Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1884-05-24

I sbhAutfiS. t,oJO,OoO.lS to,lUb 4SO.S
1
The past-due coupons on Baby bond
unredeemed by the State amount to S5S,
600, of which the Fiscal Agent holds S33,
500. There will mature on the first 0
. August next coupons amounting to abon
$40, 100, leaving to be provided for in 13S.
, the sum of S7s 700.
There are in the Treasury cash balances
from 1879 to 1885, amounting to S153, 900
, Current School Fand, same period, S74-
a 600. The Free School Fnud has to it's nc
. count $22 900, and the Levee and drama
ge Fund Sl91 100. AS against this las
, fund the report of the Board of State En-
gineers " iii show the amount of warrantl
outstanding, drawn as explained therein
Some provision should be made to NEE
prompt!y the interest due on Baby bonds
Che decision of the Supreme Court max
ing these bonds receivable not only fo
back taxes, but for all interest, costs ant
penalties, cuts off the receipt into thl
Treasury OF any money derived from The
collection of back taxes to pay the inter
est. I 1e balances in the Treasury are
sufficient tn pay al! of the interest on Ia.
by bouas. aud ,eave over si00, 600 to take
up school certificates for past years. In
this way I .biuk The Sta 10 could be paced
on n st-;cSy cash basis i;or 1884, without
leaving no paid ;.n Obligation p,ior TO .he
frsS OF January 1884.
It is estimated that the amounts dUe
for back taxes, and from property already Y
forfeited, is sufficient to pay the principal
ana interest OF Baby bontls and leave ao
e-Gess o. so 4.e Two mil on an!..-s
TO prevelS fu.uce e.pba .a.smeats
| will suggest thai the .ntetest on We e..
by bends be aoyaacsd from tae Genera,
fund.
All the nco2el.y forfeited :c.. back a-es
should be sod and placed to the creuit o:
tee Ge Ie-al i'und, aud then any excess u
this taud should be devoted to school
purposes.
Act No. 50. OF 1S77, shohld be so nmend
ed as to have some positive provision
made TO cash al warran Is as they are is
sued, aod 20 pay interest coupons July 1st
oc each year, and January 1st ensuing,
so chat tise.e shall not lie a possibility OF
any default in interest, which will
amount, January l. 1885, to, say, s474 900
The hrst half must be advanced oefose
any taxes will be paid int" the Treasury
The Fiscal Agency is necessity unde,
the Constitution OF 1879, as taxes are not
Ell 5!e until the end of the year. will
advise that the law be so amended as &c
require the Fiscal Agent to carry out the
a.no7e sugges ions, pay ing him n reason
abe in,e. est or the adva nces. Hereto
fore lie has charged no interest for advan
ces. although authorized 10 do SO by Ii. W
because ofthe large amounts to the credi
Of the State IN his possession. This, how
| ever is not likely to oc:ur in the f1ture.
Tie first ameudmeu5 to Tue CousuitU
tioa, as proposed by the General Assem-,
bly,, has been adopted by the people. Toe
debt is now permanently fixed, and the un
/ certainty, litigation, doubt and d.ssrust
| which embarrassed the State u her finan
| ciai operations will cease, and it IS hope.
fully anticipated in financial circles tina,
this ti.ial adjustment will result in grea.
advantage 20 the State by inv;ting capi-
tai, lowering the rate of interest, encomr.
| aging investment IS, aud developing The
resources OF the State.
| CoMlIoV Sc TOOLS.
! + is encouraging to notice he great in
| tcres6 mGD.f tested in the pubic schoo!
| system and popular education through
out the State. At no period in the histo-
t,y of tue State has there been sucn out
| spoken sentiment in favor OF the educa-
tion of the people, the introduction Of
improved methods in teaching, the EN-,
ployment of educated and trained teach.
ers, aud the extension of the means for ell.
ementary education. The people of this
State are prepared to approve any legisla
ton that will secure an effective system
of tree elementary instruction. We have
vast number OF children whose parents
are not only unable to send them tt
school, but it is Ito be regretted that W.
notice an unwil!inguess to do so, anI
many are keeping their children out o
school for tie small sum they get for thei
labor. Compulsory attendance at schoo
| should be required and legislation enac
ted to enforce IT, The attendance of chill
2ron at school must first be secured an,
:han the term of instruction should be ez
tended. There should be resolute a.,
dotermind effort mades to increase tn
amount of money appropriated for schoc
purposes. Every cent of money not need
cd for current expenses should be devote
TO the maintenance of our public schools
The State can only give general super
iptendcnce aud partial support to publ
education. That it is the duty of the Stat
to educate its citizens into an iutelIigep
comprehension of the duties of citizen
ship is undaniable. The best system or
ganized will fail to accomplish the objec
desired unless actively sustained by tn,
community, Individuals and local author
tiles. There is danger to ponulsr educa
ton in relying exclusively upon the Stat,
or National authority for aid, "No COM
munity succeeds in educating it's children
until it faces the hard fact of local tax
alton, and trains itself to the persisten
and generous assessment of all its proper
, ty for the general good"
! will oly;Sa apfira olo 90,