Milford chronicle., 1926-12-10
ALL MUST AID IN SCHOOL
SUPPORT SAYS DU POINT
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time be satisfactory to all concern
ed. 1t is one of the problems we
must solve and one that will take
time"
He said the next legislature will
have a fund Of $9,5OO,OOO at its
command for such a program, or
nearly so per cent of the necessary
funds for the entire projected build
ing program.
Mr.. DUPONT emphasized the fact
that although Wilmington will pay
the burden of the tax, more than so
per cent, it must be satisfied to help
the State as a whole. Some people,
he said, claim Wilmington pays
nearly 80 per cent of the costs. This
he said was high. However, he said,
by no stretch of imagination can it
be conceived that Wilmington will
get back what it pays in tax. There
are more children outside to be car
ed for, he said. That, he said, is one
reason why Wilmington should be
willing to help. There are many
reasons among them that we can
not help the State without helping
ourselves, he added, no more than
the State can help the nation with
out helping itself.
Have to Make Sacrifices
He said Wilmington and other
special school districts who have
had the foresight and ability and
Set-up to bond themselves and build
their own schools will have to make
temporary sacrifices in awaiting re-
turn OF the money by the State
while less fortunate, less able, less
energetic communities are helped
for the sake of the children. if
nothing else. to build schools. If
the special districts clamor for re-
turn too early it will greatly harm
the States endeavOr to carry out the
program planned, he said. If they
demand this first, then the children
Will be denied.
He said he felt sure the legisla-
ture would do its part. 1t can not
be carried out if taxes are reduced,
he said. You can not have the pen
ny and the cake, too."
Here Mr.. dupont changed his sub
Ject long enough to discuss certain
taxes and their justification. He re-
marked that as he entered the room
to speak another speaker was criti-
cizing the filing fee tax in Delaware,
which is providing the present
school building revenue.
I'VE can shift the burden" Mr..
DUPONT said, "by cutting out the fill
ing fee and putting it on some
where else" He said he had the
greatest sympathy for those who
have to take their bread and butter
money to pay the filing fee. 81 be-
lieve, he said, that the filing fee in
principle is all wrong. Any uniform
tax upon rich and poor alike. he
said, he thought wrong. 1t is not fair
he said that a poor person should
pay as much as someone to whom it
would be no burden.
Mr.. DUPONT said he felt that every
one should have share in carrying
the burden of building schools. The
filing fee may be reduced, he said, to
81 or even less, but that even at 10
cents, "the cost of collecting" he
said, he'felt it would pay to State to
collect it. He criticised those who
make false statements on their re-
turns IN order to dodge any tax.
Elementary Schools First
Mr.. DUPONT particularly stressed
the necessity of building elementary
schools first. He said it was a prov
en- matter of economy that they be
built of durable material that would
need little repair. He said it was also
matter of experience that they be
consolidated. He said the school at
Laurel had been constructed on too
small a plan and as a result is caus-
ing the retention and maintenance of
the old school. This was also very
unsatisfactory, he said, to those
children who had to attend the old
school and be denied the privileges
of the modern school.
He emphasized that the State
Board of Education should have the
say as to the type and site of school
and costs, but that it should not be
burdened with the details of con-
struction after the plans have been
accepted. They are too busy for
that part, he said. This should fall
on other shoulders. He said a tax
school building program should be
carried out on an economic basis
similar to that used by modern in
dustry and business. He closed by
admitting that he himself felt at
times that he was too enthusiastic
over the school building program,
but that to him, after personally see
ing what thousands of school chill
dren in the State have to put up
with, it was perhaps forgivable.