Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-03-27
For the Bsrlinstou Hawk Eve.
UT WIG ""3'r"stoH IH"k"Eyt. = n"
Mr. Denton's lncompetency and Ir,fasths,,

hr Bentons inconlpetency and Unfai thfnlness
! We have often expressed a disapprovaI of that
| part Of our School Law which commits the care of
the funds to the Superintendent. That officer should
be required to devote his whole attention to the i'm.
mediate interests Of Edueation-the schools. But
as the law now is. il is evident that business capa-
city is the first qualification to be looked for i'm
candidate for the Office. This qualification Mr. b.
does not possess. This is proverbal among those
who have been called to transact business with
him. He lacks precision and clearness. He is de-
tctent in order. application and thoroughness. He
is easily bewildered in accounts. He has publish
ed aprofusion of reports, circulars, instructions
&c, embracing $50 or more large pages, for which
the State Printer has been chiefly thankful. They
have given blu, little light and satisfaction TO the
people. an.
Mr. b. has shown his.self equally Incompetent in
discharging the educational duties Of his Office
His lectures tame and heay y--that is, by report
For We have never heard him, except in an cleo
pioneering campaign. Unfortunately he is without
home--a solitaire, and cannot be expected to SYM
pathize either with the parents or the children OF
lowe. =s -.s.x
Mr. D. has neglected the business of his Office
He has devoted himself to other objects He has
allowed the principal Of the school fund which the
Constitution makes ga perpetual fund'' to be ex-
pended to the amount. probably, Of ten thous and
dollars. We say probab'y for Mr. d. does not con-
descend to state the amount. We gather the esti-
mate from what was allowed for the same object in
1919, viz: s6,3is 81. 1t is for the % months pre-
vious. The Iowa Republican puts IT at s1i, 5000
See Mr. BIS last report, p. 81.
The Superintendent is authorized BIZ law. ssto ex-
anime the hooks and accounts ofthc Fund Commits !
sioners, and make such adjustment of the funds !
under their control as may be necessary TO carry
into effect any Of the provisions of the General AS
sembly.'' But Notwithstanding these plenary pow
ers, Mr. B. acknowledges that sahe manner Of con-
Quoting the business in a majority Of the Offices he
has visited is by no means satisfactory, but as |
much so ~ perhaps as the circumstances would |
warrant,'' and gives it his Impression that $I0
900 Of the school fund is not accounted for, and |
adds, amor is there any reliable information in this
collected, and the objects to which i, has been ap-
Piled, can be ascertained," PIP. so. 81.
The people therefore will be obliged to write Te- |
Rel upon the fortunes of Mr. Benton. He has been |
weighed in the balances and is found wanting We |
do not oppose him political grounds. This |
question has nothing to do with party politics. We
want competent man, faithful man to watch over !
the interests OF Education among US, to have the |
superintendent Of our funds and of the nstruc-
ton of our youth. Because Mr. u. has Proved not |
to be such man, we oppose his election Ifthese
things can be cleared up. hope they will be.
A FRIEND OF EDUCATION.