The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-03-23
YIIEELINd. ". u. MARoa %. lss2.
Tue ,.HeEl.ler'' and the school Fnnd.

fun and tricks do not take the place oil
solid facts and figures in the discussion OF
this question. The Regiaer may amuse IT.
seltand its readers in this way to its hearts
content, but sooner or later those same
readers will penetrate the object Of such
dodge aud demand something very differ
ent in the way Of an argument.
We have shown in this paper that as far
back as January, 1871, the year in which
the Democracy came into power in West
Virginia, that among the first things
that attracted their attention, and that was
made the subject OF investigation, was
balance due the school fund Of sGO,59S 81,
as shown in Auditor Borgess. statement for
the fiscal year ending September 80, 1870.
The Republicans were to surrender and did
surrender the government TO the Democrats
on the 4th Of March, 1871. Prior to SO
surrendering the government the figures
show that early in that year-as early US
the 3lst day Of January-that balance Of
$g0,52S 81 had been replaced, and that there
was then standing to the credit Of the
State over and above all charges Of whatso-
ever description net balance Of SO, 476,GG.
See pages 81 and So Of Auditor Benefits
report made in November OF that same
year 1871. Not only had the schools been
paid their money as they called for it, and
not only was there net balance OF S7O,-
47B.G0 standing to the credit Of the Treas
ury, but there was at least $780, 900 addi-
uonal due from the unpaid taxes Of 1870,
and, further, as the records will show, over
$4,000 due, and afterwards collected, from
yeaB preceding 1870.
During the whole administration OF the
fiscal affairs Of the State Of West Virginia
by the Republicans we fail to find single
instance where they borrowed money from
the banks. All the funds collected were in
the Treasury to the credit OF the State Of
West Virginia, and when money was need
cd to pay the appropriations OF the lcgsla-
lature they were checked for. The schools
uniformly got their money as they called
for it, just Us tue executive and judicial de-
partments got their money. There was no
borrowing Of the school fund and issuing
note this year for the amount, and note
the next year for so much more, and still
more the next year, to be classed and car
ried as fixed debt Of the State. The
amount checked for was actual money in
the Treasury, awaiting calls upon it under
the heads OF the different appropriations,
and when the schools called for all that
was due them they were not told that their
money had been loaned to the State and no
provision made for the payment Of the in
terest due thereon. They always got their
money.
Now sec the difference. The Democratic
party in the. first year Of their accession to
power, and actually before they came into
power, appointed committee to inquire
into the debit shown in Auditor Borgess.
statement Of s6O,52S 81 to the school fund.
Their committee, consisting in part Of
Senator II. G. Davis and Delegate J. N.
Jackson, after having inquired into the
Item, reported as follows:
"rhe school fund which is maintainc1
by taxation and the income from invC :
asen SnSuIu always sos ~ tne emu O., ecn
poses and sbould never bc ,V Estimated iT Win
the funds Of the general treasury which
arc subject to legislative appropriations.
, aaM Jaa C qua o. So aP,ea % Us our ,fg'.
nIy dtfcis5e MI in i cN " "tbcr GSS"r,ms1t
pGich has heretofore been he casc."
This report, il it meant anything, meant
that never, even for day or a month, CT
for any timc whatever, should the school
money be used to pay anything but school
demands, no matter whether lying idle in
the treasury or not. 1t was to be sacred and
inyiolable.
Not only was this the Language used in
1871, but, following it up, the same party,
the very next year (lS72), put tile follow.
ing provision in the Constitution OF the
State: "NO money or fund shall be taken for
any other purpose than that for rrhicy, it ho.
been or may be appropriated or prorided.H
And yet despite thisreport, and despite
this provision Of the constitution, they
began the very next year tampering with
the school fund. And they kept tamper-
ingwithit yeataiter, year until us the records
show, they had up to 1881 got away with
sl27,5OO, on which they had paid not one
cent of interest. And but for the discov.
cry aud outburst that occurred in 1881 over
the matter, not only would no interest
have been paid Up to this day, but it is
Altogether probable TINT n orpe oddi.
t,ssS, 49, tU 'o,, ,uu' l"fse auo',
uVlial a'llVun' "Vu'u uANc oeeh MKen III