The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-06-16

can obtain prompt and adequate pay for
their services.
Under the existing tax law. the funds
from which teachers are paid are collect.
ed, appropriated and disburscd at such
time OF the year as necessitatcs the
teachers waiting many weeks for the
money that is due them, unless sufficient
balance is left over from the previous
year. To place the finances of a
school district on secure footing it
would be necessary to cut the school term
short In some one year, for an amount to
be left on hand wherewith to MAINTAIN
teachers during the early part of the
next school year.
The adoption of sub plan would proba-
bly, subject the School Commissioner and
trustees to unreasonable censure from the
Ignorant and faultfinding, but can dis
Germ no other way out of the dilemma.
The School fund is at best so small,
that to be obliged to dispose of their pay
certificates at discount, is indeed a
hardship for class of public servants
whose wages are in most cases faithfully
labored for and well earned. IGeenl it
my duty to to use every effort to prevent
that fund from being diminished in any
way not appearing to be warranted by
law, and respectfully ask your attention
to the following statement. and that it
may be subject for your careful inves-
tigation.
Upon qualifying as School Commits
sioner on the 23rd day of Dec. 1874 1
] was unable to find any record that would
enable me to understand the transactions
OF the Office in the past. and in preparing
Tor the settlement of past due claims re
naming unpaid, I was forced to register
an legal claims that were presented for
that purpose. In connection with
school funds, found on file the County
lreasurer's reports for the year ending
oct 31st 1878. but none for 1874. On
inqulring Of my predecessor for the lat
ter, he informed me that he had never
received any, though asking for it many
tunes. Relieving that tho compensation
OF the County Treasurer is fixed by
| statute at sum not to exceed twenty
hVe hundred dollars a year., 1 find that
In the year 1878, he deducted from the
local school taxes of the different dis
sricts an amount aggrcgating over
SIX hundred dollars, as commissions,
In addition to the twenty five hundred
dollars. A similar amount was also
charged in 1874. the absence of the
reports rendering it impossible for me to
state the exact amount.
The same deficiency of proper records
makes it impossible for me to state
whether or no the practice of icvylng
commissions on the School fund had
prevailed prior to 1873. but have been
informed that-such was not the case
Having been Clerk of the Board of
county Commissioners during the past
Two years, it is Of my own knowledge
1nat assert that the Treasurer received
twenty i've hundred dollars from the
state and county in addition to these
commissions taken from the school tax.
would state further, that under the
provisions of Section of IAN Act con-
Corning school Funds approved Feb
Soth 1873, 1t Is made the duty of each
C"unty treasurer to report monthly on
the hfteenth day of each month to the
County School Commissioner of his
county, the amount of collections and
disbursements made by him for the
month on account of poll tax and other
school funds. The annual Report
OF the Superintendent of Education saws
that this monthly statement ''should be
strenously insisted upon by County
School COMMISSIONER receiy.
cd no report at all in January, and since
February have not only had no report
OF disbursements, but npon applying for
such, was informed by the Treasurer
that he had given me all that the law
required; such as did receive NAV be
examined in my Office.
To recur TO the matter of irregularitv
IN the payment of teachers salaries can
.urthcr state that in the absence of the
treasurer from town either for pleasure
or business, the Office is virtually closed
and in not few instances, teachers from
distance have been unable to obtain
their pay, no provision being made fer
payment in his absence.
AT the risk of trcspasslng upon your
time venture another quotation from
Mr.: Jillsons Annual Report, II am fully
satisfied of the existence of much fraud
and wrong, so far as the pay of teachers
is concerned. In some Counties, the
teachers complain that they cannot OBJ
tain their pay from the County Treasurer
on the presentation of their certificates.
but are forced to dispose of their paper
at unreasonable and oppressive rates of
discount, to other parties who are doubt
less either in collusion with, or in the
interest and employ of, sharks and shay
ers connected, directly or indirectly, with
the county Treasurer, land as a COM
mentary thereon present the accom-.
panying affidavit given me by School
teacher and remain,
Your Obedient Servant
SHEPARD ID. GILBERT
School Commissioner
State of So. Carolina
County of Beaufort.
Personally appeared before
me d. F. Hyatt, who being duIy sworn