The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-11-05
RirI,,,,a,sd iispahh,
.. ,,,,. !. !. NOVEMBER s, 1873.
( J. g,lrarsaer. J, ;Exptosied. .

..sDa,ersson j, Expfoaed.
.p,,,snc tho last legislative canvass, and
~ s,,..;ne re congressional enc Just enc
s..s .hs e diversion, ssperversion, {, . rob-
IL .;nsr y "a Inc school fund OF Virginia has
49,, ,,.ry,sf, t,,ott to the extent OF their 10.
snsras,ion (which seems chiefly to have been
.sarsvea from the figures OF School gSuperin-
ssndsnt Ru.Yner) by the readiuster orators.
Tbe more Objectionable terms were usea,
xce nresune, FOR effect, for we do NOT sup
nose for moment that anybody IN pIsr
MIA believes, or has believed. thaG one ao,la.
has been robbed from the fund, OF tnaI
the State has suffered the loss OF one csns
of her money. But we are gao tnas .ns
.Deop,e have In the last few days iuil auu
authoritative statement OF the H'astei a. '.at
the hands OF William f. Iayior, tnc = ~ .u T.
In namnblet form, and the statements are
fnli, calm. clear aud easily comprehehaed'
int SI,ch as will meet the excited ana deiu-
Sue statements that have been going the
rounds II viii be a surprise to tue people
70 Enoyy that instead Of the school tax being
s1iyersed il is there to-day in the Capitoi
hasement ready to be paid out to the leach
ers. 1t is there in full, every dosiar tnat y
due them, and 1t is in coupons: IL eau tDe
paid to DR.. Ruffner, who gets MS saiary 1e
pularly in money, nor to the memoeIs %
the Legislature, the authors OF the paLoou.
-s,iI and such like legislation, for they got
shn;r nor diem In money, but it can be
handed over to the teachers IL these 1ll-paid
amnIoy2s would Ike to take those cancer.
led coupons with which the people have
-T,o;f, their taxes. and which are worth moth
iny, That is the way the school FUND. mas
bean Maid iu-iYs couponS--and 1t mas Deei,
done under the decision of the hlghest
,nurt OF the State-legaIly done-done ID
such exact compliance with the law that
there is no remedy but to raise me td1eS 20
Eee,o up the public schools. That Is the
issue. How will the adjusters, those Irlenus
OF the public schools, meet IL! We 81!
meet it by raising the taxes. mr.: Iayior
had nothing to do with the crippled conal-
ton OF the school fund, ana can nave 9oth-
ing unless he could furnish seVerai nun
dred thousand dollars out OF his private
nocI,et to hand ont as q free gift, which
is feat that gentleman on salary OF TWO
sbonsand wear is not likely to be able to
perform. ,,;das
The Constitution Of Virginia PROVIDES
that the capitation tax and tax OF not less
,hon one nor more than FIVE mills on the
dollar of property. and the annual interest
~ the literary fund, shall be devoted to the
sunport OF the public schools OF the State.
The Court Of Appeals has decided that cou-
mons shall be received for du taxes, TINS
being the contract made by the State IN the
funding bill. Various efforts TO get ria OF
this state OF affairs have been made. ey tue
Legislature, and by cases made up oy pr
yate individuals. but it is the law Just rs
much rs the law prohibiting murder. Lac
people will not pay their taxes IN money
somewhat cheaper. The talk ABOUT the
fay-payer,s money being diverted is
idle the taxpayers do not pay In
money when they can help it. Out OF 81
$40. 49, received for taxes during the fiscal
wear only S1,444, S06-a little more than one
half-was paid in money. The expenses OF
the Government must be paid in money
the legislators won't take their pay In cou-
pons: the asylums can't iced and clotne
natients on coupons; the courts OF law can't
he rim on coupons-cverything would
stop, and il the State stopped the schools
would stop. The public schools every year
of the five wears ending September, 1871,
have received over oaejifth Of the currency
paid into the treasury for taxes. In tne
mean time the state owes the asYums S2OV,-
0GO.
"a
diverted from its proper object" to 20 into
the Capitol basement and gather up all the
old cancelled coupons there and take them
into the Legislature and shake them In the
face OF the members, and tell them that
under the law OF the State that IL IS the
stuff the school tax is paid in, and that II
they want the schools continued they must
raise the taxes so some currency Will
come. The Auditor, quoting MIR. Ruff
ner on the school system that s'nine-
tenths OF the families look to 1t for
the education of their children, and now.
IL one-half the schools are blotted out the
people will be more distressed and the State.
more damaged than if secept by fire and
food" adds with the sharpness OF an honest
razor: "If this be so, then | suggest that
the whole force OF the educational depart
ment of the State be directed at once to
educate the people either to pay their tares
IN currency, or educate them to see to it.
that their representatives vote an increase
In the rate CT tax to such sum MS will re-
lieye the difficulty, and enable the school.
teachers to receive their salaries regularly;
and promptly. Either Of these alternatives
will accomplish the object. "-Staunton psn-::
x7;oofo,