Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-07-28
PACE EXPLAINS MAIN
POINTS IN NEW LAW
Designed to Provide Free School
Books in Lower Grades of
Americas Grammar Schools
Continued from Page Isl

you can publish in full for the IN
formation of the people of Amert
Gus.
"a few days ago Massrs. Hines
J and Riley introduced. in the house
Zone of the bills which had been ad-
vertised; this was done after they
had gone over the matter very
thoroughly with me and we had all
agreed that l would prepare and
submit to them a substitute bill,
which, when agreed upon, would be
offered in the senate. 1t was not,
therefore, the intention of any of
US to enact the bill introduced,
but merely to save time by letting
II pass the house and come to the
senate. Messrs. Hines and Riley
ueslre that this be made clear.
. have gone over the enclosed
bill very carefully with Messrs.
Hines and Riley and we are all
agreed on the same. However,
there might be some Objectionable
feature IN the bill to some party
or parties in Americas, and we have
agreed to request your paper to
publish the bill in full and then
delay passage of the bill until any
party or parties Directing might
have full opportunity to be heard,
either by the Sumter delegation or
by the appropriate committee of the
senate.
You will observe the following
special features in this bill:
Il. The present tax rate is not
increased.
y. The tax for the schools is
not fixed at eight mills bat it is
provided that this TAX shall not ex-
coed eight mills, the exact amount
of levy to be fixed each year by
the mayor and council, as may in
its discretion be necessary we all
thought this best, as changing con.
ditions make it almost impossible to
say what will be the needs OF the
school in the future, the mayor ana
council ace home folk elected by
the people, and they can be petit
toned and heard by the people in
the. event there is any dispute as to
the proper levy for the schools.
SO. The school board is requir-
ed to file an annual estimate of
their proposed expenses when re-
questing a levy, together with an
itemiZed sta tement of expenses
during proceeding year, and their
books shall be audited annually.
"a. From out of the fund re-
ceived by the board of education
they must purchase school books for
the pupils in one grade each year,
to be furnished the children at
low rental. From the informa-
ton | now have this cost in the
neighborhood of $3.50 a year, and
| am impressed that this should
be done for the following reasons;
the present school laws, of Georgia
compel the children to go to school
while many are not able to buy
books; the price of books is get
ting all suit of reason; a great part
of the books purchased are only
used for short tine, some for
only few days or day, and then
become useless to the child; the
present contract the state has with
the book concerns will expire Jan
uary /, and we are advised the
prices will be greatly advanced,
probably one-third, making it more
difficult for the children to pro-
vide their own books; this system OF
rental is now practiced in several
cities in Georgia and | am advised
that it is most satisfactory in ev-
cry way. | received my own gram
mar and high school training under
this system at 81 year rental.
IS. The clerk and treasurer is
placed under a $4,000 bond, with
the conditions thereof fixed.
sc. A bond commission is Great
ed to receive, keep and pay out the
money received from the levy of
a tax to pay the outstanding bonds.
you will recall that the courcil now
owes the bond account around $780,
600 or more, and | for one am not |
willing to continue levying tax
for the payment of bonds until the
money is used for that purpose and
none other.
az. A debt commission is Great f!
ed to receive, keep and pay out the |
money received from the levy of a
tax to pay the present floating in
debtedness. This is done for the |
reason that in 1919 l was asked |
to make a special levy with which |
to get money to pay this debt, which |
then amounted to about 100000, |
Now at the end of the five-year |
period, instead of the debt being |
paid, it has more than dou-
bled, now exceeding $150,000. II
could not consent to continue to
levy for this purpose until | can
be sure the money is. going to be
properly spent this time, and | be-
lieve it will be under the provis-
ions creating this debt commission.
81 have tried to make this bust
ness measure, and l trust it will be
so looked upon. " the people.