Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-12-19
The seheel EuAA.

- The ssheel Fund.
The auditors report brings US the
astounding information that he has for
the year 1877, paid not only the amount
tueSthe school fund, but $l5, 900 in ex-
cess of that amount. If such be the
case there has been large decrease in
the public revenue. The school fund
should receive 20 per cent. Of the entire
property tax Of the State. From the
auditors report we learn that the
amount paid to the school fund is about
ISL, 900 less than was paid last year. III
this decrease in the school fund is to be
accounted for by decrease in the reYe-
nues Of the State, that decrease must
have been 1926, 900. r DE
The decrease in the State school fund
for Shenandoah county alone, amounts
to slls6. Notwithstanding the auditor
so seriously objects to the word oliver
son." the people of Shenandoah. who
paid $500 as schoel-tax, and received
back but 1914, are well convinced
that there has been a diversion" or a
wonderful ''clogging up" somewhere.
The very plausible argument Of the
auditor that the government must be
carried on, whatever else may stand
still, will not convince the people that
he or any other officer of the govern
ment is justifable in using funds which
were levied and collected as school
tax for the purpose Of paying interest
upon the public debt or meeting ap-
preparations for other purposes. If the
Legislature has made appropriations
without providing the means ofmeeting
them, 1t IS difficult to conceive by what
right the auditor would use funds that
belong solely to the schools for the
purpose. His tabular exhibit proving
that the schools have received more
than one-ffth of the amount paid in
currency amounts to nothing. Suppose
three fourths of the entire property tax
were paid in coupons, then the schools
would receive but one-twentieth OF the
property tax, instead OF one-ffth Of the
nresens tax, the minimum allowed by
the constitution. Ifsuch variations are
to be received as correct, We need
not be surprised if the people Of
Shenandoah, after paying $4,000, should
be informed that they were not only
not entitled to any apportionment Of
State school funds, but by new
constitution given to the consti-
tuition and the laws, were several
thousand dollars in debt to other de-
partments Of the government. These
fine spun theories may answere we'll to
embellish report but will not satisfy
the people who have paid the tax and
have no schools.
Every intelligent tax payer knows
that one fifth of his property tax and
his entire capitation tax is levied ex-
pressly for the support of the public
schools. When tho funds are paid over
by the county treasurer to the auditor,
he knows, or can easily ascertain, the
exact amount that properly belongs to
the schools. How this money can be
appropriated to the payment Of ether
claims, withoutan improper diversion
of school funds can not easily be DEM
onstrated. If, as the auditor seems to
think, there Is no law which requires
him to keep these funds separate from
the general funds Of the state, the re-
sponsibility devolves upon tho legisla-
ture and they should enact such laws as
will protect the people against the inn
proper disposition of funds which should
be used solely for the purpose for which
the tax is annually levied. If, on &C.
count Of the pressing demands upon the
auditor, these funds cannot be used for
school purposes, let the tax payers
know for what purpose the funds will
be used. Ifit is not to be applied to
the schools, let it be known that it Is
not school tax, but that it is levied and
collected for the general expenses Of
The state government. "
The auditor, We haYe 40 doubt, has
donewhat he conscieutiously believes to
Re his duty; but it is very questionable
whether, N his effort, to meet the more
pressing demands upon him, be has
treated the school department altogeth-
er fairly. There was during the year a
temporary embarrassment caused by the
loss in the revenue usually received
from the liquor trade and the failure to
secure temporary loans. This has now
passed, and the revenue from the liquor
trade will be larger than heretofore.
With a law requiring the auditor to keep
separate the school tax, the funds ne
cessary for the support Of the schools
will be secured and there will be q
marked increase in school funds, with
out any increase in the rate Of taxation.
After the present year, we have every
reason to believe that all our schools
will be open for term of not less than
five months and that we shall not be
subjected to the Inconvenience, and diff
fculties which now interfere with the
successful work of the schools.
Can the forty-eight run q party very
successfully without the votes Of the
readjusters in this state? They must
think so when they try to make debt
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