The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-14
THE FREE SCHOOLS.
Extract from the Eighth Annual
Report Of the General Superinten.
dent OF Free schools.


SETTLEMENTS WITH SCHOOL OFFICERS AND
OTHERS.
In pursuance of an act Of the Legis-
lature. passed February q, 1871, pro-
viding tor settlement of the accout ts
of certain officers and persons tor school
moneys in their hands, or under their
control, two commissioners have been
appointed in each county in the State
except those named below, who togeth-
er with the several County Superlntend.
ents constitute, under the provisions OF
said act, a committee in their respective
counties, to examine into and settle the
accounts, ard examine the vouchers,
records and papers, Of any board or
boards OF education, township treas
urers, independent school district treas
urers, or any other officer or person
who, before or after the passage OF said
act, NAV have had in their possession,
or under their control, any moneys
belonging to any township or independ-
eut school district, at any time since the
organic alton OF this State. This act
directed that such committees might be
organized in any one or more counties
OF the State, as the General Superln-
tendent might deem proper. They have
been organized in all except the coun-
ties OF Brooke, Hancock, Monongaiia,
Summers and Tyler. In the counties
last named, so far as this department
is advised, no necessity existed Tor the
organization OF such a committee. If
deemed necessary, however, this will
yet be done. The proprIety and wisdom
OF this Legislative enactment are ex-
emplifed by the importance OF its prac-
teal results. While the pay was
uncomfortable, it will be seen that these
committees are composed OF gentlemen
OF a high order in point OF integrity,
intelligence and business capacity.
They were impelled by the importance
Of the interest involved alone, to give so
much OF their time and labor to these
Investigations. They deserve the thanks
of the friends OF education throughout
the State.
A suspicion existed, and occasionally
it had been openly charged, that the
money collected from-the people by the
State, townships aud independent school
districts, for the purposes OF education,
had not been faithfully applied to the
purposes fer which it was levied.
Whether true or otherwise, the investi-
CATION proposed and provided for BY
this law, was necessary and proper. l.
untrue, an investigation would illustrate
the fact and vindicate the officers in
question, disabuse the public mind and
suppress all false clamor. II it were
true, however, that the school money
of our people had been misappIed,
wasted, or in any manner, or Tor any
cause, withheld from the school author
tiles and not applied to the sacred pur-
poses for which it was collected, these
Investigations would develop the facts
and enforce restitution. ANY people
are 10th to pay taxes for any purpose
while impressed with a suspicion that
the money when paid would be mis-.
applied, wasted or squandered, whether
that suspicion be well or Ill founded.
The law required that the several
committees should make reports o. their
proceedings and file them in the clerk 5
offices Of the Circuit Court Of their re
spective counties. 1t was requested,
however. that this department might
b. furnished with an abstract Of their
proceedings so lar as they had pro.
crossed, that proper mention might be
made thereof in this report. Such
abstracts have been received from
tweuty-one counties. In few counties
the committees have comp eted the
duties assigned them-in others they
have examined the accounts Of the
officers oil some OF the townships only,
aud in o'her counties no results have
vet been arrived at.
REHABILITATION OF ARREARAGES By
COUNTIES AND PARTS OF COUNTIES, As