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Show The School Question- Edi'nrs Herald: EJucntion, but more particularly "Free Education," is a Bubject that is causing a good deal of discussion at present. Tho cry is " Freo schools." I have, during the last twelve monthi, conversed ;with a great number of people who echo this cry. They may bo divided into three classes: first, those who don't pay taxes and never intend to if they can help it, but who think to gain popularity by it; second, those who would like to handle the money and get their friends a fat living out of it; and, third, those who don't card who pays for it bo long as they can get it for nothing. Quite a number of the latter do not seem to understand that their own property would be taxed to , mstain free schools. Now I do not j, Bpace in discussing this subject either pro or con, but simply to ask why the present school law is not enforced until we can get something better ? Even those who make the loudest demands for free schools admit that at present it is impossible; im-possible; they say again, why not enforce the school law we have got, which allows each school district to make its own regulations. If the people want what is called a "free school," they can have it, or not as the circumstances of the district may require or admit. The following ex-, tract from the law will show what can be done in this matter : Sec 7. The trustees shall proTide a suitable school-house or school-house?, aud keep tb 3 same in repair, for which 1 purpose they are hereby empowered to as-t)53 and c-llect annually a tax on all taxable property witbin their district, not exceeding ono-fourth of on per cent.; ihould more than oae-fourth of one per cent, be needed per annum to build and repair achool-homea, or for other school purposes, an estimate of the approximate cost thereof shall ba mad by the tnisUtea, and the rate may be increased to any um nt exceeding threo per cent., as ehall be decided by a Tote of two-thirds of the tax-payers, voting at a meeting called for that purpose, wbich tax shall be levied upon the taxable pr. perty in the district; aad by a similar vote a tax may b assessed and collected, of anv sum not exceeding one per cent, per annum, to pay teacnerj, and furnish fuel, book, maps, and other sui'able article for school purp'nea. The trusteoashall have power to remit taxes, to prescribe the manner in which schools shall bo conducted, con-ducted, to establish out. houses, play-groundi, play-groundi, and other appurtenances. Now, all I have to say is, in the absence ab-sence of-what some would call a better bet-ter plan, let us make the best use we can of the one we have, and wait till circumstances make it practicable to have a general territorial school law. This territory is youog and must creep before it can walk. It is simply nonsense non-sense to talk of what they do in New York, Philadelphia and other old Bet-ftled Bet-ftled cities and states; but let all unite to do the best we can, and few need go without an education. Gumption Cute. |