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COUNTY SCHOOL COMMISSION¬
ER OUTLINES LOCAL TAXATION
He Gives Logical Explanation About the
Needs of Schools and How Local Tax
Will Affect The Individual.
Editors of The Covington News.
Your suggestion in the editorial
columns of the last issue of The News
that explanatory data be given as to
local taxation for public schools, is a
good one and I gladly give the fol¬
lowing:
The McMichael Act as amended
August 1906 provides “Tnat when¬
ever the citizens of any county wish
to supplement the public fund receiv¬
ed from the State by levying a tax
upon the property of the county, it
shall be the duty of the ordinary to j
order an election not earlier than
twenty days and not later than sixty
days, after receiving a petition of one
fourth the qualified voters of the j
county; and notice of the same shall
be published in at least three weekly
issues of the county newspaper in
which legal advertisements of the
county are published. Said elections
shall be held as ordinary county elec¬
tions are held. Those favoring the
levying of the local tax shall vote for
‘Local Tax for Public Schools’ those
opposed shall vote Against Local Tax
for Public Schools.’
“The returns of said election shall
be made to the ordinary of the county
who shall declare the results and two
thirds of those voting shall be neces¬
sary to carry said election for local
taxation for public schools.”
The entire Act occupies several
pages but among the most important
provisions in addition to the forego¬
ing are as follows:
“All funds are collected by the tax
collector when he collects the other
t axes. ’ ’
An incorporated town in a county
holding a local tax election already
operating a public system (that is by
levying a local tax) shall not be in¬
cluded in the election unless the mu¬
nicipal authorities, abolish their sys¬
tem by a special act of their legis¬
lature.
(Under this provision Covington,
Mansfield and Newborn are not eligi¬
ble to vote in the forthcoming elec¬
tion. )
All property both real and personal
including railroads and other corpor¬
ations outside the limits of towns not
eligible to vote in the election is sub¬
Material Reductions In Summer Clothing
We never put on a big sale to unload a lot of goods on the people—in fact,
we are not trying to unload, but we have a number of new summer suits that
we are offering to our customers at prices substantially reduced, making them
Exceptional Values
and we believe that if you will come around and let us show them
to you; the newest cuts, fabrics and snappy, stylish finish, that is
all it will take to convice you that you need one and let us send it
around to you.
To appreciate them you will have to see them.
C. SWANN COMPANY, Covington, Georgia.
“The Store of Good Values.”
ject to this school tax.
Until this year, as is well known
throughout the county, we have been
receiving for school purposes our pro
rata of funds arising from the net
hire of ten convicts. The change in
the convict system cuts us out of
nearly $2500.00 although when the
convict funds were available, the
school funds were even then ENTIRE¬
LY inadequate. In fact, even while
rec; iving the convict funds three
years ago, the Board realizing the ab
solute necessity of more money for
school purposes launched a campaign
for local taxation and an election was
held.
It is not amiss to add here that at a
recent meeting, the Board of Educa
lion agreed on twenty cents per hun
dred dollars as the rate to be levied
if the measure be carried.
The tax payer naturally inquires
as to why additional funds are need¬
ed and what will be done with the
money thus raised.
Under the present system the Board
of Education pays, on the basis of the
regular scale of salaries, for half of
the private or supplemental term.
This necessitates tuition charges
and many communities find it very
difficult to make t he required average
until the public term proper opens in
January for a large percentage of the
children are not entered during “pay
term.” Then too, in order to secure
teachers, the salaries have
be supplemental even during the
term.
This means tuition the entire school
and causes friction and dissatis¬
faction.
As a large percentage of the child¬
do not enter until the public term
it is w ell nigh impossible in
communities to have a good
school.
Furthermore under such conditions
it is out of the question to have a
school even during the public
term matter it not how large the
corps of teachers.
The pupils entering at the opening
of the public term find themselves too
far behind to be classified with those
who have attended tw r o months or
more during the Fall. It simpjy
NEWS
means that the Principal must put
them too far back, too far ahead of
where they should or else form a
number of new classes.
To have more classes means that
the work can not be thorough as it is
making a farce of school work for
only five to fifteen minutes to be de¬
voted to each recitation.
With local tax, w T e could have a
seven months public term and the
schools could open as early as prac¬
tical in the fall. The trustees and
patrons who heretofore have had to
“scrap up” the tuition and in many
instances guarantee it in advance and
pay more than their pro rata from
theirown pockets would be releaved of
a thankless responsibility.
As there would be a large attend¬
ance from the early Fall opening the
schools could be satisfactorily graded.
With a seven months public term
there would be less difficulty in se¬
curing and holding more experienced
teachers.
As is obvious from the above near¬
ly all the funds raised by local tax
would be expended in increasing
the term from four and one half
months to seven months. Further¬
more the Board could afford to pay
teachers better salaries.
The weakest feature of our school
system at present is the fact that as¬
sistant teachers are paid such meager
salaries. Only $35.00 per month is
paid an assistant teacher who holds a
first grade license and only $25.00 to
assistant teachers holding second
grade license.
The assistant teacher has to do with
the child at the most important per¬
iod of his school life, yet what de¬
mand for adequate preparation and
skill on the part of the teacher can
w r e make when we can offer her only
from ten to twenty dollars per month
over and above the cost of her board.
(Just about the wages of the average
negro cook in our towns and cities.)
OUR SCHOOLS NEED BETTER
EQUIPMENT. Few of them have an
adequate supply of blackboard ma¬
terial, maps, globes, charts and other
necessary accessories.
Last fall w r e prepared a list of sup¬
plies—black boards and charts prin¬
cipally—which were indispensable for
satisfactory work during the term and
yet when the cost was footed up and
an estimate made of funds available
for the year it was found necessary
to withhold the order.
We can not afford to be niggarly in
supplying such necessaries—black¬
boards and charts, even at the ex¬
pense of cutting the school term if
necessary.
Other counties of the state have
tried local taxation and under no
circumstances would return to the
For Benefit of Library.
Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Sanders will be
heard in concert Friday night for the
benefit of the Library fund with other
local talent w 7 ho are well known to
Covington audiences and need no in¬
troduction.
Mr. and Mrs. Sanders have been
heard in our local churches in sacred
music, and the opportunity to hear
both of them in selections from some
of the standard opera numbers will
no doubt be well received.
Mr. Sanders has been heard in con¬
cert throughout the south. Mrs. San¬
ders, who possess a soprano voice with
unusual sweetness and purity of tone
has also been heard in concert in At¬
lanta and other cities with pleasure,
according to press notices given her.
Good Farm Land For Sale.
I have 343 acres of good farm land
that I w 7 ill sell at a bargain. This land
is situated between County Line
church and Snapping Shoals. On this
land is two good dwelling and four
tenant houses. Fine locality and near
good schools. Good orchards and ex¬
cellent pastures w 7 ith plenty of water.
Will sell in two lots. Apply to Ras
or C. H. Stroud, Snapping Shoals,
postoffice, McDonough, Ga.—2t.
Pace Locals.
Mrs. Emma Ellison visited Mrs. W.
O. Butler Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. D. B. Crowell attend¬
ed camp meeting at Indian Springs
several days last w 7 eck.
Mr. Charles Read spent Wednesday
in Covington.
Mr. Evans Hill visited relatives in
Covington part of last week.
Miss Anna Butler visited Mrs. J. C.
Nixon Monday afternoon.
Mrs. Forbes, of Atlanta spent sev¬
eral days last w r eek with Mr. and Mrs.
D. B. Crowell.
Mr. John Stowers, Jr., visited Mr.
Otis Nixon Sunday.
Miss Vera McCord spent Wednes¬
day afternoon with Miss Bay Pruett,
in Rockdale.
Mrs. G. C. Watson and baby, of
Atlanta, visited her parents here
recently.
Mr. Olin Cowan spent Thursday in
Covington.
Mr. O. P. McCord has been on the
sick list but is much better now 7 .
BARBECUE GIVEN AT
ALCOVEY STATION,
Delightful Time for Visitors from
Number of places. Number
Speeches were Delivered.
The people of Alcovey were for¬
tunate in selecting last Tuesday as
t he date for their annual barbecue
as the day passed oft without rain—
in fact the weather was ideal.
In the forenoon the County School
Commissioner made an address on
“Education” devoting most of his
time to a discussion of local taxation.
At the noon hour, the large crowd
present feasted on the good things
spread before them. The barbecued
meats bore abundant evidence of the
skill of Messrs Bose Berry, Greer,
Nash and others who had been look¬
ing after the pits.
In the afternoon Col. L. L. Middle
brook delivered an address. He
stressed the importance of the best
possible educational facilities for our
Newton County boys and girls and
declared that it was the duty of par¬
ents to make every reasonable sacri¬
fice to educate their children.
He expressed himself in no uncer¬
tain terms as favoring compulsory
education and stated that it was the
governments duty to see to it that no
indifferent parent be permitted to let
his children grow up in ignorance and
not equipped for the duties of life.
The day was in every way a suc¬
cess and the visitors from Covington,
Social Circle, Jersey and elsewhere
were unanimous in their appreciation
of the pleasant outing made possible
by the enterprise and hospitality of
John Filly aw- and others of the com¬
munity w T ho had planned the bar¬
becue.
Some Fine Corn.
Mr. Reubin Warren, one of Gaith¬
ers’ successful planters, was in the
city one day this W'cek showing some
very fine corn which he raised on his
plantation in that district. Mr. War¬
ren says he has ten acres of the best
corn ever grown by him. He is con¬
fident that the yield from and this five ten
acres will Vie between four
hundred bushels.
haphazard system of the past.
In the election to be held a few 7
weeks hence, Newton county can
not afford to pass by so great an op¬
portunity to give our boys and girls a
fair deal.
A. H. Foster, C. S. C.
Hm .pent ^ |
Mrs. ------ eiautl Kiunett, of ,
visited Mr. and Mrs. J. u
ham Tuesday. '
Messrs. T. J. Ramsey and ,
Nixon spent Wednesday p °-|
'
Conyers. *' ajl tt!rno „. °n ini
Miss Vera McCord visits
Ethel McCord , .
in Covington
Mr. I}. B. Crowell spent \r
A ° (nes i
day with his mother at K hna ‘*
Shoals. ^«g
Mr. Jack Elliott passed through J
village Wednesday. gh °" , r|
Mrs. J. C. Nixon and Mrs
Hill visited i m
Mrs. 0. P. McCord T llUr
day afternoon.
We are glad to say that Mrs. \
Almand is recovering. ' 11,1
Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Rogers
tives children, here of Friday. Covington; visited r 3 d|
Mrs. Thursday C. D. and Mrs. T. J. Ram J
spent with Mr. and
Ed Martin near Hopewell.
Sunday Miss Selus with Hill, her parents of Covington sped '
here.
Mrs. J. T. Stowers, ofFairview .
Mrs. Jim Womac, visit*] an
of Atlanta
Mrs. J. C. Nixon Friday.
Mr. Wm. Boyd attended the gooJ
road convention in Covington lai
Wednesday.
Rev. W. O. Butler spent last weel
at Union holding protracted serviced
Not Desired.
Having at enormous pains got
length, breadth and thickness abo]
right, the woman heaved a sigh of mini d
lief. “No fourth dimension in
If you please!” she exclaimed, wi|
unmistakable feeling.
Some aver that the feminine mill an]
is not attracted by metaphysics
way!—Puck.
Precedent.
“Will that young man ever
home?” demanded the Irritated bed
of the house.
“I guess so, father,” replied gone"] the ml
terfamllias. “He always has
Washington Herald.
A Good Guess.
“Does your father know you smo
little boy?” asked the inquisiti|
stranger.
“I guess not,” replied the bad bol
“He doesn’t lock up his eigars.”-E|
trolt Free Press.
A Useless Rule.
He (teaching her bridge)—When
doubt it’s a good rule to play trumi I’m|
She—But that's jus! it; when
doubt I don’t know what the trump