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Show SCHOOLS. The legislative council had before it yesterday another bill for an aot in referenoe to schools, The measure is the best wo have seen on the eubject, and if it becomes a law will no doubt have a beneficial effect upon educational educa-tional matters of the territory. We are opposed to extreme measures of all kinds. A certain inconsiderate, hot headed class has apparently gone wild on tho school question. It advocates advo-cates all sorts of "reforms" and revolutionary changes in the system, aud if given its way, or were its advice taken, the territory would soon be the worst kind of a bankrupt. The best and wisest legislation is that which takes into consideration the oiroumstances, condition con-dition and requirements of the people peo-ple for whom tho laws are made at the time of their enactment. A far-seeing statesman may be able to look ahead of Ins ago and discover precisely the kind of a law that would be best adapted to the people of the next oeutury, yet in all probability prob-ability such a law at the present time would be tho very worst that could be pat upon the statute books. Hence, we repeat, the best laws are those nearest adapted to the people of to-day. Tho next generation will doubtless be able to legislate for itself moro understanding and with a better idea of what they want, then we can legislato for them. Tho new bill proposes a good many changes in the school iysteni now in force, but the revolution is not so violent as to cause any injurious results. It proposes pro-poses greater attention to school matters than has been paid them in the past; but in doing so takes into consideration the condition of the territory and the people; and while the step is a long one in the right direciluu, it Is not thought to be greater than the territory may take without Btaggering. It would be an easy ru attar for enthusiasts on tho subject, with "plenty ol rope," to iu-ilict iu-ilict a damaging blow not only to the territory, but to education itself. We j are in favor of free schools and popular po-pular education; but it ia simply the I baldest of nonsense to talk about Utah adopting and successfully carrying into effect a free- school system at present. S.lt Lake city could Blip-port Blip-port free schools enough for all her childr. n: Ocden, Provo and perhaps one or two other towns might do tho same; but before a free school system can become general throughout Utah the territory must have a considerably increased permanent population, and her retourcci will have to be further developed. Tho government school lands will also have to be made available. avail-able. We do not doubt that a few years hencs public free schools will be opened here. The people are in favor Ol them, and will cheerfully do all in their power to bring them about; but free schools to-day, to be ol general beuetit, meau simply a plan for devouring tho substance of a few, and speedily pauperizing tbeai, when the system would go out of existence aud into dier-ii'-ite for the lack of the means to a ippjrt it. This is no exaggerated statement of the case. We have confidence jn tno judgment and intelligence of the people of Utah which will cause tho ejtablishment of free schools as soon as the condition and circumstances will jiiitify tho step. The bill More tho council goes farther than any o'.her has evtr gone ia the matter of a complete school Orgaoix aiou. E ich county ig made ft school didtrict, the districts now or hereafter to he organized constituting sub-districts; a txurJ of education for each count? district conaistioif of five members to be elected annually at the: general olectionp, shall have power to consider, determine and execute all i matters p?rtainifi !o the public school ot the equity; one member , of this ho.ird to be I'lhj county super- t intendent. Ttie county aaoesaors, 'jol-lectors 'jol-lectors and treasurer are to bethel like officers of the board. The board I is given power to district the county, ejtablish, organic, classify, grade and control schools, de'ormino the text hooka to be med, etc. Each sub-district sub-district is to eloot a loal trustee whose duties ura Bimilar (or his dull du-ll ict to those of the board for the county. The fjllowing section will commend itself to everybody: All revenue now or horoafler provided pro-vided for by any gonun.1 lax assessed anil cnlloct.:d by virtue tif tin laws of the turritnry for the lii-n.'iit of district school -hull ho used for Ibu pfiyinunl of (uall-uil (uall-uil teachers and shall bt; paid iato tbo luminal treasury, to be kept as a noparnto and distinct fund, aot U ha ppli;d, pnid over, or pledged on any pruluiiiie whatever to any oth-r use than thtit tor which it wan assessed, collected or paid in, nor upon any othor order or authority than Unit of the territorial su porin tender) t ot district schools, counter signed by the territorial auditor. All school moneys are to be annually apportioned by the territorial terri-torial Beperinteudont to the counties in proportion to the school popula tion, to be divided among the eub-dialricts eub-dialricts according to avorage daily attendence of pupils. ' Provision, properly guarded, is made for assess ing and collecting a tax not to oxceed one fourth of one per cent, for the county and one per cent, for a sub-dislrict for fuel, repairs to Bchoolhomes, furniture and apparatus, building Bchoolhouses, etc. The duties of the old hoard of examination are to be performed by the county superintendent, super-intendent, who is to pa3i upon the qualifications of teachers. The general gen-eral school tax ia provided for in the revenue bill, the money to be distributed dis-tributed as above by the territorial superintendent, fjr whose election provision is made in the old law, to which the one under consideration is an amendment. We think the bill a good one, and hope the legislature will take favor able action upon it. |