Arizona citizen., 1878-10-12
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDS.
Arizona has Appropriated None to
 Private or Sec; arIan Schools.
TucsnN. October 8. 1873.

bD- IIIIEN = hC I'CuOInS DciCSakc canvass has prominently brought upI the Pubic School question. This is not of itself a matter for regret, hut tn' discuss it SO as to leave erroneous i'm pressions nn the public mind k wrong. Another fact worthy f n".e is he en thuSissm some ren,.le g.t up 0a ,hi. subject once in iwr ar fIur or six y-aTs, and ihsl, too. just d the 'im. they are seeking votes; at all other tImer the, let public and private school interest," alone. But the present agitation may result in Aronsing many good men to be practical helpers in tho cause of pnblic. education. aud perhaps to fs- miliarize themselves with the history and condition of public education in the Territory. It may be reasonably assumed that the masses of tue peo pie prefer 10 know the actual and lead ing facts with regard 10 Arizona legis- lati0n on the subject, even ii thereby some Delegate ammunition be destroy ed. The purpose of this communica. tinn Is to recite such facts from the or ganlzalinn ot the Territory 10 date.
 In 1864 there was DO public school fund, nor any law providing therefor in Arizona. By Legislative act approv- ed November 2, 1864, there were ap propriated s20O for public schools in each of the towns of Prescott, La Paz and Nohave, ard $500 for 8 like school in Tucson. The appropriation was to be vcld as to any of lhe towns which failed to raise like sum by taxation or otherwise for public school purpos es. The same sct Appropriated and donated $2J0 to the mission school si San Xavier del Bac, for the purpose "of purchasing books of instruction, " stationery and furniiure," bu: not from any public school fund.
 At the sessions Of 1865 and 1866 there was no Legislation regarding pub. lie schools or school funds, no: any ap. propriaticn of funds for public CT nj vaie schools.
 By act approved October 5, 1867, provision was made for the formation of school districts, and thereafter for taxation to maintain public schools The act was conditional and did nni even provide for Territorial public school fund, anc it is believed no school 'ax was levied under it in any of the counties or districts. No appropria
 ton was made for public or private schools at this session.
 At the session for 1868 there was ar
 act of sixty-four sections, passed ano approved December 16, providing fol
 public schools, but not providing fol
 any Territorial public school fund. anc
 requiring the several boards of super
 yisors 10 levy only one-fifth of one pei
 cent. for county school purposes in thu
 districts of the respective counties
 This act did not have enough vitalit!
 to lead to the establishment of public
 schools with funds to support them
 No appropriation of funds to privsi'
 schools WAS made at this session.
 In 1869 and 1870 there were no ses
 sions of the legislature.
 i At the session of 1871, an act wa
 passed which did establish publi
 schools in Ariznna, and provided som
 means to maintain them. It was ap
 proved February IS. It was not whol IIy desrnyed with conditions, but com
 pelled 6 levy of ten cents "n each SlO
 for a Territorial school fund. and re
 ouireL boards "f supervisors [" lev,
 not to exceed fifty cents on each BIO ! for the support "f public school. II
 the several counties. IL prohibited tl use or introduction of any sec sria hooks or tracts and also the teaching of any denomin4tional doctrin | in the public schools, and il an,
 schools were pot conducted in sccorc
 sncs with the requirements of the ac' they should receive 10 part ot tn school funds. At the same session, b section Of sn act approved ebruar l IS, $500 was appropriated out of th general fund of the Territory 10 tn Sisters of St. Joseph. in Tucson, "t enable them to pay for the schoc hooks" then in use in their schot for the education of young ladies.
 Section 3 of this sct directed the Te ri,orisl Auditor to draw his warrsr for the amount on the Territoris
 school fund, and the Treasurer to pa the same out of said fund. Thus |. will be seen that the appropriation Vt from the general fund and the officer were directed to pay it out of u school fund. This conflict resulted ] no money being paid out under tf ! act Nn other appropriations wei
 mai f. school purposes stthe sesslo of lS1i. Upon the approach of IT ? session of 1873, the auditor was indu ed October IT, 1S72) to draw s wa rant in favor of the Sisters Of St. J seph, as provided by act of Februsi [ IS, 1871, but it was not paid, nor e pected to be paid, under the act.
 At the session of 1873, three sc 2 were passed relating to schools ar ' funds for schools. The hrst was a