The Leavenworth weekly times., 1876-02-17
COUNTY AFFAIRS.
q Few Remarks upou the Report Of the


Ludiror.
EDITOR or THE LEAyENwoRTH TI,IEs:
The iate report OF The Auditor OF the
county of Leavenwor,h, though able, com-
prehensiye, exhaustive AID instructive, ap-
pears faliacious in some particulars. II
elicits many startling disclosures OF ire
gu!arities and short comings in the pro-
ceedings OF the different Boards of County
Commissioners from an early period down
to the present time. But before venturing
on those exposures, the Auditor says:
1t has been my constant study to avoid,
SO far as possible, every thing Of a personal
character, TO do which l have often been
forced to speak Indefinitely of period Of
gears instead OF pointing my remarks at
any one year.
"An opposite..course would have subserved
10 useful purpose. The errors committed
have been atoned for, in 80 far as it has
been possible, and forgiven; and even the
crimes have been forgotten or condoned."
The crimes have been forgotten or con-
doned, yet they are remembered and pub
lished in pamphlets which are scattered
broadcast over lbe county by the Auditor.
Suspicion rests alike ON both innocent and
guilty ex-members OF all the different
Boards OF Commissioners that Leayenworth
County has had. 1t is encouragement TO
the members OF the present and future
County Boards TO do their business in a
careless or corrupt way, hoping that in
time, their actions will he forgotten or con-
doned, and that capable hoDest men will
have TO suffer an equal share before The
public OF their own ineiiciency or dishcn-
esty. Had the Auditor given the years in
which the irregularities" of which he
speaks occurred, the innocent parties would
have an opportunity to set themselves right
before the public and the guilty ones
would suffer no more than they deserve.
The following remarks OF the Auditor
may be worthy OF place in the Leaven-
worth TINES.
COUNTY AUDITORS REPORT.
81 am informed by the Poor Commission
er that large proportion OF the applicants
Tor relief are colored people Their condi-
tion is not only, not improving, but grow
ing worse every year. During the war,
and soon after its close, they hocked 10
Leavenworih county in great numbers. A
very large proportion OF them were accus-
toned only to agricultural labor. Nearly
every farm in the eastern portion of the
County had its resident family of colored
people, who performed most OF the labor of
the farm. For a while they prospered,
they seemed to be coniented, comfortable
and happy. The dark problem connecte
with their fate seemed here to have found
a satisfactory solution.
The most potent agency in terminating
this state of things is to be found in the ef-
forts of the especial friends of the colorcd
people to provide for their education. The
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
first adopted the policy of forcing them into
the schools with the white children, and
Tor this purpose, procured the passage OF a
law imposing fine of $4,000 upon each
member of any School Board who should
refuse any applicant of legal school age
admission TO the district school. 1t was
soon discovered that 10 enforce this law
would be, practically, to abolish the pub
lie schools in many Of the best districts of
the County. This policy was abandoned,
and that OF maintaining separate schools
was inaugurated, encumbered, like the for
mer, vita unwise and fatal provi-ions.
In. circular, widely distributed, the
Stale Superintendent e1pounded the law
permitting separate schools, as requiring
absolutely and uncondi,ionally the equaii,y
OF the schools, the school houses, the furni-
ture, the facilities for study, the grade OF
teachers employed, everything was to be
equal, or, AS nearly equal as possible. The
cDlor.d people were made TO believe that
The law Was purpo>ely made to give them
an aS aSyaEtase over the whites, who paId all
the Tax, an advantage which the were not
slow 10 assert. Al the annual schOol meet
ings they mustered their forces, frequently
The meetings. and voted such
taxes they wanted. There was but one
remedy, and there was no unnec-
eesary delay in applying it. The farmers
refused 10 rent their grounds or cabins to
the colored people; they even refused TO
employ them. As their only resource, the
latler was forced 10 leave the country
SOME found their way 10 other States, while
manv OF them coiiec.ed in the poorest quar-
teEs Of Leavenwor'h city. Here, shut out
from the only -agricultural-with
which they were acquainted, their descent to
destruction and pauperism was quick and
certain; habits Of indoience became con-
Grmed and finally it came to such a pass
that work would be refused when it was
offered.
This evil is increasing, and unless check |
ed, will, IN the future, become far more
serious burden upon society tnan it is al |
the present. Tne adult generation of thi- |
people Were, At leasr, trained 10 industry /; |
the younger generation Is growing up In |
ia lenees and protligacy."
But as the Auditor recommends no plan |
by which the difficulty Of which he speaks |
may be remedied, We must infer that he |
would let the colored children grow up in
ignorance and crime, without any school
advantages. Yet at another place in his |
report he says:
There is a certain amount OF pauperism
in our county which must be relieved, or
much of it will be transiused into crime,
and crowd our Jail and penitentiary. The
average cost of convicting a criminal
would support pauper several months,
while the cost of boarding a criminal in
Jail considerably exceeds the average cost
If boarding the inmates of the Poor Asy-
um. The cost of either would enable two
lren each, to exc out their scanty earnings
and live"
Why not help poor colored parents a
little while their children are getting an
'ducation, and thus keep both parents and
children OUT OF the county ard State pris-
ms?
Had the Auditor gone to the trouble to
the school statistics OF Leaven-
worth, and to report the number OF colored
children in school and the progress they
ire making in education, he would not
lave dared ke the assertion that the
Ounger generation is growing up in idle
,ess and profiigacy. is.