the problem OF tearing
down all the antiquatrd structures and re.
niar,nr them with modern buildings in more
convenient locations. These thing cannot
10 doro without 'he expenditure of large
.,lms .: money. all Of which must come u!
rna.clv ont Of the pockets ~ the Taxpayers.
Although ,h" school Board makes :'s own
nudge. and Gxes within II l!ml' specified by
,oU tho rate Of the school AK the amount
Of !ts expenditures mHst Il" considered hy
Ike Cfty ronnrt! wheu il makes Up its own
| ,,Idrat and whnn X authorizes loans for any
| purpose
! Exrra, agan. gums raaro; be spcrt on
! either 4 I'.,lra 0' justice or on nj. Ar
! Gallery wi'Iout making a serious drain Hpon
! tie yesr,lrrr- " the community that ought
! 10 br devot"d 80 eqU!ppinG tho schools for
| the gccumEodrinn Of the children WHO Val
I In the rNurse of iew years disptace tae
! mon now in contrni OF the sreo' pr
! ,o,c business CH;"rprisns and IN the mar.
oynlnenl oi the G"vsrn,nent OF the lily IN
! ,u i.s branches. II those who are 80 come
after Us arc to be qualified 10 take up the
! burdens tina, Ne lay down, they must be
| properly trained in surroundings which will
| neither break down their physical vigor f0r
! expose them 70 th" dangers OF moral de-
| generation.
! The division oi authority over Inc cx-
,ond!ruye ot prb,.r fund. nay have some
/ udynrtagcs but 'hc danger in il lies IN its
announcement % a disposition of each
! Sncrdin: group 10 .gnor" IT," righteous
! claims oi tho Other groups, THIS danger
, can he offset only by sense ot rospon;i.
h;,i,y in the minds of the men WHO vote the
money and in the minds Of those who
spend i,
| Tn. moral stands out 20 "carty that no
an. ,on foil 10 see It. II is that the appro-
,r;o,irc officers of tho cary should srt their
! faces likc flint against til" endorsement oi
any project the npproXlma'" cost Of which
is NOT known in advance. The ~""r'.cc Il
Of such md such building, however de.
sirablc TINT building may b", should be
aba ..doned.
We know what happened when the City
Hall was built. Money was sunk IN il as