The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1870-10-12
The School Fund-The Truth.

10 The Peoples Press, published at Salem,
copies an article which appeared in the
Standard several days ago, calling upon the
Sherifs to hurry up and settle with the
State Treasurer, and cndeavors to create the
falss impression that money collected for
THE public schools was squandered by the
Legislature. -aa trdl q
Here is what we said:
"If the Sheriffs do not settle faster with
the State Treasurer there will not be money
enough in the Treasury to run the State
government. A large portion of the public
taz will be required to replace the Special
Tax Fund, which was used under an act of
the Legislature. The largest portion of the
tax is forthe support of the public schools"
The editor of the Press, to say the least,
is ignorant, conforming the whole matter.
The Snaeial, ! Tar Fund Was not collected for
the support of the public schools, but was
collected under the various acts of the Leg
islature, making appropriations in bonds to
different railroads, and special tar was
levied in each act to pay; the interest on the
bonds so appropriated. The Legislature,
by resolution, ordered the State Treasurer
TO stop paying interest on the special tao
bonds, and afterwards passed an act author
qizing the State Treasurer to use the Special
Tax Fund which he had on hand, for the
purpose of running the State government;
and provided in the same act, that whatev-
er amount was used by the Treasurer should
be replaced out of the public TAG which the
Sherifs are now paying in.
IN The Constitution provides that all mon
ey collected for special purposes shall be
used only for the purposes for which the
money is collected. The money collected
for the support of the public schools was
not touched by the, Legislature. The Spe-
cial Tax Fund was used because the Legis-
iature did not want to levy tax at that
/, time, to run the State government; and it
was ordered to be replaced because there is
moD suit before the Supreme Court involv-
ing the validity of the Special tax bonds
If the Court besides that the bonds are Con-
stitutlonal, the interest will have to be paid
therefore, it was necessary that that portion
of the Special Tax Fund used by the State
Treasurer should be replaced as fast as the
Sherihs settle. 1~ TT ~ .;n
b, If the Press will notice the details of the
settlements of the different Sheriffs with the
State Treasurer, it will be observed that SO
much is paid in under the head of public tax /;
so much under the head of Penitentiary; so
much under the head of public schools; so
much under the head of turnpike; add SO
much, under the, head Of polls. It will be
borne in mind that the amount paid in un-
der the head Of public taz, is the tax to be
applied to running the State government. :
The other tax is all for special purposes and
cannot be touched. Therefore, we said that
unless the Sheriffs settle faster there would
be no money in the Treasury to run the
State government. Not because the money
had been squandered, but because the pub
lie TAG is, taken up as fast paid in to replace
the special tax fund. After replacing the
amount ul, used, if there is any surplus left, it
will be applied to running the State gov
eminent. The State tax is very light, and
in consequences Of replacing the special tax
fund the Legislature at Its meeting next
month, may be compelled to levy tax 10
run the State government. " , l.'--'!-b.
These are the facts. Will the Press and
other Democratic papers, make the neces-
sary correction. "a 2 'l'9 s'!-3iy'