‘Ihe  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
929 
The  School  Bill  and  Its  Discussion 
Part  YII. 
WE  understand  that  some  of  the  friends  of  the 
proposed  school  bill  object  to  our  statement 
that  this  bill  will  act  to  take  power  away  from  the 
local  district  and  centralize  it  in  one  or  more  of  the 
various  boards  or  commissions  which  are  to  control 
the  larger  units.  As  we  understand  this  bill,  this 
would  be  the  outcome.  It  is  claimed  by  members  of 
the  Committee  of  Twenty-one  that  the  reverse  of 
this  would  he  true — that  the  districts  will  have 
greater  power  than  ever.  We  would  like  to  have 
that  explained,  for  this  bill  seems  to  us  a  well- 
planned  effort  to  centralize  the  power  over  rural 
schools  and  take  their  direction  very  largely  out  of 
the  hands  of  local  taxpayers.  Again,  it  is  claimed 
by  friends  of  the  bill  that  one  object  is  to  prevent 
compulsory  consolidations.  It  is  true  that  the  bill 
takes  away  from  the  superintendents  their  present 
arbitrary  power  to  consolidate,  regardless  of  any 
vote  by  local  taxpayers,  but  as  we  have  pointed  out, 
the  bill  seems  to  provide  several  ways  in  which  con¬ 
solidation  can  and  will  be  worked  out. 
The  Ohio  school  law.  was  supposed  to  be  anti-con¬ 
solidation,  yet  under  it  consolidation  has  gone  stead¬ 
ily  on.  These  are  things  that  our  people  want  to 
know  before  they  decide  about  this  bill.  As  it 
stands,  some  are  positively  opposed,  while  some 
others  are  warmly  in  favor.  The  deciding  majority 
want  to  know  just  where  this  bill  will  place  them 
before  they  decide.  On  general  principles  they  will 
oppose  the  law  unless  they  can  he  shown  clearly 
that  there  is  no  "joker”  in  it  and  that  it  will  surely 
work  out.  They  want  no  experiments  and  will  not 
stand  for  any. 
We  were  told  by  the  advocates  of  this  bill  that  it 
will  bring  to  the  rural  districts  $8, 000, (XX)  or  more 
of  money — contributed  in  taxes  chiefly  by  the  towns 
and  cities.  One  reason  advanced  for  rushing  the 
hill  through  the  last  Legislature  was  that  we  should 
make  sure  of  this  money  promptly — before  the  city 
people  had  a  chance  to  change  their  mind.  This 
matter  of  Staite  aid  and  the  preservation  of  local 
rights  of  school  control  are  the  two  big  factors  in 
this  bill,  and  we  must  understand  them  if  possible. 
At  the  risk  of  being  tedious  we  print  extracts  from 
the  bill  relating  to  the  money  given  as  State  aid. 
The  purpose  of  the  article  referring  to  money  mat¬ 
ters  is  "stated  as  follows: 
2.  It  is  the  purpose  of  this  artice  to  provide  for  the 
apportionment  of  public  school  money  among  the  com¬ 
munity  districts  in  accordance  with  the_  taxable  re¬ 
sources  of  such  districts  and  the  expenditures  which 
such  districts  are  required  to  make  to  provide  for  the 
maintenance  and  support  of  public  schools  therein  of  a 
prescribed  standard,  wherein  all  the  children  of  such 
districts  may  be  educated. 
The  apportionment  of  school  moneys  is  to  be  made 
on  the  true  or  actual  valuation  of  property  in  the 
community  district.  The  number  of  teachers  is  to 
include  all  member  of  the  teaching  staff,  including 
principals,  supervisors  and  teachers,  with  reason¬ 
able  regulations. 
3.  The  State  standard  true  or  actual  valuation  per 
teacher  for  the  State  for  apportionments  to  be  made 
hereunder  for  the  school  year  beginning  August  1,  1924 
shall  be  $300,000.  Such  State  standard  true  or  actual 
valuation  per  teacher  shall  continue  as  a  basis  of  ap- 
poitionments  to  be  made  hereunder  for  each  year 
thereafter  until  modified  by  law. 
4.  The  true  or  actual  valuation  per  teacher  of  a  com¬ 
munity  district  shall  be  the  true  or  actual  valuation  of 
the  taxable  property  of  such  district,  divided  by  the 
number  of  teachers  employed  in  such  district  for  the 
preceding  year.  ,  ,,  ,  _.A 
5.  The  State  standard  percentage  shall  be  100  pet 
cent,  divided  by  the  number  of  entire  thousands  of  dol¬ 
lars  in  the  State  standard  true  or  actual  valuation  per 
teacher.  .  ^  .  ... 
G.  The  percentage  quota  of  a  community  district  snail 
be  the  State  standard  percentage,  multiplied  by  the 
number  of  entire  thousands  of  dollars  that,  the  true  or 
actual  valuation  per  teacher  of  the  community  district 
is  less  than  the  State  standard  true  or  actual  valuation 
per  teacher. 
It  is  not  very  easy  for  a  layman  to  understand 
all  this  fully,  but  we  shall  have  to  study  it  in  order 
to  know  all  about  this  money. 
1311.  Apportionments  to  Community  Districts.  1. 
The  Commissioner  of  Education  shall  apportion  and 
pay  annually  at  the  same  time  and  in  the  same  man¬ 
ner  as  other  public  school  moneys  are  apportioned  and 
paid  under  this  chapter  from  moneys  appropriated  for 
the  support  of  common  schools  to  each  community  dis¬ 
trict  having  a  true  or  actual  valuation  per  teacher  of 
less  than  the  State  standard  true  or  actual  valuation 
per  teacher  that  proportion  of  the  total  amount  paid 
for  the  maintenance  or  current  expenses  of  the  schools 
of  the  community  district,  excluding  capital  outlay,  in 
the  preceding  school  vear  as  is  indicated  by  the  per¬ 
centage  quota  of  such  district.  In  determining  the 
total  amount  expended  for  teachers’  salaries  there  shall 
be  included  the  salaries  paid  to  all  members  of  the 
teaching  and  supervising  staff  with  the  exception  of 
such  teachers  of  special  subjects  on  account  of  the 
employment  of  whom  special  State  aid  is  apportioned  to 
such  district  under  other  provisions  of  this  chapter. 
2.  There  shall  be  apportioned  and  paid  to  each  com¬ 
munity  district,  whether  the  true  or  actual  valuation 
per  teacher  of  such  district  be  more  or  less  than  the 
State  staatfard  true  or  actual  valuation  per  teacher,  an 
amount  at  least  equal  to  $200  for  each  member  of  the 
teaching  and  supervising  staff  of  such  district,  with 
the  exception  of  such  teachers  of  special  subjects  on 
account  of  the  employment  of  whom  special  State  aid 
is  apportioned  to  such  district. 
The  quotas  or  apportionments  authorized  by  this  and 
the  last  preceding  subdivision  shall  be  known  as  gen¬ 
eral  quotas. 
3.  The  Commissioner  of  Education  may  make  deduc¬ 
tions  from  amounts  to  be  apportioned  to  any  com¬ 
munity  district  where  it  appears  to  his  satisfaction 
that  a  community  district  has  failed  to  comply  with 
the  law  relative  to  the  qualifications  of  teachers  or  the 
scheduling  of  their  salaries.  Deductions  may  also  be 
made  by  the  Commissioner  of  Education  where  it  ap¬ 
pears  to  his  satisfaction  that  the  salary  paid  to  any 
member  of  the  teaching  or  supervising  staff  is  excessive. 
The  Commissioner  of  Education  may  also  withhold 
the  whole  or  any  part  of  the  moneys  apportioned  to  a 
community  district  as  authorized  by  this  chapter  for  a 
failure  upon  the  part  of  a  community  district  to  com¬ 
ply  with  the  provisions  of  this  chapter. 
As  we  see  from  this,  the  Commissioner  of  Educa¬ 
tion  will  retain  the  power  to  withhold  this  money  or 
make  deductions  “where  it  appears  to  his  satisfac¬ 
tion  that  a  community  district  has  failed  to  comply 
with  the  law.”  There  is  a  long  article  on  special 
aid  for  community  districts  which  will  be  printed 
next  week. 
Comparison  of  Milk  Prices 
THE  May  net  cash  return  to  producers  for  100 
lbs.  3  per  cent  milk  by  the  League  pool  was 
$1.72;  expenses,  8  cents;  certificates  of  indebtedness. 
10  cents;  gross  total  of  $1.90. 
The  Sheffield  Farms  producers  report  a  flat  re¬ 
turn  of  $2.11  net. 
The  non-pool  return  on  the  flat  price  basis  was 
$2.11.  They  make  a  class  price  also.  One  dealer 
buying  under  classification  in  the  400-mile  zone  re¬ 
ports  returns  of  $1.98  to  producers. 
The  Connecticut  Milk  Producers  Association  at 
Hartford,  report  $4  per  100  lbs.  for  4  per  cent  milk 
delivered  at  market  center.  This  is  equivalent  to 
about  $3.32  for  3  per  cent  milk  at  country  stations. 
The  Interstate  Milk  Producers  of  Philadelphia 
have  fixed  their  prices  for  five  months  from  May  1. 
The  price  for  May  and  June  at  country  stations  for 
3  per  cent  milk  is  $2.72.  July,  August  and  Septem¬ 
ber,  $2.85.  The  Philadelphia  producers  fix  their 
normal  and  low  in  October,  November  and  December 
production,  and  any  increase  of  more  than  the 
margin  allowed  is  surplus  to  the  individual  farmer. 
The  monthly  comparisons  with  the  1916  records 
are  given  in  the  following  table: 
May,  May,  May,  May,  May. 
Milk  1916  1917  1921  1922  1923 
Bordens  .  1 .06 
League . $1.06  $2.00  $1.45  $1.20  $1.72 
^  TT i irVi  1  49  9  (\(\  1  4F>  1  90 
Ind.,  Group  High.  1.42  2.00  1.45  1.70  2.20 
B.  &  C.  Value  ...  1.49  2.09  1.45  1.64  2.06 
Butter  cts  per  lb..  .3108  .3911  .31S2  .3673  .4194 
Cheese  cts.  per  lb.  .16375  .235  .17  .17625  .2243 
It  will  be  observed  that  the  Borden  price  in  May, 
1916,  was  43  cents  under  the  butter  and  cheese 
value  or  the  formula  basis.  In  1917  the  League 
price  was  9  cents  under  the  butter  and  cheese  value. 
In  1922  the  price  was  44  cents  down.  This  year  it 
was  34  cents  below  the  ' 
cheese  formula. 
The  United  States  Depa 
ports  the  May  prices  for 
on  the  basis  of  3.5  per 
section.  Reduced  to  the  S 
the  prices  for  comparison  : 
Washington,  D.  'CJ$2  36 
Chicago,  Ill . 2.10 
Baltimore,  Md.  .  .  2.425 
Boston,  Mass  ....  2.675 
Trenton,  N.  .T....  2.74 
,*alue  on  the  butter  and 
L-tment  of  Agriculture  re¬ 
milk  in  Eastern  towns 
cent  milk  in  producing 
per  cent  basis  we  have 
Buffalo,  N.  Y . $2.30 
Cleveland.  Ohio  .  .  2.825 
Pittsburgh,  Pa.  .  .  2.35 
Harrisburg.  Pa.  ..  1.95 
Scranton,  Pa.  ...  2.33 
Milk  Prices  for  July 
MILK  prices  for  July  were  announced  by  the 
various  groups  last  week.  The  League  pool 
made  the  first  announcement.  Its  Class  1  price 
remains  $2.33  as  it  was  for  April  and  May  for 
fluid  milk.  Class  2A  is  $2.05  with  differentials 
from  20  to  35  cents.  This  class  is  for  cream.  Class 
2B  for  plain  condensed  milk  and  ice  cream  $2.40. 
Class  2C  for  making  soft  cheese  $2.35.  Class  3  for 
condensed  and  evaporated  milk  differentials  $5 
cents  above  the  butter  score.  Class  4  will  depend 
on  the  quotations  for  butter  and  cheese  as  before. 
It  will  be  observed  that  in  some  cases  the  Classes 
2  and  3  will  exceed  the  Class  1. 
The  Sheffield  Farms  group  sold  on  the  usual  flat 
basis  for  July.  The  price  is  to  be  $2.20. 
The  flat  Non-Pool  price  for  July  is  $2.20.  When 
their  milk  is  sold  under  the  classified  plan  the 
Class  1  prices  is  $2.30  and  Class  2,  $2.00. 
As  a  whole  the  July  prices  are  discouraging. 
There  is  a  demand  for  milk.  The  hot  dry  weather 
is  increasing  the  demand  and  decreasing  the  supply. 
There  is  every  indication  of  a  strong  demand,  not 
only  for  July  but  for  the  remainder  of  the  year. 
The  manufactured  products  are  high  in  proportion 
to  the  price  of  liquid  milk  at  the  farms.  During 
the  latter  part  of  May  cheese  factories  have  been 
returning  producers  in  Northern  New  York  prices 
varying  from  $2.20  to  $2.30  with  an  average  of 
$2.25.  If  this  record  of  cheese  factories  is  main¬ 
tained  during  July  the  patrons  will  be  receiving 
better  returns  than  the  patrons  of  the  shipping 
plants,  with  all  the  extra  expense  of  producing 
milk  to  meet  the  requirements  of  City  Health  De¬ 
partments.  It  is  pretty  generally  conceded  that 
under  present  conditions  the  price  of  milk  for  July 
should  not  be  less  than  $2.60  per  100  lbs.  and  there 
would  be  no  source  of  sudden  riches  in  it  to  pro¬ 
ducers  even  at  this  price.  Three  dollars  would  not 
be  too  much.  Philadelphia  is  paying  $2.85,  and 
Hartford  an  equivalent  of  $3.32.  New  York  the 
best  market  in  the  country  and  the  most  exaefng 
is  paying  less  than  any  other  Eastern  city  reported 
by  the  Federal  Department  of  Agriculture. 
The  Anti-daylight  Saving  Association 
AN  organization  was  formed  in  our  county  for 
the  purpose  of  having  standard  'time  restored, 
and  since  the  membership  applications  were  re¬ 
ceived  from  the  printer  two  weeks  ago,  we  have  en¬ 
rolled  over  2,000  members  in  Poughkeepsie,  and 
vicinity.  This  is  not  alone  a  farm  movement,  as 
each  mail  brings  letters  of  endorsement  from  mer¬ 
chants,  lawyers,  teachers,  clerks,  and  factory  work¬ 
ers.  A  majority  of  railroad  employes  in  our  section 
are  members,  showing  that  the  movement  is  popu¬ 
lar,  but  organization  of  all  advocates  of  standard 
time,  into  a  solid  unit  is  necessary  to  cope  with  a 
noisy  minority  of  faddists. 
Resolutions  of  endorsement  have  been  received 
from  Pomona  Grange,  Eastern  New  York  Holstein 
Breeders’  Association,  Apple  Growers,  Dutchess 
County  Farm  Bureau,  and  all  local  Granges  in  our 
county. 
At  our  meeting  held  on  June  .18.  resolutions  were 
adopted,  asking  the  moral  support  of  The  It.  N.-Y. 
in  making  this  a  State  organization,  and  request 
that  if  space  permits  you  will  outline  to  your 
readers  what  may  he  achieved  through  organiza¬ 
tion,  and  extend  a  cordial  invitation  to  all  citizens 
of  our  Empire  .State  to  join  with  us.  There  are  no 
dues  or  assessments  to  be  levied  on  members,  as 
the  Granges  and  other  interested  bodies  are  financ¬ 
ing  this  worthy  movement  to  give  to  each  individ¬ 
ual  equal  opportunity. 
Applications  and  any  information  desired  will 
be  forwarded  to  all  who  wish  to  join  with  us. 
THOMAS  j.  owens,  Secretary. 
John  m.  hand.  President. 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y..  R.  F.  D.  1. 
Dairymen’s  League  Annual  Meeting 
At  the  annual  meeting,  held  at.  Utica.  N.  Y.,  June 
21,  President  Slocum  stated  that  the  gross  sales  of 
the  Association  for  the  year  had  been  $82,130,902.17 — 
an  increase  of  more  than  $20,000,000  over  the  pre¬ 
ceding  year.  On  March  31  the  Association  was  op¬ 
erating  111  plants;  S3  were  under  New  York  Board 
of  Health  inspection,  either  shipping  or  getting  ready 
to  ship  milk  into  New  York  on  short  notice.  He  said 
that  since  March  5  of  this  year  over  11.000  retail  ac¬ 
counts  had  been  opened  in  New  York  City,  and  be¬ 
lieves  that  “the  League  must  become  a  larger  factor 
in  the  direet-to-consumer  business  before  it  will  have 
a  sufficiently  great  influence  on  the  metropolitan  market 
to  increase  the  farmers’  return.  This  is  the  big  prob¬ 
lem  which  faces  the  League,  and  should  be  solved  dur¬ 
ing  the  next  12  months.  I  am  now  speaking  to  all 
dairymen,  both  organized  and  unorganized.  Our  petty 
difficulties  should  be  cast  aside,  and  we  should  all  get 
together.” 
He  emphasized  the  need  of  educational  work.  “Co¬ 
operative  movements  start  and  end  with  the  individual. 
Our  members  must  be  active — not  alone  in  pooling  their 
milk,  but  in  the  management  and  direction  of  the  As¬ 
sociation’s  business.  It  is  each  individual  member’s 
responsibility.  Attend  your  local  meetings  and  direct 
through  your  representatives.  The  lane  is  open  clear 
on  up  to  the  Board  of  Directors.” 
Last  December  a  great  change  was  made  in  the  or¬ 
ganization  of  departments.  The  Executive  Committee 
is  now  the  board  of  governors,  under  the  direction  of 
the  Board  of  Directors.  The  executive  board  is  the 
highest  authority,  and  branching  out  from  it  are  10 
general  managers  of  departments,  viz. :  Production, 
Sales  and  Advertising,  Secretary’s  Department,  Bank¬ 
ing,  Accounting,  Engineering,  Traffic,  Legal,  Purchas¬ 
ing,  Office  Manager.  Endeavor  is  made  to  get  the  best 
man,  a  leader  in  his  field,  to  fill  these  positions.  Each 
man  is  held  responsible  for  the  operations  under  him, 
his  authority  coming  directly  from  the  Executive  Com¬ 
mittee. 
The  marketing  program  puts  first  in  importance  the 
expansion  and  development  of  the  fluid  milk  business. 
A  year  ago  there  were  only  400  cans  of  direct  fluid 
trade.  On  .Tune  13  of  this  year,  the  League  plants 
were  shipping  into  New  York  City  10.257  cans  of 
milk  and  110  cans  of  cream.  The  next  market  de¬ 
velopment  is  the  expansion  of  the  evaporated  milk 
trade.  The  Association  is  now  making  the  best  evap- 
Continued  on  Page  934) 
