The weekly clarion., 1876-10-11
THE SCHOOL TAX MIsREPRE-
SENTED.

We have time and again demonstrated
that the law providing for the support of
the schools we're left by the last Legisla-
tufe just as they had been made BY the T.
Republicans, with the single exception
OF the State tax Of two mills, which had
been previously levied and collected
This two mill tax the last Legislature
repealed, but substitute for it was pro /
vided, which secured for school purposes,
precisely the sum which this tax, If con
tinued, would have produced. By tife
9th section Of Article 8 of the State Con
stitudon, "all fines collected in the several
counties for breaches of the PeaaI laws,
aud all moneys received for licenses
granted under the general laws of the
State for the sale Of intoxicating liquor
or keeping dram shop" we're required
to be funded, and only the interest ap-
propriated to the support of the schools
/ This was charging our=elves with the du-
ty of educating future generations, and
becoming conscious that this was unjust,
the Republican Legislature Of 1875 pro-
posed an amendment TO the Constitution
declaring that hereafter all these fines
aud all payments the said revenues
"should be paid into the State Treasury
in the legal currency of the United
Sattes, to be distributed pro rata among
the educable children of the State, in the
manner provided by law" The fund
thus created, it was known to the Legis-
lature and every intelligent man in the
State, will be large-perhaps exceeding
that produced by the two mill tax, and
this entire fund, by law of the last
Legislature, is to be applied as the
foregoing amendment to the Constitution
: directs, and to secure in any event for
. school purposes, an amount equal to what
: the last Republican Legislature had
appropriated by State taxation to schOO
d, purposes. The law contains this clause
"And if the whole amount, distributed
under the provisions of this act (the one
> providing for the support OF Schools be les
Z than the whole amount derived by tax o
:, two mills for the last fiscal year, then thu
State Treasurer is hereby authorized and re-
= quired to transfer from the general fund t
the school sund sufficient fund to make uI
I such deficiency, which shall be discovered.
/, Thus in no event can the fund to b
drawn from the State Treasury for schoo
5 purposes for the year 1876, under Dem
: ccratc- Conservative rule be less than tn
amount drawn for the year 1875, unde
IS Radical legislation.
n But now comes the Radical leaders
II who are bent on making good their falls
/ prophecies that the Democrats intende'
to break up the public schools, and voV
that there will not be sufficient sum il
3 the State Treasury to make up whaseve
n deficiency, if any exists, in consequence
of the repeal of the two mill tax; an
that this provision of law is all sham
o To squeelch this roorback, as well to sho'
! the sound condition of our State finances
" under Democratic rule, we will publis
: the following letter from Hon. w. L
o Hemingway, State Treasurer:
JACKSON, Mss, Sept. p, 1870.
:, EDS. CLARION I'm reply to your inquiry
II l will state that there will be, of the gener
l. al fund, an Average sufficient to supply any de
e feu that may occur from the GbolitioE Of the tlc
mill tar (teacherS fund.-. And for the fu
ture we estimate that the tax levied wi
raise sufficient revenue to pay the eurren
K expenses OF the State government, take u
er the bonds due July, 1877, pay interest o
: Insurance deposits and on bonds not du'
aud leqUe iH The Treasury Considerable fun
to be used as tas legislature may direct.
l remain, yours respectfully,
Is WIN. L. HEMINGWAY.