Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-06-13
orr1cE srArE TnzAsuRER.

COLUMBIA, s. e., June :, 1877. }
Dear ir:-I am aware, and have been
for some time past, that, to some extent,
the impression has prevailed that l ans
in some way responsible for the closing
of the public schools throughout the
State; that have the funds in the Treasu
ry, and refuse to pay them over; or that
l have used them In some manner COIL
trary to law. In fact, I have the most
positive information that reports of this
kind haYe been put in circulation by in.
terested parties, whether from politica.
or mercenary motives, l am not prepared.
to say. In view of these facts, l am,
therefore, constrained, in self-detence, to
address you.
No one can regret more than do thai
there are no funds in the State Treasury
to pay the orders of the State Superin.
tendent oil Education. By reference "
the Act of the last General Assembly
YOU will observe that the General Ap-
preparation Bill for the fiscal year 1877,
in which was embraced the amount Vi
$500, 900 for school purposes, did not be
come law until the day of adjournment,
arch l3, 1872; prior to that date, no law
existed under which payments could he
made. The Superintendent of Educa-
ton could not apportion the money noI
draw any orders, until he knew The
amount to be apportioned. The same j.
true of the appropriation for the Peni-
Leuliary, Lunatic Asylum, State ORPHAN:
Asylum, Deai ana Dumb Asylum, State
University, salaries oi officers, &c.
At the lInne OF the adjournment OF the
Legislature there were 10 iGliuS rclii;ill-
.nS Iii the Treasury, MS tile Whole anuilll'
oI taxes received 10 that time had DCei.
exhausted III paying the various appro-
priatioils Of the Legislature While III
scssiun, and amounts Cue On appiOprIa-
ions vi the previous year.
Since the adjournment OF the LeSisla-
turc, Tile aUluunt oI currency reccI> oti
into the at;.:o Treasury would scarcely
suffice u pay the apporliunneht oil th"
SMALLEST county Ill tile Statc.
Tie fact thai appropriations are maue
docs not puI the money So appropriated
into tne Treasury; itsinply directs low
muc.l, ANA lur what purposes, money
may Dc paid.
1t is not owing alone to the large cS-
penditures i'll the past that the present
embarrassed condition vi the frc:lSury
exists, but to the Tact, that during Tie
last four years, not more tnai two-tnlrus
of the taxes levied nave been collected ;
while the rate vi taxation las annually
boun inadequate to nect the expense oi
the Government.
Should ilie collection OF the past due
taxes, during the present SUMMER, az
gregate any considerable amount, shall
endeavor lwhile every branch ,Df the
Government have equal demands on the
money collected,) u pay over " the
school fund a fair proportion Of the same.
For the rirst time i'll four years the
Legislature has levied Il specinc tax for
scnool purposes, thus creating fund to
meet the appropriation, and one that can
not be diverted to ahy other purpose.
This is as it should be. Had it been
done in the past, the educational inter-
ests OF the State would now be OH tirni
and substantial basis, with means ample
.or. all purposes.
thrust that you can make some arrange
ments. by which the schools may be
Kept open until vacation, and re-oprneu
thereafter, assuring you that all claims
shall he promptly met as soon as the
taxes are collected in the fall.
Very respectfully,
(Signed) NILES q. PARKER,
State Treasurer.