The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-03-02
AID GREAT
NEED Or sChod
Subject Is Discussed
Cleveland Meeting
COSTS ARE HIGH
Current Expenses For PuI
Education Raised Last
Few Years
Associated Press p1spatch.I

lASSocldte0 fToSS DlSpaLCn.
Cleveland, O.. February III
1910 the current expenses TOr
lie education in the United st
amounted to $390,500, 900. In
1870, 1916, 900 was spent for the
rent expenses OF public sch
These figures were given the
partment of superintendence of
National Education Association
day by George d. Strayer of
York. During the period q
was very great change IN the
chasing power OF the dollar, as
as an Increase of thirty per cen
the number of days of schoc
provided and the further fact
very large increase in attendant
the upper part of the school
tenn where costs are necesss
high" continued DR.. Strayer.
"No less interesting than the
gregate figures are the compare
which have been instituted am
the several communities With
single state. In the state Of !
York, where an intensive study I
been made, for the year 1902
the community the current expt
per pupil in elementary schools y
$26. In another community wi
the same state the amount
$272.
In State OF New York.
THE property tax furnishes 4
most all of the revenue for sch
in the state Of New York. The Y
iations in the equalized asses
value OF property per capita IL
great as that shown for school
,penditures. While In the main +
wealthier communities, spend +
larger amount per pupil II o.
happens that poor school, distr
have the higher tax rates!
1.-THE scheme Of aid provided
the state of New York nett
equalizes the support provided
education, nor the burden Of Ia
ton borne by the several CONNIE
ties. If opportunity and burden
to be equalized, the state must y
a tax upon the property or incfl
OF all of the people, or in some a
er manner secure revenues By
system of taxation which bears q
equal weight upon all.
THE result that we seek to az
ieve within the state with respeC5
the equalization of education opT2
tunity can be brought about d
by providing for state support.
have been moving in this diTect1
In one state, Delaware, cOmpI
state support has been Instituted
Education Suffers For Lack FuE
The difficulty from which eduf
ton is suffering, that or reveH
can be adequately met only. ~ n
olntionaxy changes IA our ilscsI Il
chinery and our goVernnnGnf orr
ration. Professor RoSsft ~ III
Of Columbia UniteflltS tpld
1T is hopeless to continue to /
pend upon the general property 3
as the sole source Of state and Z
cal revenue II we are to finance \
program of public education,
said. Our facts appear to 81
that q change OF far reaching 4
portance has been taking place
the character of our economic i
Our figures show that In 1890,
total public revenue Of this counk
state and local, were
excess of eight billion dollars, VII
means that approximately Mt
per cent Of our total income
spent in connection with pus
enterprises. We now do nearl,
sixth Of our work collectively unl
control.
Taxes for education amounted
thirty per cent of all state and
cal revenues in 1920. The probl
Of school taxation Is the problem
taxation In general.
Merely Common Sense.
"If greater returns can be obta
ed by using dollars worth
economic effort in collective pull
action than can be obtained
leaving it in the pockets bf PEG
to be privately spent, It Is mer
common sense-not socialism,
spend that dollar collectively.
81 shall like to commend to VI
earnest consideration and posi-
the program of the Natit
al Tax Association. This blan ca
ed for the abandonment Of the
tempt to tax Intangible perso
under the general prop
ty tax. It suggests supplement-
the tax on tangible property ~
statewide levies on personal Il
business incomes along the gene
lines worked out In the tax syste
Of New York. Massachusetts d
Wisconsin. There Is general ayr
ment among those who have gis
thought to the problem that ii
program offers the next logical 81
In tax reform In most Of our stat
Surely after a century of 4 /.
public education we should be q
to count upon body Of citizens
telligent enough to grasp
problem. energetic enough to grs
pie with it and wise enough v
work out a second solution.