Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-07-18

An act to increase and ertend the Jene-
fits Of Common Schools.
[ APPRovED JAsUARY II, l543.

paid for the purpose Of increasing the common
school fund, to be appropriated exclusively for
the support oil common schools: fir-t. on the
list Of property taxhbIc for State purposes, there
shalt be levied and paid the of ten cents on
zach and every one hundred dollars. Second,
There shall be paid by every person Liable TO pay
poll tax Tor state purposes, twenty hive cuts
annually; Proridcd, That all the taxes r~qair-
ed or authorised by this act IN any provision
thereof. shall be assessed only upon tree white
persons, and upon the property OF snch persons
only.
Third, a tax of three dollars each one hun
drrd dollars shall be assessed Oh the amount OF
all premiums received IN this State or insurance
on property or lives, within the same BY the u
gents Of insurance Companies not chartered
therein. And in order that sand ASSESSING ut may
be made, it shall be the duty of every agent Of
said company To render to the assessor OF nis
county or township true list, yafifird by oath
or affirmation, OF all such premiums received by
him within the year preceding the time fixed for
assessing personal property aud such ag~n, shall
be personally liable for the payment Of the IA
foresald tax, which shalt he collected "a other
taxes. But II any such agent shall, when e
qnired. refuse to render schedule Of the pre-
Iniurns received by him az such agent, be shalt
be liable 10 pay the sum of one hundred dollars,
10 he recovered by action Of debt III the name OF
the county auditor, for the use Of common
schools.
SEC. =. The several taxes herein before mon
toned, with the exception of the tax upon pre-
niuins of Insurance) shall, together with the
surplus revenue iund, the saline and bank tax
fund. be hereby set apart for the support Of
schools, within the respective counties OF the
State, and shall be denoInina,ed the county COM
~ school fund.
SEC. ) The tax upon premiums Of insurance
specified in the first section of this act, shall
bo paid over by the several county treasurrrs To
the state treasurer, distinguishing the same
from other taxes, and the sand State treasurer
shall apportion the same among the several coun
ties of the state, according 10 the number Of
polls therein, and pay over to the several county
treasurers, their respective proportions of the
said fund, which shall be added 10, and become
part of the county common school fund
SEC 4. II shall be the duty Of each ana ev-
cry school commissioner, at the term OF the board
doing county business next after the passage of
this act, to make final settlement Of his accounts
with the county auditor, (Which said settlement
shall be entered upon the record Of said board,
and to pay over to the treasurer of the county
all moneys remaining in his hands such com
missioner, and TO deliver to the county auditor
all the books. papers, and securities for money
loaned, apPertaining to his said office; and the
Office of the sand commissioner shall th"reupoH
be abolished, and thereafter all moneys whether
principal or interest, which by any existing laws
required to be paid to the school commissions
er, shall be paid to the county treasurer, and all
payments required by any existing law to bs
made by the county treasurer; and all other du-
ties and sci viccs which required to be per
formed by the school commissioner by any ex-
isting law, shall be performed by the county aud
itor; and tho said treasurer shall issue his receipt
for all moneys paid to him by the school COM
missioner, which receipt shall be flied with tho
county auditor who shall charge the said trcasur-
or Herewith.
SEC. For their compensation for the dis
charge of the said several duties prescribed By
the foregoing section, or which may be imposed
by this act, the sand county auditor shall be al
lowed upon the amount of the congressional
tow nship and school district funds aud other
schooi funds on loan III his county, at the time
he makes his annual settlement with the board
doing county business, and on which interest
eball have been paid for the current year, and
upon the amount raised by taxation III aid there
OF. one-half Of one per cent, which said com
pensaten shall be III full for such services to be
performed by said auditor; and the SAID county
treasurer shall be allowed upon the said sums
one half of one per cent, which allowance shall
be in full Of all services IN collecting * csbnr-ibg
the said common school fand.
SEC. . Whenever the words county auditor
are used III this act, they shall be understood
and construed to mean the county auditor or
the clerk of the circuit court DONG the business
Of the county auditor.
SEc. 7. The treasurer Of the several counties,
shall annually on the I'd Monday in March, make
distribution of the several funds applicable to
school purposes, (upon the proper warrant Of the
county auditor,) to the several townships of the
county, which payment shall be made TO the
treasurer Of each township; and in making the
said distribution. the auditor shall ascertain the
amount of the congressional township fund be-
longing to each township in the county, and
shall so upportion the amount raised by taxation.
the surplus revenue. saline aud bank tax funds.
as 10 equalize the amount OF available funds in
each township as near NAV be, according to
the number of scholars therein; jT0Uided, That
nothing herein contained shall he construed,
rs TO divert the fund commonly called the con-
grcssonaI township fund. or any part thereof.
from the objects aud purposes for which ii was
granted by Congress
SEC. :. There shall be taught in each town
ship of this State. by legally qualified TEACHERS,
for at least three months III each year, as many
free schools may be required for all attending
scholars in such township, and It shall to mace
the duty Of the 10 nsiiip trustees so 10 arrange
the schools of their respective townships. that
the schools in each district may be taught
equal length OF time, without regard to the d.
versity in the number of scholars Attending the
respective schools.
SEc. .. The business of each district shall he
transacted bv one district trustee. who sh all be
elected annually by the legally qualified voters
OF the district. on the first Saturday of Sep
tcinb. r. at which time also the general meetings
Of the voters OF each district shall hereafter be
hel and the said trustee shall continue in Office
until his successor is elected and qualified.
SEC 10. II shall be the duty Of the district
trustee to preside over all meetings of the voters
of the district. 10 keep record of their proceed
Inrs. and report the same to the clerk of the /.
board or township trustees, where such reports
may be necessary. TO do and perform all such
acts, matters anu things, as may be required OF
him. by the board of township trustees; he shall +
make all contracts. purchases and sales ncces- f
sary to carry out any vote of the district. for
the procuring. Of any site for school house.
building. hiring repairing or furnish ng the same.
Or disposipg thereof. for the keeping OF any
school therein, and all payments shall be made /
by the treasurer Of the township trustees upon {
The certificate of district trustees to the per-
Iornancc of the service or labor. or the convey
auce of the property contracted for, and whe n /
ever from any cause the said district trustee shall
Not he present at any meeting Of the voters of
the district. the meeting shall appoint chairman.
who shall for the time being discharge the duties
Of such trustee.
SEC. IL. The district trustee shalt act as the I
organ of communication between his district
and the board Of township trustees, and shall .
make TO them from time TO time such surrrs-
lions as NAV advance the educational interests
ri the district. aud shall, before the 18th
day of September annually, certify TO the board
of township trustees. the number of scholars in
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