The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-12-31
: FROM THE CAPITAL.
STARTLING FACTS FOR THE PEOPLE!

80 EnQlU HE O6I FAs
sTARTLlSe FACTS FOR THE PROPLE!
THE GEEzT SCHOOL BOND FORGERY!
PLAIN OF THE
SEHOOL1 FUND.
re ~ f'sIE
ALOde Of Observation-Disclosures ON the |
--..- Bonds-GrOvxth- of the -
Fund, &C., &c.
From our Special Correspondent
TOPEKA, KAs., Dec 90, 1875.
The unprecedented excitement
throughout the State, caused by the
late school bond forgery, in which
Kanaas for short time is out $lS,.
600 in her school fund, is still the
theme of conversation in all circles,
being discussed from one end of the
State to the other, and by all classes
of citizens. The school fund ques-
ton, find, is one that very few
people understand, and the; resi-
dents of the "cspital city" seem to
be as ignorant of it as those in the
most remote frontier districts. In
this letter it is my intention to give
your readers brief but plain his
tory of the school fund-a fund
which has, heretofore, and which
for all time to come, ought to be
held sacred and kept inviolable.
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL FUND.
The laws of the United States and
of the state of Kansas have provid-
ed for perpetual or permanent
school fund, which, it is declared,
shall never be diminished, but the
Interest of which shall be inVioIably
appropriated for the benefit of eom-
mon schools. The sources from
which this fund should come are the
following: 8e
| 1sT. The proceeds from the sales
of sections 16 and Sc in each town
ship of public land in the State.
%. The 100000 acres of the pub
lie lands granted to the new states
under the act of Congress of the
4th of September, 1S4.
4 3D. The estates of persons dying
without heir or will and
4TH. Five per cent. of the sales of
public land sold in this State since
the act of admission into the Union.
Il The fund which has actually ac-
cumulated has come mainly from
the sales of sections Is and 36, but
in small part from the estates of per-
sons dying without heir or will, and
from the five per cent. ON the sales
, of public lands. The 100000 acres
granted under the act of 184l was,
by act of the legislature, diverted
from the common school endow-
ment and was divided up and given
to four railroad companies in the
State, viz: the st. Joseph & Denver,
the Junction City branch of the NJ,
X. s. T., the L., L. s. g., and the
Kansas City, Ft. Scott & Gulf-each
road getting $4,000 acres.
COMMISSIONERS AND THEIR DUTIES.
The constitution provides that the
\ State Superintendent Of Public In
f struction, the Secretary of State,
: and Attorney-G General shall consti-
tute board of commissioners for
b.. the management of the school fund.
r The law of 1864 provides for the
e investment of this fund in bonds of
this State and of the United States.
The law of 1866 made it the duty of
the commissioners to give Kansas
state bonds precedence over bonds
of the United States, so long as they
could be purchased advantageously.
At the same time authority was Civ
, en- to invest in notes secured by
mortgage on real estate within the
: boundaries of the State. The act
of 1872 authorized the investment
/ in school district bonds as well as
: in United States and Kansas State
: bonds. a a.a-. fet
In the discharge OF their duties
the permanent school fund commits
, sioners, having bargained for the
: purchase of bonds for investment
in the fund, draw their orders, sign
, ed by the three commissioners, or a
majority of them, on the State
treasurer, who, on the presentation
of the orders, takes them up, pays
the money, and turns the orders
over to the State auditor, taking his
receipt therefor. The bonds are by
. the commissioners turned over to
the State treasurer. for safe Keeping.
) the latter giving his receipt there
for to the commissioners.
The State treasurer, it might be
stated here, is the custodian of the
: permanent school fund, as he is of
all the public monies and securities
belonging to the State. State Treas
!, urer Lappin was required to, and
, gave his bond to the State for the
safe keeping of the school fund in
the sum of $1,500,0OO. He likewise
gave bond for 500, 900 for the safe
keeping of all other public funds
and for the faithful discharge of his
duties. 1t is thus seen that the State
| regards the care and custody of the
! school funds as of far greater mag
nitude and importance than all of
the other duties and responsibilities
of the State treasurer.
GROWTH OF THE FUND. 4
A law was passed and went into
J effect in 1865, authorizing the sale of
school lands, and as the proceeds of
the sale of lands during that year,
the sum of 5000, found its wav
into the State treasury from Atchi-