The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1874-01-01

To ose EdsT 81 The 7fass:
Some weeks since l suggested to Mr.. o.
liver DiefendorH, some proposed chaiices in
the School Law, which thought should re.
ceive the attention of the Legislature, Thee
propositions were published, but in ouch 4
mutilated shape as to be hardly Ineligible.
All do not understand them, and it has
been suggested that some explanation should
he given.
1st. The the of holding the Annual DIE
trict School Meeting should be changed from
the last Thursday in March to the laes
Thursday in August, in order that the work
OF the year may be closed up, and the last Of
fetal report made before the officers settle
with the District and the new Board takes
possession of the books of the District. The
law re quires the District Clerk to report to
the County Clerk, the taxable property of
the District and the tax levy for school pur-
poses, by the 18th of August, Also to make
full and complete report Of all the 6nan-
cial business and school work for
the year then ending to the
County Superintendent by the 18th day
of September. To do this, he must if elected
in March, as the law now stands, report
over the last half of his predecessors term,
and the records, If he finds any, are 30 in.
complete and uninteliigible, that he is COM
PEELED TO leave many OF the items of his re-
port blank, or fill them with figures that will
not balance, when they are combined in the
report OF this Office TO the State Superintend.
ebr.
This report to the Couaty Superintendent
should be due on the 18Th day Of August in
stead of September, thus making both re-
ports to County Officers of one date and one
visit, or mailing to the County Seat. By
this change in time Of reporting and holding
the Annual Meeting, the people may be re-
lieved from unsatisfactory annual settlements
and bungiing reports.
Another change ,ha. should be made is
this: Instead of eiecting three officers, Clerk,
Director, and Treasurer for enc year, all
coming into Office, and all going out at one
time. The term of Office should be three
years; a new man coming on the Board each
year; so that we shall always have two men
on the Board who understand the work to be
done.
Another change immediately demanded
by the taxpayers of this county, Is the re-
peal of section 100, page II, School Lsw of
1878. This Law requires the School District
to register their School Bonds with the Coun-
ty Clerk, and provides that the levy for sink
ing fund and interest shalt be made by the
Board OF County Commissioners, which,
when collected, shalt remain in the hands of
the County Treasurer until the bond-holder
may present his bond and give the district
credit for the sans. There are two reasons
why this law should be repealed; the COun-
~ board has sufficient to do without adopt
ing the School Districts of the county. and
becoming their guardian. The hOnd-hOlders
purchase these bonds at a heavy discount,
the security is good, and there is no reason
why the people, who vote them, are not
competent, through their officers, to make
the necessary levy 10 meet their obligations.
Since this law has been on the list, confusion
and excessive levies have been tine result. In
proof of this, if you will call at the county
clerks and treasurer's office you will find an
excess 10 the bond levy of more than four
per cent. for District 81 for the present year.
Ga the general tax question am confident
that the legislature will and should extend
the time of payment until the lat of April.
have lately been in nearly every commu-
nifty of this county, and know that not one
man in ten can pay. The people have rea-
son and right to expect legislation in behalf
of the people at the hands of the legislature.
They ask, in brief, an extension of time on
the present tax, that in the future the penal
~ shall be graduated and OBJECT by premiums,
that the ta1-title mans business shall be le-
gisla,ed out Of existence, that County Boards
and City Councils shall be compelled to trans
&C, the business of the people on cash ba-
sis, ard Issue no more of our notes TO be
shaved % per cent. and then compel US to re-
deem them at their face, with interest added,
that railroad tracks and other property shall
be assessed by township assessors, the same
as other property; finally, that no effort
should be spared TO get every dollars worth
of property on fine tax-roll that the heavy
burden that ia crushing the few and compara-
lively poor, may rest equally on all.
J. Z. BACsEEMAN.