Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-09-21
THE SCHOOL FUND.
a Reply to Judge iieohham on'Ilc D,sposi-
lion OF School Lands and school
MDneV.

The GAZETTE has been requested to
publish the following communication
ON the school fund:
am opposed to newspaper contro-
versies between private parties but
Judge Bccthanl's answer 70 my In
quiry published in the GAZETTE OF
September 18Th. and the comments If
the GAZETTE places me in an attitude
that IL certainly demands IL reply or
explanation.
The GAZETTE is correct in regard to
my motive ia making the inquiry and
so far M impugniDg Judge Beckham's
honesty or Integrity, ! do not wish to
10 him the least injustice for no man
enjoys higher estimation with me
than he does ia that respect.
AS a citizen of Tarrant county who
has labored for twenty years 10 help
build her interest To that degree that
she should not be surpessed Ivy any
county in the state, / claim the right
which Is accorded To every American
citizen 40 any and all times 10 demand
OF our county officials any
information concerning their official
acts and shall avail myself of these
rights and privileges shall elect
my own mode OF procedure to gain
the desired Inform ttiDn, notwiihstaud.
ing r. f.. Beckhum Is county Judge of
Tarrant county and advises privacy in
regard TO inquiries concerning his
official business
so far ~ his Star is concerned in re-
gard to the handling OF public funds
and the seeking OF notoriety, / would
say ann sorry the judge misconstrued
the 90 Get OF my inquiry or he would
not so far forget himself us to use such
Language Ms is contained in his answer.
regret very much that Il private citi-
zen who Is 80 much Interested in the
education of the present rising gencra-
ton and the subject o! free SCHOOLS can {
get mo IN orniation that every parent
or guardian should have without being
answered with language that could he
considered insulting.
The fact OF our commissioners court
having leased the 1'nrraul county
school lands for period of five wears
Tor the sum Of two thousand aud ten
dollars per year payable
yearly, In advance was made public
through the columns of the GAZETTE
NJ that time, aud since the matter has
slumbered and slept, people believing
That, ns this lease WAS IA loan of the
htnu, II operated the same IA the loan
OF tne iuuds for which said land mirht
nave been sold for that it WAS avail
ao'e hnd should be presented to the
several school communities for their
benefit.
The judge states that the acts of
1879 authorizes the rents as well MS the
proceeds of sales 10 be invested I'm
bni'ed States bonds. AS the iudre IL
Versed ana needs no information I'm re.
gard to the law, ask those who AFRO
interested In the disposition Of the
funds to read article Z, section q of the
constitution, also article 3. 70l chontnr
y, page 53l of the revised statutes nnG
put Their own construction ON The
same, ana you Will then .plainly
see that the word ''renth
does not appear IN said law. But If
tne law authorizes the investment of
Tie money in United States bonds.
why deposit IL III anatlunnl bank and
give them theuse OF il for nothippp
~ the court has the right to lease or
loah me larrant county school lands. |
Why nave they NIT the right 10 loan it
" 'ne bank FOR, say u per cent. inter
est, which banks usually pay on de-
posils' WOULD ask Judge Beck ham
VI "hsoile Oh the commissioners, To cite
-. WV tutV uUtflorlLeS the tie
post of'rarrant county school ma,
IA any bank. IL the 100000 Is Der.
Iil1leh, school fund, it should he 40
decided, and the money Invested NO.
.ofdnlg to law, and not in a bans
without law. If IL Is available II
should be placed in the county trn,ss
ury where 1t belongs aud proratcd TO
lhe several school communities.
! make this reply not from any per.
SQUAT feeling have for any member of
NV eour', rus subject is purely u
within the scholastic ave. and |
! think, II such discretion is continued !
70 be used with the public school |
funds as has been used by the com. I
' .,.'' court, chat their great
may possibly net soma
OF the benefit of the Talrant comfy
seAooi lands. Respectfully,
cn.,e, - ID. III. HlGHTowER.
sn'ithEeld, Texas, sept, 18th, 1883.