The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-17
A CARD.
The other side Of the school Quos-
tton COnsidered. E
Editora of the Register

EdltOrs OF the Register.
AS some misapprehension exists in
regard to the propriety and the effect
OF transferring the collection OF the
taxes OF the "independent school district
of Wheeling from the city collector to
the sheriff of Ohio county, which was
caused mainly by some errors of
statement made in the REGISTER, and
believing that you desire to do inten-
tionsl injustice TO none. OF the
interests coLcerned, l beg. leave
to -, correct through your columns,
the erroneous impressions thus conveyed
IL was stated, that if the contemplso
ted changes were made, all persons who
pad their taxes before certain time
would obtain a discount ct two and q
half per cent, which, under the present
arrangement was not allowed them. Now
the facts are simply these: IT the sheriff
were made collector OF the school taxes
in the manner proposed, he would be-
come "Collector OF the Independent
School District of Wheeling" not be-
cause he is sheriff of this county, but
simply by virtue of the bill he is endeav-
oring to lobby through the Legislature.
This would merely place him in the po-
si.ion of the present school collector, and,
as no provision exists in the school laws
of the city district looking to any such
allowance as that referred TO above,
if made at all, it would have to be
done voluntarily. Does any one tsmi-
liar with the conduct of his Jtice, be-
lieve that Mr.. TIngle would make any
such voluntary allowance? Again. 1t
was urged that the sheriff having to COL
lect the school tax from the county dis.
trlcts, suffered great Hardship" and
should, therefore, collect the tax levied
by the school district of the city. This
is certainly profound logic. Perhaps it
would mitigate his sutferlngs if the col
lection o. city taxes and water rents
were also given him.. Mr.. Tinsle knew
full we'll what were the "hardships" Of
his proftless Office, long before he solicit
ed the voters of OHIO county to force
those "hardships npon him. As his state
county and school axes are all
collected from the counLy on one bill,
and as he would be compelled to collect
his other taxes from the country district
in any event, 1t is difficult to perceive
the exact nature of this Hardship" Be
sides which, he gets the State school
tax from the city, and his commission on
that alone amounts to more than one
halt of the sum which the allowance OF
the Board Of Education gives the city
collector. Political reasons may have
prompted the first change made In these
collections; but, there was also another
consideration. Previous to that time
the cost of collecting the city taxes and
water rents was five per cent,
but, when the collection of these school
taxes was combined with that OF the for
mer, the cost was reduced to two per
cent, since both could be collected on
one bill and at the same time without
any additional labor or expense to the
collector. Tue boundaries of the school
district were also altered, so as TO be CO.
incident with those OF the city proper,
and the Board of Education now EN-
pIoys the city assessment as the basis OF
Its levy, so that, were the sheriff to make
its collections, u special assessment would
have to be made for tnat purpose, re-
curing another assessor, at an extra cost
to the Board. But the great consldera-
tion which actuated the Board OF Educa-
tion in It's unanimous action in memo
riallzing the Legislature to make no
change in its present mode Of collection,
was that under the old regime, when the
sheriff was collector, it was frequently
impossible To get the money on orders
issued upon that official. Poor teachers
badly seeding cash, had TO have their
orders heavily discounted, because funds
that should have been on hand TO pay them
nsd been employed TO make early settle
n,ents ,CiM the state, in order 20 secure
the allowances made for promp. pay
ment TO the Auditor No such diff.
cutv has ever occurred since these COL
Lotions have been made by the
city collector. Orders are always
promptly paid, and 10 trouble is expert
enced. On the other hand this habit
of diverting the school fund, by sheriffs
throughout the State, has become so no
torous, that, | am informed, bill is
now before the legislature looking 10 the
removal OF the collection OF school taxes
from the hands OF ali shertfs 10 West
Virginia. These are tome OF the reasons
which lead the taxpayers OF this city to
oppose any change IN the manner OF COL
lectlng city school taxes. TnaI they do
so oppose It, is emphaticslly shown by
the prompt and unanimous action OF
their two representative bodies, the
Board OF Education and the City
Council, in petltioning the Legis-
lature to make no change in the
matter alluded to, which Was supple
mented by private petition OF indlvid-
ual citizens and firms, embracing the
heaviest Taxpayers in the city. These
documents vii! all be presented to the
House of Delegates, which body the bill
ths, would make this change has now
reached. To the utter amszement of
this community, the Senate passed this
bill Tor the benefit of one man, directly
in the face OF ns plsinl ly expressed wishes,
aud the earnest remonstrances OF MIR.
Caldwell, its representative on their
floor. Mr.. Tingle canuot aliedge one
reason, which Will bear 3 moments in
telligent criticism, why he should, unless
It be that 1t WILL add 10 the
"hsrd hips" OF the most profitable
Office IN the State. Bat then
he is q most industrious and experienced
Lobbyist, who relies entirely Tor success,
no, upon the merits of his bill, but upon
his personal acquaintance and influence
Win members OF the Legislature. VIII
the House OF Delegates AID and promote
the avaricious greed thus displayed?
Will they assist In adding to the already
overgrown emolunehts OF an office at
the expense OF the heavily taxed people
Of this community? l do not believe
they will do so. GEO. Z, BLACK.