The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-03-02
WHEELING, Feb. %, 1868.

T wHERL1No, Feb. %, 1868.
Editors Intelligencer: -s-- :. as :
GENTLMEN-It Is an old adage, "that
the world is governed too much"
Whether that Is the case or not, 1t Is a
truth that our Free School Law is
changed too much, either for the good of
the tax payers, the advancement ofthe
children, or the benefit of school off1-
GERS. It has been nothing but change,
alter, amend, with our School Law,
every session OF the Legislature, since
its Bdoption; sometimes changing for
the better, and more times for the worse,
No sooner does the school officer be.
como conversant with the law aud pre-
pared to successfully conduct the
schools, than the lawmakers, at their
first session thereafter, make an entire
change.
First, see acts of 1885,, We had three
Commissioners elected, who, together
with the Clerk of the Township, con-
stituted the Board of Education for the
Township, performing all the duties
required both for the schools aud school
property, the Board of Education ap-
pointing n collector OF the school tax,
and the Township Treasurer receiving
and disbursing the same at cost OF
six per cent.
But we mustIhave change; see acts
vi 4oOOs Au6 lS DuHOo Lno COlleC-
tor, and the County Treasurer the dis
bursting officer, at a cost of four per
cent. This change was for the better;
but the next Legislature would not
have 1t so, but changed the law back
again, even making it worse than it
was at first. See acts OF 1857. Dispensing
with the services of the Sheriff as coll
lectOr, and tho County Treasurer as the
disbursing officer, whose united COM
pensation was only four per cent, and
making the Township Treasurer the
collector and disbursing officer of the
school fund, at a cost of six per cent,
and counting three additional. officers
as trustees, in each district, assigning
to the Commissioners the very pleasant
duty of attending TO their neglected
business.
Now, we have the change proposed
by the Joint Special Committee, REIN
stating the Sheriff in his old position
which is gain; and substituting the
Supervisor, Clerk and Treasurer of the
Township for the School Commission
ers-which Is loss.
The School Commissioners hold their
Office for three years-one being elected
each year. There is always majority
holding over, conversant with the law
and business of the Board, which would
not be the case with the Supervisor,
Clerk and Treasurer, they being elected
yearly r0aI . Bull AEGdG6E ~
the officers substituted, is the fact that
the Clerk of the Township draws all
orders payable from the school fund
and the Treasurer would pass upon ali
orders drawn on himself. How much
better the Supervisor would perform
the additional gratuitous duties Inn
posed upon him, time alone can deter
mine.
We would suggest, however, while the
change Is being made, having an eye
to economy, that the services of the
Township Treasurer be dispensed with,
and the Sheriff be made the collector
and disburser of the school lund, and
that he be allowed commission of
three per cent for collecting and dis
bursting the same.
There is no advantage In having the
Township Treasurer. The disburslng
officer of the school fund, teacher, and
all others having claims against the
school fund, are willing to go from any
portion of county to the sherlff's
Office to be paid. ~
II 1t Is desirable TO reduce the num-
ber OF township officers, to dispense
with those who live without pay, how
much more desirable, at least to the
tax payers, II those who receive pay,
and whose service can be dispensed
with, could be added to the number.
j. s. w.