The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-02-19

question from the beginning, was to show
the facts as they exist throughout the Re
publican a. we'll a. tho Democratic admin
istratiou. lido not charge that any money
was improperly applied by either. There
were some slight mistakes by both,
probably, but whatever they were
| / have little doubt 1t will turn out that the
schools have received all the money they
were entitled to. Since that resolution was
offered the Auditor with all his force, has
been using all the time he could spare, In
investigating this question, and the Com
mi,tee hopes he will be able in q day or
30 TO have his exhibit ready, 80 as to show
the matter in such way that all who take
the painsto examine will see for them
selves and Judge whether the officers have
administered the laws for the best interests
Of the people. One OF the great causes Of
delay in getting the Auditors report has
been the imperfect manner OF keeping the
books OF that office, which makesit difficult
TO ascertain what the true state oil these
funds has been through the former period
OF the Government. We hope, how
ever, to soon present that report TO the
Senate SO that all may be able 10 examine
for themselves.
Mr. Price again spoke, after which a
recess was taken. After the recess Mr..
Dawson made through review OF the
whole matter.
SENATOR DAwSoN's SPEECH.
He said he didn't claim that the Demo-
Gratis had stolen any Of the school funds;
but he did charge that, from 1873 to 1870,
they took from the irreduCible fund nearly
$4,000, on which they had never paid one
cent ofinterest to the schools, nor had they
ever paid cent OF the principal; that, from
1873 to 1879, they took from the school
fund the sum OF Sl2I, 5OO and had never
paid back single cent Of the principal,
and neglected and refused to pay any IN
terest whatever on it till 1881. Thus, the
children oil the State were deprived for
eight years OF the benefit OF any interest on
this amount.
Mr.. Dawson further said: The Eegisla.
ture in February, 1870, appropriated $780,
900 10 aid in the further construction OF the
Insane Asylum, aHd in the same act pro.
vided for an additional levy Of five cents
to meet the appropriation. The money
arising from this extra levy, IS every one
knows, could not be collected and paid
into the treasury till after September 80,
1870. None OF It could come till Decem-
Der, and the most OF it reached the treas
ury not till January and February, 1871.
Hence, at the close Of the fiscal year, Sep.
TENDER, 1870, there was q deficit in the
treasury to the amount Of this extra appro.
priaiion OF $4,000 1t was covered by tho
temporary use Of the school funds then
lying idle in the treasury. But no where
does 1t appear that the schools were de.
prived OF dollar Of money thereby. The
money was paid back to the school fund
long before January 81, 1871, as appears
from the special report OF the Auditor oil
that date.
don't seek to cover up single fact.
There was due the school funds September
80, 1870, 100000. don't, as some seemed
to do, even apologize for this borrowing
from the school funds. The old constitu-
ton did not prohibit it. The law indirect.
ly authorized it. The Code, chapter As,
section IS, said: SAN sums as have ac-
crued or shall hereafter accrue, shall be set
apart Us a separate fund, to be called the
school fund.- and it shall be the dutyol
the Auditor TO ascertain from time to time
what sums have so accrued, or may here.
after 30 accrue, and pass the came to the
credit Of the said fund; and the State is
hereby pledged TO pay interest at the rate
OF six per cent per annum on all sums so
credited, which interest shall be payable
on the first day OF September annually"
This meant that when there was any oil
the irreducible school fund in the treas.
ury awaiting investment the State should
pay interest on it until 1t was
invested, as well as to guarantee
the interest after it was invested.
OF course, 1t could not be held that the
State shonld pay interest on money so
lying in the treasury which she could not
use, This provision is not in the law now.
1t was repealed because the new Constitu.
ton prohibits using the school fund. When
our Democratic friends met in convention
aud brought out that wonderful new Con-
stitution, theadoption OF which was to bring
on the millennium and numerous other
good things, they proposed TO show that
they were better friends OF free schools
than those were who created them; and
when the Constitution was before the
people they were told that il ii were adopt
cd there would be no more borrowing
from the school fuad that would stop
the Constitution would prohibit it. Well,
this, Mr.. President, is q case Of where
prohibition doesn't prohibit" The clause
OF this wonderful new Constitution, which
was to stop this thing OF borrowing from
the school fund is as follows
"Nor shall any money or fund be taken
for any other purposes than that for which
it has been, or may be, appropriated or
nrnyidplh-Art IN Sac '#fH
This Language is peculiar to the new con.
stitution. 1t Is not found ia the old.
WHAT TIE REPUBLICANS DID.