Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1872-11-30

system are familiar to all that are az
quainted with the modes of assessing
aad collecting taxes, and settling the
accounts OF the collectors, and | need
not specify them. But there is one rea-
son that ought to have great weight in
this matter; it is this : III practice very
often lands are returned delinquent,
merely for the non-payment of State
and county taxes; parties interested soon
learn this fact, and permit their lands to
be returned delinquent, and afterwards
redeem them, and thus escape the pay
ment of the township taxes. Conse-
quently in counties where large bodies
of land are held by non-residents, either
few schools are opened. OF they are
maintained at heavy expense to the
residents who pay all these taxes. If
these levies were made by the county
court, they would be entered and eXten-
ded 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 therefore both in conso-
nance 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 to
be exercised 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
diversity of opinions. in the absence
of proper information upon which 10
found an intelligent opinion, | 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 appear that it
would impose unjust burdens on some
districts for the benefit of others.
You have already seen that school
takes can only be levied sin each coun-
ty or district by the authority of the
people thereof" The same provision
existed in the old Constitution, yet it
has practically been treated as a dad
letter 1t is true the present law re
quires a board of education to levythese
taxes ''with the assent of the voters OF
the township" but no provision ismaGe
by which to ascertain whether or not
voters do assent the levy. And l am
informed that recently the supreme
court of appeals has decided i'll case
that came before it, that when the as.
sent of the voters was wanting, the levy
was illegally made, and of course the
tax could not be collected. Unless,
therefore, some provision is made by
which "with the authority Of the peo-
pie" can be given the system of free
education will be greatly embarrassed,
if not wholly destroyed. But even after
ample means have been provided Tor
maintaining schools, little can be accom-
plished, unless the services of compe-
tent teachers are secured While there
are many faithful and intelligent teach
ers in the State, there are some to be
found, who ought to take their places
among the pupils, and be themselves
intructed before attempting to teach.
The part Of the law requiring teachers
to obtain certificates from the county
superintendent, has not proved a sutfl-
cicnt protection against incompetcncy.
County superintendent are not always
elected with a view to their scholarly
attainments, and their examinations
cannot, in consequence, always be
sure test of scholarship. This difficulty
can, perhaps, be met by providing for
the appointment of two persons in each
county, who together with the county
superintendent, should constitute IN
examining board.
With the view of Sehuring, efficiency,
and providing against negligence in the
management Of the public schools, |
recommend that the county court be
authorized to appoint, with the power
of removal at pleasure, ell the officers
that you may deem necessary for the
management Of the pubic schools in the
several counties.
Notwithstanding the difficulties con
nected with the establishment Of a sys-
TEN of public instruction, and the de
fects which it contains, yet it has accom-
plished much good which will be felt in
after years in the general enlightment OF
the people.
The regents of thenormal school have
failed to make a report, and it is there
fore out of my power to state the condl-
ton or wants of Marshall College, or OF
the branches of the normal school at
Fairmont and West Liberty.
DELINQUENT LANDS.
He saws lands are often retained de
linquent.upon which the taxes have been
paid and he recommends the question
of title under the forfeiture be relieved
of the intlicacies and confusion that now
cucumber the proceedings therein. lie
recommends that the County Clerk be
required to make up the land books, in
stead of the Assessor, who gets all his
information from the clerk and is liable
to make errors il copying, which result
seriously to the owners.
FINANCES.
The Treasurer reports remaining Ill
the treasury Oct. l, y, s1O,27l. but if
the money, arising from the sales OF de
linQuent lands be returned to the seve
raj counties for which they were assess
ed. under a resolution of the last Legis-
lature, there will be deficit in the pea
srlry of S929.79. He recommends the
t,,oI ,.o,r 20 bao,;n Anril instead of