The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-11-27

large bodies Of land are held BY nom
residents, either few schools are opened
or they are maintained ct heavy ex-
pense to the residents who pay all OF
these taxes. If these leyies were MADE
BY the county court they would oe
entered and extended on the same land
book, as the State and county taxes,
and lands would be returned delinquent
for all taxes alike. The Constitution
entrusts the county court with the
superintendent and management OF the
fiscal affairs of the county; it is there
fore both in consonance with its spirit
and good policy to confer upon the
county court the power to levy taxes
for the support of free. schools
Whether this power ought 10 be exer-
cised by imposing rates Uniform
throughout the county, or rates varying
in the several districts according to the
wealth and number of children in each,
is question about which there will be
q diversity of opinions. In the absence
of proper Information upon which to
found an intelligent opinion, l have no
recommendation to make on this point,
but merely suggest that the rule Of uni:
formity will be much simpler and
ought to prevail unless it should ap-
pear that it would impose unjust bur
dens on some districts for the benefit OF
others.
You have already seen that school
taxes can only be levied Gin each
county or district by the authority OF
the people thereof" The same pro-
vision existed in the old Constitution,
vet it has practically been treated as
dead letter. 1t is true the present law
requires board of education to levy
these taxes with the assent OF the vo-
tiers OF the township" but no provision
is made by which to ascertain whether
or not voters do assent to the levy. And
am informed that recently the sup
rene court of appeals has decided IN
case that came before il, that when The
assent of the volers WAS wanting, the
levy was illegally made, and OF course
the tax could not be collected. Unless,
therefore, some provision is made by
which 1.-The authority of the people can
be given, the system of free education
will be greatly embarrassed, if not Who'll
" DESTROYED. But even after ample
mean. have been provided for maintain
ing schools, little can be accomplished,
unless the services OF competent teach
ers are secured. While there are many
faithful and intelligent teachers In the
State, there are some to be found, who
ought to take their places among the
pupils, and be themselves instructed
before attempting to teach. That part
of the law requiring teachers to obtain
certificates from the county superintend.
ent has not proved sufficient protec-
ton against incompetency. County
superintendent are not always elected
with a view to their scholarly attain
ments, and their examinations cannot,
in consequence, always he sure test OF
scholarship. This difficulty can, per
haps, be met by providing for the ap-
poin,ment OF two persons in each coun'
", who, together with the county super.
intendent, shall constitute an examining
| board.
With the view of securing efficiency.
and providing against negligence in the
management of the public schools, ]
recommend that the county court be
auth orized to appoint, with the power
of removal at pleasure, all the officers
that you may deem necessary tor the
mana cement of the public schools in
the several counties.
Notwithstanding the difficulties con-
| nected with the establishment OF sys-
TEN Of public instruction, and the de-
fects which it contains, yet it has &C
complshed much good which will be
felt in alter years in the general en-
lightenment OF the people.
The regents o. the normal school
have failed to make report, and it is
therefore out of my power to state the
condition or wants OF Marshall College,
or Of the branches ofthe normal school
at Farmont and West Liberty.
DELINQUENT LANDS.
The assessment Of lands, the collec-
ton of taxes thereon, and their sale for
the non payment thereof, are in them
selves simple proceedings. The laws
upon this subject primarily have in view
but one object, to provide revenue.
| But questions Of title under the doctrine
Of forfeiture are so interviewer with
them thst they are now intricate and
confused, puzzle TO LAWYERS and mys
terry to the people generally. 1t is fthe
utmost importance to clear them Of all
iotricaces and obscurity, but 10 do this,
and at the same time preserve private
rights, which have vested from time to
time under series OF acts, will prove
no easy task. And yet there is neces
sitv for a revision of these laws, as the
present Constitution contains new and
important provisions on this subject
and the laws ought 10 be made to con-
form to them. On the other hand, all
those provisions which have been re-
pealed, or are imperative, or unueces.
sarv, ought not to be permitted to cum
Der our statutes and produce confusion.
The Constitution has settled the lead
ing principles, so far az title is concern
ed, except in the case OF forfeiture for
non payment OF taxes. 1t is, therefore
we'll worthy OF inquiry how far these
laws may be modified and stripped Of
all provisions not pertinent TO their fun
damentalid OF raising public revenue
While they cannot be entirely Invested
OF all matter not german 10 the collec.
ton OF the revenue, vet a nearer APP
proach can be made TO it than has here.
toiore been practicable. There are,
however, some interests to be looked TO
which have not heretofore received as
much consideration and attention as
they deserved. Great care has hereto
tore been used to declare and secure
| r..(.;,,.o, ~, ao,al 90 70 hoe ban, m,