Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-04-03
The school Bill,
The following remarkable article ap.
,anral in the Minchester Ting

The following remarkable article ap-
peared in the Winchester Times:
eve hope there IS no found alton for the state
ment made in 4 shenandoah paper-that the Pub
hc School Trustees Of that county have closed the
schools in consequence Of Governor Holidays
lst0 Of the Massey bill.
II they have done their action has been has
"a Oh an entire misconception Of tine real dIficul-
ties under which the schools now labor
The Court OF Appeals had already decided that
all taXes-for schools as well as ether purposes
were payab III 1oupons. The Massey bill could
not have changed This decision nor furnished the
money rect ssary 70 keep the schools open.
Inc Governors veto, therefore, had nothing TO
go with closing the schools.
Let the people Of shenandoah unite with those
Il Frederick and the Other counties Of the alley
IN stmaLd tor Constitutional amendment for
Tho retention and expenditure within each county
ol the school taxes pad therein. Such an amend
-ieut would accomplish the Of ject which the
Shenandoah trustees have in view.
Il would avoid the coupon difficulty and give 70
tie schools what they ougut to have, 10 wit, all the
money paid ia the counties Tor tleir support
There is foundation for the statement
and there has been ne misconception
upon the part Of the trustees. Last
year they found 20 per cent. Of the
money which they were entitled to d.
verted from its legitimate channel and
used Tor the payment Of interest upon
the public debt. An examination into
The present financial condition of the
state shows that there is q probability
that more than 20 per cent. ofthe state
school fund will never reach its legiti-
mate place. We deny that the Court Of
Appeals has decided that taxes for
schools were payable in coupons, and
have the highest authority for asserting
taat the question of the payment of
school tax in coupons las never been
considered. much less decided, by the
Supreme CoGrt ofthe State.
The trustees expected protection
from the Legislature. They opened
their schools under the impression that
the Legislature would pass Law pro-
hibling the diversion Of school funds
and requiring the constitutional school
tax TO be paid in currency. Upon the
passage OF that law they based their
ability to continue their schools. The
LEGISLATURE passed the law, the Cover
nor vetoed the bill and the trustees
de>palu. o. receiving the funds to
which they were by law and by the con-
stiulcn Of the state entitled, closed
their schools. Many ofOur citizen con-
found The school-bul with the Barbour
bill. They were entirely separate bills.
In Shenandoah many Of the people
axe opposed to reputation and as Bit
t,r,y opposed to ioroible readiustment.
Looking upon the Barbour bill as the
pc. measure Of the forcible readjus-
tors ami tLc entering wedge which was
L. be followed b. other forcible readiues-
ioe measures. they sustained the Gov
crnog in his veto ofthe bill. But when
lcyctoed he school bin which required
tAat the school tax-tbe minimum
amount allowed by the constitution
ShaN hn no Il 81, ...,.--------- -
his county, who are As strongly in favor
of The payment Of the public debt as
abe Governor himself, could not and do
not sustain his action.
Oar people may not be conversant
With legal technicalities, bat they are
people Of good, sound common sense.
and when YOU inform them that the
constitution the supreme law Of the
state. says the general assembly shall
cppy an annual tax Of mol less than
one mill on the dollar, which is ten cents
upon the hundred dollars, for public
fec school purposes. you cannot make
ihem believe that any general assembly,
Governor of the State. or Sapreme Court
Of the State. can, so long as they are
sworn to support that constitution. le-
cally apply that money to any other
purpose. All your technical theories
about previous obligations, sanchty of
contracts &c. do not justify you in your
effort 10 repndlate this constitutional
contract made by the higest authority
"A the State. We would net create any
unnecessary alarm, but an examination
into the present condition Of the
state shows that unless some
protection is extended 10 the
schools the people Will be taxed
to support them anu the money ex-
pended for other purposes. A few
years aso coupons We're purchased onl,
boy large taxpayers and the amount
thus paid was not large enough TO en-
barass the state government. Bul
now small spectators find an excellent
hcldi for making money rapidly and With
little risk. The present law allows
rebate Of , per cent. on all taxes paid
before the FIRST day Of December, and
imposes penalty OF five per cent on
al not paid at that time. The specula.
tor proposes 10 pay the taxes of
such parties as he may select and
give them until the first Of June to
pay him. He then purchases coupons
at 60, cents secures rebate of 2 per
cent and makes good thing of the
transaction. These little specuatons.
we are lnformed.are carried on IN nearly
every section Of the State. The tax
payer pays in currency, the state re-
oicvcs coupons and the difference goes
into the pockets Of the Spectator.
What is the condition of the Treasury
at this time: 1t Is absolutely bank
rupt. 1t could not meet even the TEN
pOrary loans, and to day the state gov
,nment is dependent upon one banker
who supplies the funds to keep the
machine moving. That is the condi-
iion Of affairs to-day. On the first of
July another batch Of coupons will be