Evening journal., 1923-02-01
NEWS GOSSIP
OF new CASTLE
Education Board Protests
TO Legislature on Re-
peal in School
RAILMAN QUITS AFTER
4 YEARS SERVICE
Special 10 The Evening Journal


request OF a number OF parents. the
local Board Of Education has pro-
tested against the passage OF the re-
pealer to the present school law,
now pending before the Legislature.
Secretary II. z. Snavely was in
structed at a special meeting OF the
board last night TO lay the protest
before the legislature. It reads in
part:
I'VE are strongly opposed to
House Bill No. 50 which provides for
the repeal Of the present school law
and the reenactment of school laws.
in effect prior TO April. 1919. If
this bill becomes a law, either OF
two intoleraible conditions viii pre-
vail: either the take rate on real
estate will be terribly burdensome
or our schools will deteriorate far
below their present standard. Last
year. although we paid lower salaries
than nearby Wilmington and num-
erous school systems in neighbOring
states and although we did not pur-
chase many things that our schools
need. II cost Appropriately $4,000 toI
operate the New Castle schools.
Under the present law, n all assess
anenas were paid, only $4,000, under
the two and one-half mills levy on
real estate outside the State, was
collected from local real estate.
The other $4,000 was derived from
the fling. income, and corporation
tsxes.
"If the entire $4,000 had been
raised locally from real estate, the
tax rate would have heen n shade
over fourteen mills, that Il about
one and one-half per cent of the as
sessed evaluation OF the real estate
of the district. BY refraining from
hardening the real estate OF this or
any other district but by shifting the
burden to where It did not press so
heavily, we had improved schools
without excessive taxation. Under
the laws IN force before April 1919,
AZ the dividend from the State
amounted to 5000 per teacher and If
It were paid for high as well as ele-
rnentary school teachers, we would
receive less than $4,000 from the
State. We then would have TO
raise $50. 900 from real estate locally,
II our schools were to be kept at last
years standard. This would mean
a tax rate of over twelve mills, or
about one and one-ffth per cent. of
the assessed valuation OF the real
estate OF this district. II this plan
were tried, It would be found un
duly burdenscme. Under the laws
I
rate ran about four mills and pro-
duced about $4,000. This sum plus
the dividend from the Stst gave us
$4,000 to $4,000 20 run the schools. !
"This alternative really seems to
be the one implied in House Bill No. /
81, and we especially object to that |
Implication. Even II we operated 1
only the same kind OF schools we had
before 1919. tho cost would be dou-
BILE the cost then. because practically
every item that enters school costs
mas doubled in the meantime. Sal
aries. fuel, and materials OF instruc-
ton cost twice as much. Consequ-
emily. the amount of revenue the
schools had before 1919 would give
us schools only one-half as good as
those we had then. $50 elementary
teachers. $50 high school teachers, J
and IS coal are not TO be had. Even
under present conditions, we can pay
our best elementary teachers only
s1o5, while these same people could
secure $40 or more in nearby
schools in Pennsylvania and New
Jersey. To run our schools efiici-
entity, 10 obtain and retain the best
teachers, and TO give our children
she kind OF an education tho chill
dren of nearby communities are re-
ceiving, we require not less but more
revenue"
William NJ Cramer, who has been
in the employ OF the Pennsylvania
Railroad as freight agent on the
Delaware Division. for the last 40
years was retired by the company
yesterday. Cramer had served the
last Is years as agent at New Castle.
being transferred here from Farm
hurst on the day of his retire
ment, he celebrated his Sixtieth
birthday at his home on West
Fourth street. He will be succeed
ed by George D. Whitfield. During
his residence here, he has been ac-
tive in Republican politics and serv-
ed as city councilman in 1909-10.
Cramer has two sons Harry A. Cram
er. OF wilmington. civil engineer
and chief draughtsman for the Della
ware division of the Pennsylvania
Railroad. and w. Leslie Cramer.
Mayor, OF this city. The latter has
been his assistant at the local sta
ton since 1906. but resigned yes
terday.
Mayor Cramer, who for several
years. has been a Notary Public will
continue in thai and real estate. He
also has other lines OF industry in
which he will continue operations.
Former Recorder Of Deeds A. v L.
George, Of the Strand. has purchas-
ed the property on Delaware street,
belonging to the late Henry VIII
helme Mr.. George has contracted
for the remodeling OF the store
front
When plumbing is ont OF order
call 21I, j. ]. Walls.-Adv.
Miss Rebecca Challenger, of Sec
ond and DelaSrare streets, is con-
fined to her bed with pneumonia.
which developed Tuesday night.
Miss Challenger was a teacher in
the local school for several years.
prior TO her retirement a few years
ago. Mrs. Edward Hemphin OF
East Third street, is caring for Miss
Challenger.
Miss Irene Davis, daughter Of Mr.,