The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-06-14
Editor Of the Tribune,

! |
Editor Of the Tribune.
Since the action of the Grand jury
in the matter of the county treasurer
Z, upon the very evidence which was
presented to the one that sat here year
ago and which 50 glibly passed over the
charges at that time presented, the re
have not failed to bn idle tongues in this
town that prale about persecution"
"spite" etc. If there is any portion of
the heavy burden of taxation which
citizens have "a right to demand shall
be more carefully handled than any
other, 1t is the money which is appro-
priated for the education of youth.
And If in one portion of the State above
! all others, scrupulously honest and
careful management and disbursement
of that tax ought to he demanded of
Republican Office holders, it is in this
county of Beaufort, whcr, so large a
majority of the children are entirely
dependent on free schools for their train
ing. Even were person governed by
no higher motives than the bare desire
for party success, it would seem as if he
woulG gee his end best attained by do.
ing all in his power to satisfy the universal
craving for education of the hitherto
ignorant masses. Only those who seek
power and Office for self ;lggrandizement
can echo the sentiment attributed TO the
Republican county chairman "Thank
God my constituents don't read news.
papers" They are indeed blind who
cannot recognize the fact that dull illit-
eracy will ere long disqualify person
for exercising the right of suffrage in
this land. Snch being the case, the
man who places stumbling blocks in the
way of educators is public enemy and
a harbinger of defeat to the party which
has unfortunately taken HIM up.
Good teachers ares surely the first
requisite to successful system of educa-
tion, and iu localities not wholly supper
ted by the benefcient aid of missionary
enterprise, money is. required TO secure
good teachers. Beaufort county has
never had supcrfuity of teachers,
but such as it has employed st had
become indebted to in the sum Of over
twelve thousand dollars bttwecn the
years 1870 and 1874. The grand jury
at the Feb. term 1875 called the atten-
ton Of the school commissioner TO the
irregularity in payment of teachers
salaries and at the same time in the pub
lished report of the Superintendent of
Education Mr.. Jillson felt called upon
to say II am fully satisfied of the
existence of much fraud and wrong, 30
far as the pay of teachers is concerned.
In some counties, the teachers complain
that they cannot obtain their pay from
the county treasurer on the presentation
of their certificates, but are forced to
dispose of their paper at unreasonable
and loppressive.rates of discount to other
parties .who.are doubtless either in collu.
sien with, or in the interest and employ of,
sharks and shavers connected drectl ly or
indirectly,with the county treasurer" s.-
Twas NO geuviable position for the
present School r. Commissioner to
occupy, when it became apparent that
the friend to whom he owed his election
was performing his own duties in such
q manner as to nearly render futile the,
attempt to reform the school department.
by withholding T. money due teachers,
and the refusal of information due
their county officer. With no willing
stcps was the County School Commis-
sioner led to the conclusion that the
county treasurer used the means at his
command to compel teachers to dispose
OF their pay certificates at discount.
ID order that he might benefit thereby.
1t became the disa greeablc task of the
school Commissioner no matter at what
sacrifice of ease or tastes to put stop
to those practises, not only abhorrent in
themselves, but antagonistic to the ideas
OF reform which asa Republican he and
his fellows had pledged themselves 10
In this State. H@
gaoms:s 8. ID. GILBERT,
,a-y .El School Commissioner, B. c.
PRESENrrNEDrrr n, ~ rrr-