Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-05-01


and twenty-five cents for each subsequent in.
Sertlon.
Marriage and Death Notices fifty cents. Obitu.
uaries will be charged at ertisement rates
for notices over four lines
The school Fund.
In letter to Wm Matthew, esq. of L.esburg,
published 10 the Washingtonan, of that town,
Gen. Bradley L. johnson says:
sent you copy of the Dispatch containing
an explanation, by me, of the reason why
S4Oy OOO apparently due the school fuad, dur
lps the years lS7l-72-73-74, had not been
paid over to it, and showing that the State still
held much larger amount due her for direct
taxes during those years, or paid by her into
the sinking fund.
Tha, statement showed that while the one
filth of all the direct taxes levied duriog
these years had been paid over to the school
fund, except 100000, the reason Why that
amount was still unpaid, was because it had
not all been collected; and that Suoh portion as
had been collected had been paid 10 cash to the
sinking fund, where 1t had been advantageous
ly invested in State boud>, by purchasing over
$4,000 Of bonds, thus lu substance decreas
ing the State debt to that extent.
During that period there has been paid the
sinking fund 10 cash, $233 045 81
Do. in bonds received from Sher
ifs for taxes, "A 53l 80
Buuds received from Shertfs for
taxes in haids Auditor Public
Accounts, 5000 90
Excess of interest paid Literary
Board on State bonds held by
them, S7,S22 ID
S4U4 5SS QS
Besides this there is 100000 due for taxes
for three years-showiug S5O4 5SS.9S paid by
the State to the Sinking Fund, to the Literary
Board and still due for back taxes agains,
$4O9 900 due the school fund for one fifth OF
all dir, ct taxes levied during that time.
The excess OF interest paid the Literary
Board arises from the fact that the State has
paid six per cent. interest on all State bonds
held ty them, amounting during that time 70
1868 ,466 A, while il has only paid four per
cent. Interest to her other credltors--thus
paid to that Board one third more interest,
amounting to $S7, SD IA. The arrears of pay
mepts to the school fund have arisen from the
fact that the payment OF taxes has been ex
tended Tar into the year after The one for which
they are assessed, aud for each year there are
large arrears uf taxes which came 10 by degrees
10 subs, Quent years. Thus the direct tax
-Jf this the school fund would be entitled to
oue.tihh as collected $3.50, 600. But only
about $3.50. 900 would be received during the
year lS73-out of which the school fund could
receive 100000, leaving the residue due it as
fast as the back taxes were collected. Probably
the residue, except $4,000, would be paid in
during June, 1874. leaving this $5O,OO to
come in by separate payments 10 the several
subsequent years. You perceive therefore that
it was impossible for the Auditor OF Public
Accounts to pay the school fund 10 any one
year its total share Of the taxes levied for that
year, because the tx"s levied are never col
l"cted the same year, nor tor several years.
The Auditor was therefore obliged to keep a
running account with the school fund and to
pay it as It's needs, required and the ability OF
the Treasury allowed.
The account for one year was made TO run
into another. lie could not separate the one
ii tn due schools from each payment as it came
in and pay it over, because forty per cent Of
the taxes came 10 in coupons and he is obliged
to pay schools currency. He was, therefore,
Obliged to do what he did do-to pay schools
as he was able and had the money. Keeping
his accounts Of what was due them, so that
when the money camc in it could bc paid over
to them.
1t is clear then that neither the State nor the
School Fund Is ujured by this accumulation of
dues to the latter The State is not Injured,
for the money has not been spent and if she
does owe the School Fund. $409 900, sine has
$54, ,jSS 9S of value to show Tor lt-valuc in
Bonds uow in the Sinking Fuud, or sull due
for taxes or paid to the School Fund 10 excess
OF interest.
The cause of Common School Education is
not injured, because the liberal payments made
- Ln, H., III
taxes from which it was due were collected,
have placed 1t on so sure a foundation In this
State, that it is now impregDablc.
Had the Auditor Of Public Accounts pursued
the policy of doing out, from tiuc to time, the
share Of taxes received due the School Fund,
as they were received 10 curreucy-he power
of the Literary Board would have been so
crampcd that It's usefulness would have been
senSby impaired.
The recent attempt of the Radicals, in their
State Convention at Lynchburg, to arralgn the
Conservative Party OF this State for m,sappli
cation OF School Fund, aud hostility to the
cause OF Common School Education is one OF
those bald attempts at demagoguism which
desperate partlz ns occasionally resort to, and
which always result 10 confusion to their 10
veutors. The Conservative Party has had en-
tire control OF this State since 1871, aud of
tNCly UlauCu VI Tue uUSeTuueUt, Executive,
Judicial and Legislative.
1t possesses ninety nine hundredths OF the
property, aud pays the same proportion of the
taxcs-lt assumed the Government under
CONSTITUTION Imposed ou it by superior force
constitution emiu"ntly dstastetuI to the pub
lIc 10 very many important respects.
E!ghtyelght thousand negroes, nor. proper
ty holders. had just voted to disfranchise the
large body of the Intelligence, virtue and ex-
perlence OF the State
The constitution itself allowed until 1876 to
put the Common School syste u into operation
Yet notwithstanding these facts, crcum.
stances Justitying the tax payers OF the State
III waiting until 1876, before they levied on
themselves taxes to educate the children of
those'who had just vote to disfranchise them,
the Conservative party at the very first ses
sion of the legislature 10 lS7l-orgauz ID aud
put 10 operation q system of general education