The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1872-03-28
50 90 PER YEAR

legal status Of this functionAry still
more dubious, IL Is provided that he
or she shall be employed" This
implies that this deputy Is to be
hired and not appointed; because were the
place filed by appointment he would be
subject 10 the law and the Constitution In
respect TO eligibility and duty. But being
hireling. he becomes an abject tool, re
sponsibIe TO no authority except the win
and caprice OF his master. And yet, being
n deputy, or assistant superintendent, he
will also be entitled, for the benefit of his
master, to ten cents a mile for travelling,
and yet be entitled to free pass on all the
roads.
And now. with hired deputy at 81 800 q
year, and ten cents a mile, the State Super
intendent, IL Is proposed, 'shall visit each
county i'm the State at least once In each
year, for inspection of schools and consult-'
alton with the school officers and teachers,
and may deliver addresses on educational
interests" &c, and attend teachers insti-
tutes (seetion l6). Again: Teachers in
stitutes may be held In each county in the
State, for which purpose 5000 Is hereby
appropriated from the common school fund
of the State, to be applied 10 the payment of
the expenses, under the direction OF the
State Superintendent" &c. And yet all this
is only the preparation OF money and NUM-
tions for the real purposes OF series OF
campaigns into all the cities, and towns and
villages and rural neighborhoods OF the
whole State.
But now turn from machinery, powers,
plans and functionaries which the bill pro-
I 10 10 - cha Ia
signs which all these have In view. These
designs are partly explained in the first five
sections OF the bill. These five sections pro-
pose to turn over the whole system Of
schools and all "the school officers" "school
lands" "lsnded interests" "school funds
| proceeds" claims and assets, OF every
| kind, not merely TO the supervision or SUI
perintendence, but to the unqualified pos
session of the Hon. State Superintendent.
1t proposes not only TO do all this, but TO do
it without requiring that officer 70 give any
new bond or any new security for any OF
these new duties and new responsibilities.
But more. To get these immense values
completely into his hands, this Bill author
ICES the State Superintendent 'to cause an
investigation to be had" IL is not proposed
that he shall make any investigation; AL
though 1t must be conceded that, with his
hired deputy and his 2.l0O new and vagrant
functionaries scattered all over the State,
and with new appropriations so numerous
and so large, and ''all the school officers OF
the State" at his command, he ought 10 be
expected to accomplish this investigation
without any further aid or any further cx-
pense. But not so. The Bill authorized him
to command the services of all the district
attorneys OF the State at his pleasure, what
ever may be their other duties or engage
ments at the time. These, as well as all the
school officers are required to investigate
every matter that the State Superintendent
shall order, "and report 10 him THEREON
dition."
But worse stir. The State Superintend-
ent is authorized to employ all such addi-
tional Counsel as he may deem requisite, -
and himself TO make allowance to them OF
such fees as he may choose, whose bills are
to be paid on his certificate; and all this he
is to do without consulting the State Board,
the Governor, the Legislature, or anybody
else.
Thus IL will be seen that the State Super
intendent proposes to make his personal and
official power, his dominion over all the
funds, taxes, lands and assets Of the schools,
and his access to the treasury vaults, abso-
lutte and unlimited.
And thus the author Of this Bill pro.
poses to put BIT into the mouths OF the peo-
pie at the ballot-box; and into the mouths
of the Superintendent whom they shall
elect; and into the mouths Of the 100 vag-
abonds whom these shall appoint; and that
then the reins and whip shall be placed IN
the hands of the Hon. State Superintend-
ent, and that thus he and his hired deputy
shall ride and "drive" whithersoever he will
at the rates of ten cents mile, and with
rec passes.
The values thus to be placed at his mercy
are OF vast and indefinite extent. The land'
alone constitute n mine OF fabulous wealth
a comprehensive reference 10 them IL found
in 9Th section of the Sth article Of the STATE
Constitution. These are constantly increas-
ing, both In area and value. The original
capital OF the school funds have been squan-
dered, it Is true; but the annual interest Il
promptly paid with each revolving year
But more than this, under the generous
provisions OF our new constitution, there Il
perpetual stream pouring into these funds
from privilege and poll taxes, from fines
and forfeitures, which makes IL a field oil
perennial harvesJs, with new crops under
growing the old, always as fresh and green
as the eternal venture of Mississippi.
The defaulting Chieftains Of the older
time, grew rich. one after another, merely
by handling the interest on Il; and yet the
Fund remains richer than the tabled treas
ures of Aladdin!
How many county superintendents there
are who violate the constitution and break
their oaths Of fealty to that instrument by
holding that executive Office. and at the
same time occupy seats In the present Legis-
lature, have not the means at the present
moment TO state but ] know there some
How many others there are who have re-
signed the Office OF county superintendent
In one county TO come here as representa-.
1 tives from another, know not but / know
there are some. How many members Their,
are here who are now or have very recently
been, agents for the sale OF the school books
apparatus, and stationary, prescribed by
the State Superintendent 70 be bought by
the people OF all the counties for the use oil
the $4,000 educable persons in the State,
know not. But know that there are some
Of these, too. And / know that some o.
these gentlemen are on the committe,
of the House to whom this Bill was referred
and that one OF them is the introducer OF thiI
Bill and chairman OF that committee
call special attention to these facts. And
call most special attention 70 ''the pecasIia
situation" of all these gentlemen.
Further than all this, the Bin proposes 3,
perpetuate all the abuses OF the past
, Schools have been dfscriminated a0aina