The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-03-17
LOCAL MATTERS.

F.
OUR FREE SCHOOLS ENDANGERED
INSUFFICIENCY OF THE REVENUE
STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS BY Mr.
RUFFNER.-T superintendent of public
instruction has submitted the following facts
to the Senate in response to a resolution
from that body: 1T gIlEgTTg.3s
In reply, beg leave to say that the fl
nancial condition of the public school sys.
tenn is not satisfactory from it. The
alarm sounded in my last annual report
concerning the serious diminution in the
proceeds Of the state school tax Of 1871 as
compared with that of 1870, must be re-
peated with increased emphasis concerning
the tax of 1872. The tax Of 1870 yielded
S435, 1872 I; the tax of 1871 yielded $685..
42s-an ominous falling off. But the tax
of 1872, from which the schools are now
supported, up to this day, including
balances received into the treasury on ac-
count of taxes of former years, has yielded
only $ls4 ,672-a falling off Of $3.50, 75d
from that Of last year, and Of $3.50, $40 as
compared with the year previous. More
over, there was for use during the last
school year an unexpended balance from
the previous year Of $4,000, and up.
wards of $3l 900 from the literary fund
which, added to the $315, AS, gave the
schools 1886, 42S Of state money against
$lS4,6 for the current year. Practically
the diminution is greater than these figures
indicate because more of the funds per
tanning to this year had to be used in dis
charge Of unpaid liabilities from last year,
in consequence. of the fact that the aggre.
gate of unexpended balance in the districts
returned to the state treasury was much
smaller than it was the previous year
fact not sufficient to pay those liabilities,
according to the best information have,
This falling off in the state revenue is all
the more disastrous to the school interest
on account of the severe restrictions placed
upon counties and districts in regard te
raising supplementary funds. In conse.
,quence of the act passed year ago, there
has been curtailment of at least $780,
900 in the local revenues for the current
year. T. - =. = ~ -
Altogether, as matters now stand, W,
have before us the frightfnI deficit in oul
total school revenues of $400, 756 as com
pared with last year-7a difference of more
than one-hal Of the total amount received
from public funds. s. 5'..4.. ,.s,.s
1t is Of course seen at glance that tn,
result must be corresponding curtailmen
of the means of education among the peo'
pie, unless something be done Immediately
to avert the dire calamity. Besides the &C
tual loss of educational privileges, Their
must occur poignant sense of disappoint
ment to parents and the friends of educa
ton generally, and a shock to the publ
sentiment of the state, which is who'll.
unprepared for this sudden collapse of on
school system.
AT the beginning Of the present schoo
year September ~ it became the duty 9
school officers to provide as many school
for the people as, upon reasonable calcula
ton, could be supported. They had RICH
to expect from the state not less than wa
received last year; indeed, they might rea
sonably have anticipated some increase Q
revenue in consequence of the large amour
of delinquent or deferred taxes from tn
previous years. They were abundantly eau
TONED, however, to avoid running unnecessa
~ risk, and / have no reason to believe tina
they have been imprudent in this regard
Still, believe that, except in the cite
4
Liberty Of local taxation, the entire incom
from all sources has been expended, an
that the schools in large majority OF th
counties are now, and have been 70
weeks, carried on in anticipation of fund
vet to be received. Two months ago
made second appor.ionment, which, tt
gether with the first, distributed almos
| the exact amount which is herein reporte
as the total income from the state.s TIL
was done partly in expectation of wifi
has occurred, viz: that before all the draf
would reach the treasury, sufficient funt
would be on hand to meet them. 80
/ l have hitherto withheld from the scho6
officers the information herein contained
earnestly hoping that by some means II
schools might be kept in operation. Ella
the bill ordering the payment Of 800, 0(
interest on the literary fund been passes
the schools might have beenallowed to col
tinue until there were further development
with regard to the proceeds from the sta
tax. It's painfully evident that immedia
faction of some sort is necessary 10 order
: avert catastrophe to our educational j
terest. With regard to the taxes yet
come in, it is highly important that son
action should be taken which will insure u
payment in money-not coupons-of tt
portion Sc. apart by the constitution f
the support Of the public free school sy
tenn. On this point relief might be affor,
ed by authorizing the auditor immediate
to place to the credit Of the school ful
such amount as in his opinion would .
cord with the share of the taxes yet
come in for school purposes.
In. conclusion, would take the hber
of saying that the only possible meth
for avoiding perturbations like this in I
. future, is to allow larger liberty to cou
, ties and districts in providing themselv
] with the means Of education for their o'
children. +"
Respectfully submitted, g e
d w. II. RUFFNER,
L Superintendent Public Instruction,
BODY FOUND. The body Of Thon
Z Hinton, who was drowned in the Jan
q river, near the free bridge, on the 18th
i February, was found yesterday afternot
: between two and three o'clock, covered