Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-06-20
DEAR SIR

DEAR SIR:
I am aware, and have been for some
time past, that, to s1me extent, the i'm
preston has prevailed that am in some
way responsible for the closing of the
Public Schools throughout the Safe;
That | have the funds in the Treasury,
rnd refuse to pay them over; or that |
have used them in some manner contrary
to law. In fact, | have the most positive
information that reports Of this kind
have beenputin circulation, by interested
parties, whether from political or mcr-
cenary motives | am not prepared to says
I'm view Of these facts, ! am, therefore.
constrained, in self-detense, to address
you.
: No one can regret more than do that
there are no funds in the State Treasury
to pay the orders Of the Safe Superln-
tendent Of Education. BY reference to
the Act Of the last General Assembly
YOU will observe that the General ApprO-
priation Bill for the fiscal year 1872, in
which was embraced the amount Of $500
600 for school purposes. did not become
a law until the day of adjournment,
March Is, 1872: prior to that date, no
law existed under which payments could
be made. The Superintendent Of Edu-
cation could not apportion the money nor
draw any orders, until he knew the
amount to be apportioncd. The "a C is
true Of tn approx rat on Tor the Pcnitcn-
tiary, Lunatic Asylum, State Orphan
Asylum, Deaf and Dumb Asylum, State
University, salaries Of officers, &c.
At the time OF the adjournment Of the
Legislature there were 10 funds remain
ing in the Treasury, as the whole amount
of taxes received to that time had been
exhausted in paying the various appro-
priatons of the Legislature while in >cs-
sion, and amounts due on appropriations
for the previous year.
Since the adjournment Of the Legl>la-
ture, the amount Of currency received
into the State Treasury would scarcely
suffice to pay the apportionment Of the
smallest County in the State.
The fact that appropriations are made:
does not put the money so appropriated
into the Treasury it simply directs how
much. and for what purposes, money
may be paid.
1t is rot owing alone to the large OK
penditureS in the past that the present
embarrassed condition Of the Treasury
exists. but to the fact that, during the
last four years, not more than two-thirdS
of the taxes ieyica have been e0nSctod :;
while the rate of taxation has annually
been inadequate TO meet the expenses Of
the Government
Should the collection of the past due
taxes, during the present summer, aggrc-
gate any considerable amount, [ shall
endeavor while every branch of the
Government have equal demands on
money collected, to pay over to the
school fund fair proportion Of the same.
For the first time in four years the
Legislature has hyied specific tax for
>chooi purposes, thus creating a fund to
meet the appropriation, and one that
cannot be diverted to any other purpose.
This is as it should be- Had it been
done in the past, tie educational inter,
ests Of the State would now be on a firm
and substantial basis, with means ample
for all purposes.
I trust that you can make some ar
rangement by which the schvols may be
kept open until vacation, and re.opened
thereafter, assuring you that all claims
shall be promptly met as soon as the
taxes are collected in the fall.
Very respectfully,
NILES G.. PARKER,
C..4n T-onrnrar