, 1879-03-17
STATE AFFAIRS.
Figures Regarding the Distribution
OF the School Tax.
Lack of a Quorum Produces suspen-
sion of Business al Springfield.
THE ECI1OOL-TAX.
SOME FIGURES or INTEREST.

6FR1NHFlRLDt Ills March l6.-lNe enDlccL u
education Is an important ouc, mud receives
more 0r less intention ut the hands of every
Hcnerat Assembly. Tiere Is some pending leg
tslatson upon that very important subject In tho
prcsrnt General Assembly. sin connection with
the sclioolax loyied every year tl.cro arc sotne
very ctirious and interesting exhibits. uinlcr
the lar, the schoo-tax is levied md paid into
general fund for the benefit OF each tounty, and
such county Is obliged 10 maintain its free
schools for ecrtnIn number of months each
ycnr. The Weather tic county
TIE uRrATEH THE TAX, ,..
as the levy Is made on III assessment Of = Ger.
tnfn rate per crnt. The schooi-tax each gear
forms very considerable portion Of the Ecn~
crat tax. For instance, In tho year 1878 the rate
1cr cent required to produce the amounts nti-
thortzci to hc raised for general State purposes
waa 1D,6 cents On every s100, n,nl for statc
school purposes 10 cents on thu Sl00 additional
making MI aggregate VI 3o11 cents IN tfIe SUD
T,lis II Will hu acen that tho sehool-tax con-
prlscs more than .wo-1fths Of at tho ta1es ley
led on the people Tor State purposes.
Now, It so happens tint while somo counties
arc heavily taxed for school purposes, other
counties arc ,io. taxed at alt More than thia,
there arc nutnIjrr OF counties In the State that
not only receive enough n,oney from the
Schoul Fund to pay their entire State taxes, but
they llavo niro little balance 10 their ucconnt
cycry year.
COOK COUNTY ..
Tays out annually for school purposes s116,000
moro than size expcnis on her own schouls. For
instance, the County Of Franklin Days into the
State Treasury $3.50, md tlero Is paid her,
from tho State Trensury On account Of State
schoot tax, s., Sc, leaving balance to her at
count after paying her entire general tax Of
$3.50. The County Of ualiatin pays into tho
State Treasury Oh nil accounts $9,y57, aid
draws out on account Of the State school tax
S4,S85, leaving to her credit $1,50S for thu
privilege OF being county In the great State OF
Illinois. The County Of Hamilton pays into
the State Treasury s8211, md receives
s5,6G7, thus belng paid by tlc
State for the year 1877 the sun Of $2,G5o for
being county IN thu State. Hardin County
pays In 81 ,50o, md receives 82,105 thus gcttug
all lcr general State taxes paid by tile School
Fund and receiving tie sum Of $3.50 besides.
Tic salary OF Circuit Judges. Judges Of tho
Supreme Court, her pro rata for tho maintcn-
ancc OF the charitable institutions Of the State,
aHd the expenses Of conveying NIL her convicts
to tho penttcntiary are
rA1D III TIE sC1iooLFuNp TAX
received from other counties, md still leaves q
bninnco TO her account Of tho above-namcd
sum. The County Of Johnson. pays into the
State Treasury s3,360, aud drnws out s5,012,
lcsylng hor balance of $l,72O, lor which the
State Treasurer las 10 send her a check. The
County of Massac pays into tho State Treasury
s3,liG, and receives s3,os4, leaving u
balance In her favor OF s535. Tho
Comfy Of Popo pays into tho stato Treasury
si.Y00, and receives s5,0l1 leaving llcr u bal-
nncc Of Sill alter paglug atl her expenses for
belonging to tic State. The County OF Pulaski
pays in Sl,6ss, md receives s3,301, leaving her
balance OF 81 ,503 TO distribute among her pco-
plo after paying The expenses OF their govern
inent. Tho County Of Saline pays into tlr State
Trcusury SILL, unil receives s5CGl, ,-baanco
sl,be0 The County of Uu!un pays III to tho Slate
rrcasury $G,470. and receives s0,178-balancc
$4uo. The County Of Williamson pays In tho
| sun Of s5,958, aud receives s9,0N, ,-ba!nueo
$2,1uG.
There arc number Of other counties which
receive back from the School Fund from rs to 80
per cent OF tleir entire Stnto taxes.
Attention has never before been specifically
called TO this subfect, and tile nntter is
ATTRACTING aoME ATTENTION
hero from men who believe in M equitable dis
tribution OF tnxcs. II this appropriation could
be cut oil, tho Ststo taxes Of thcpcople would be
reduced nearly two-tiftls, which IN these hard
linca would afford needed relief. TO be sure,
every distri:t In tho statp would be compelled to
take care Of Its own schools In this cyunl, which
they nrc doubtless ablc to DO. This evil can br
rc.llctlirl by tic Legislature refusing to make
the usua1 appropriation for school purposes.
The appropriation for tho ycar 1871 has already
been Gado by tic Thirticth General Assembly,
anl ratnpt NOW bo rclnedied. There arc SONS
frro mud RNrrr in y