Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-12-27
HIGH SCHOOL.
The Board of Education, 1t Is Alleged,
Not Acting In Accordance With the Con-
stitutIon-schoo Expenditures.

Not Acting In Accordance With the Con-
stitutIon-schoolE Expenditures.
WHEELING, December "a, 1891
To the Editor of the Register:
SIR: Since the Board of Education OF
this city has seen fit to attempt the es-
tablishment OF a High School. which
will be a source Of serious expense on
an institution of doubtful necessity, it
would be we'll for that body to be
brought to realize that 1t is not quite
omnipotent. 1t has certainly large
powers, but even that highly educated
corporation is not above the Constitu-
ton and the laws. A desire for the
success Of the common schools is felt by
a large majority of our citizens and any
legitimate expense will be cheerfully
net. But the money OF the
people can only be rightfully
taken for public uses pursuant to the
provisions Of law. A very respectable
portion Of the tax payers and residents
of this city are Of the Catholic faith.
They believe it to be contrary to their
religious duty to send their children TO
the public schools. Notwithstanding
for their religion prevents them from
deriving any considerable benefit from
the contributions the law cOmpels them
to make, in the shape of taxes, for the
support OF these schools, the board OF
education has for many years utterly
ignored the constitution and deprived
them of their right to vote upon the
school levy. Common prudence would
dictate that the greatest economy should
be exercised IN the expenditure OF money
illegally levied.
Let US for moment consider the
amount OF money this Board takes
from the people and disburses under
the levy of 1891. 1t levies for 1891 as
follows: School fund, 33 cents; build
Ing fund, Is cents, and library fund, 3
cents, making in all SO cents on the
Sl0O, on q totalassessment oil, SIS, 5S1,37
The gross tax resulting is 800, 623.14. /
aul informed that in 1890 they levied 81
cents on the 500. In addition to this
direct levy for 1891 they received from
the State IN the distribution Of the
State distributable school funds the
sum OF SIS, 354.42. This last amount Is
not equal to the State school tax paid
the same year to the Sheriff to be dis
tributed over West Virginia in proper
ton TO the number Of children OF school
ago in the several counties. Adding the
direct levy to the amount from the State
we have the large sum Of SILL
971,56. From this must be de-
Quoted a small amount for the
costs of collection Of the direct levy and
fol- the delinQuents. The city of Wheel
ind levies taxes for municipal purposes
upon the same valuation. The law re-
STREETS that levy to so cents for general
purposes and 10 cents for paving, &C.,
on the $780, The whole city levy Is
only 60 cents on the 500, and its gross
amount is Sill, 4SS.24. The city levy Is
subject to deductions, for costs OF col
lection and delinQuents, greater than
that of the Board, because the S15,354
received from the State is clear money
and there can b" no delinquency in its
payment. 1t will thus be apparent that
the Board receives over $3.50 80 more
for its use than this great city takes
from its inhabitants for all the number
less sources of expenditure OF the mu-
inequality. Our numerous municipal
Officers must be. paid, our fire depart
meht equipped, the engine house
erected and maintained, fire
alarm system provided, firemen
paid, police officers paid, city
prison kept up, streets and alleys
graded and paved, sewers constructed
and repaired and legion OF other de-
msnds met out Of the city levy, with
mighty little help from fines in the Po-
lice Court, wharf rents and market
house rents. Yet this Board Of Educa-
tioe must have nearly $500 more than
the city receives for all her necessities,
except water and gas, for the mainten-
snce OF few schools.
These figures are worthy of the pro-
found consideration OF every person
who has the future welfare OF the city
at heart, because the demands Of this
board will grow greater year by year,
unless a check is applied.
PROTESTANT.