The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-09-26


s27.
. They should. in anticipation Of the dstribu-
,;on TO be made on the frs, day of March, by pru-
dsr, foresight ms general conseryators Of the pecunia
~ interests of the town, guard, far as possb'e'
ngains, the leinq uences Of any agent from whom
funds are to be expected. This is important The
6sca, year so FAR as it relates 10 the common school
fund ends with the last day of February, the money,
therefore, which is not then paid into the treasury
cnnno, be distributed, because tho distribution must
DO on the frs, day Of March and the Select Men GER
iainly cannot divide monies over which they nave no
control This provision is not a useless or ld'e one,
but absolutely necessary in order that the income OIL
each wear be kept separate and distinct and the select
Men may know how much 10 raise by the annual TAX
ills also necessary in order to decide how Tar the for
future shall extend which delinquent districts may
have incurred. IT, for instance, District, No !.
have forfeited its share OF the fund for the year Low
much mus, il be, The amount in the Tfeasur on
the first day Of March. the amount which should
hare Teen there This question is answered by the
answer 10 another one,-"Nlut can the Select Men
distribute 10 the several Districts the first day OF
March!" The only answer is, "what they lind IN
the Treasury" What may be due, but not paid in,
may now lie paid in, ia therefore, physically I'M
possible to distribute il If the Select Men presume
to give TO the other districts the full share Of the de-
linauent one in the entire fund, ms they would do If
was actually in the Treasury it would be paIpa-
bic misapplico,ion, provided for by law and they
would he liable such district for double the amount
70 misapplied by way Of penalty. lis, 81. The
right of No. / TO the possession of its share of the
fund not paid in by the first Of March would doubtless
bc part found and perhaps the right of action also un
Ill after the next disributon Ifsome part of the fund
was not paid in ill the first of April ard therefore
could not be distributed, it must remain in the Treas
ury until the year, when the right of No !. will
be as good that Of any district
8 As the whole Of the public money found in the
Treasury on the first day of March is to be divided
by the Select Men among the several districts, with
the exception of such as may have filled to comply
with the condition aud they are liable TO the town
and the several districts for any nisaPpcaon of such
money! so they certainly have the power and their in.
tercs requires them exercise it, TO institute strict
inquiry into the manner in which the several districts
have performed their respectve'duties; nor can they
be justified in dividing portion of the fund to any
district, which neglecs to furnish plenary proof that
they have complied with the condition of the law. -
And any brief rule, previously promulgated, some
thing like the following, would be sufficient.
The prudential committees of the several school
districts receive any share of the public money
for the support of schools unless they furnish the Sc
lect Men, previous 10 The first Of March annually, n
detailed statement in writing Of all the expenses OF
their respective schools for the year ending on that
day, su ashamed by the oath Of the committee, of
some other competent and credible witness
A. ThetpJlicy Of the law is very prominent in the
provision lhnt every district shall sustain n school
. therein two months in each year with funds other
than those drawn from the town treasury. In gen.
eral, this is the tanamount TO a requirement that they
shall annually axthemsclves for the required amount
for very few districts have any other resource. This
is wise provision it will certainly create and sus'
tain an interest in the subject which hardly be
expected from any other. But the law requiring
an annual tax for the support Of schools is somewhat
intricate and has often been altered, it is not
strange that have occurred in carrying it into
effect The following brief summary Of the law Of
the last session of tho General Assembly may be use
ful. The Select Men shall annually, previous to the
first day Of January n tax of nine cents the
dollar of the grand list, payable previous TO the frs
of March succeeding, provided, that from the amour
thereof shall be deducted the income appropriated il
such for the Of schools and some hal
the income arising from the United States depost
money" and provided that other tax TO that amour
shall have been assessed by the town at annua
meeting, other meeting warned for that purpose
All that is necessary TO keep within these regula
tons is to take the income from school lands and 9th
sources, add thereto one half the annual interest
the deposite money and take their sum from the n