Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-10-28


from 1856 to 1890, by the practice of ques-
tionable methods, the people lost in the
school tax matter alone S91 ,5S3.70 Of this
sum the state treasurers got SIS, 791 85 and
various other treasurers and supernumear-
les got the balance. The following items
show the amounts taken each year:
In 1885. SIG sol go
In 1851 ................... IL 1880
LII 1888. ~, l46. 6O
III 1903. ......... .................. 19,Ao .SO
In 1890. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 19, 341. 80
These sums represent the interest on the
state school tax during ten months in each
year, the time that elapsed from it's pay
ment into the state treasury by the various
counties, until it's final distribution for
school purposes.
In 1885 the state legislature passed the
Il mill school tax" act. By it's provisions
tax of 1 mill was levied upon each
dollar OF assessable property in the state.
This 1 mill tax was to be assessed and paid
into the treasury in the same manner and
at the same time as all other taxes. Taxes
throughout the state are paid in January
of each year, so that by Feb the various
county treasurers would have remitted to
the state treasurer the amount of this mill
tax raised in the respective counties. This
money would then remain in the possession
of the state treasurer and at his disposition
until shortly after July /, when he would
remit it to the county treasurers to be
applied to the payment of salaries for school
teachers etc. The county treasurers would
hold the money in their possession for about
five months longer, or generally until
about Oct. l, before paying it out.
This abuse, like many others, was
promptly corrected by the Democrats.
Among the first bills introduced in the
legislature was one providing for the turn
ing over of the school money to each dis
trict as soon as it was received. The state
superintendent was required to apportion
the tax among the counties, specially incor-
porated villages, and cities in November
preceding the collection of the tax instead
of waiting until next June. This put
stop to any speculation in the money
belonging to the school districts as had
been the custom before.
Under the provisions of the new law
Immediately upon the receipt of any state
school taxes the county treasurers must
settle with the state treasurer, and within
ten days thereafter distribute the money to
the town, city and village treasurers In
making this settlement the county treasur-
er merely exchanges receipts with the
state treasurer, and pays to him or receives
from him only the difference between the
amount due the state from the county, or
that due the county from the state. 1t will
thus be seen that no part of the money can
long remain in the hands of the treasurers
In fact, the money never leaves the county.
The towns, therefore, have it for immediate
use, and those counties which need every
dollar at the earliest possible moment can
get it instead of waiting ten months, as
they were compelled to do under Republic
an rule.
Besides this the schools of the states were
benefited to the extent of ST., 002 06 through
interest received on the educational funds,
which under former Republican admins
trations would have gone into the pockets
of the state treasurers.
That is the way the Democratic party
looks after the schools
Nor is this all. The public schools of the
state have reached higher point of excel
lence than ever before. This Is due to the
untiring exertions of State Superintendent
Wells who, for his work, has probably been
the worst abused man in the state. The
Republican organs cannot say enough
against him. But in spite of this he has
gone on with tireless activity, giving to the
work of correcting abuses and infusing
new life and ideas, time and energy to
degree unusual in the work of this office
The Manitowoc Pilot, the editor of which
Is Thoroughly acquainted with educational
work in the state, and as he says, lis no
partisan OF W cl's, speaking of these attacks
says: Ever since he (Welis) determined to
correct long standing abuses in the manage
ment of the State university, he has been
I,- 2@Nl - l. IL
secution. But the Republicans could not
stand any sort of criticism upon the State
university no matter how proper it might
be, so to remove if possible the edge of the
criticism, they began systematic villifica-
ton of the character and qualification of
the man who first directed public attention
to the glaring irregularities in matters per-
tanning to the university. 1t is, however,
unnecessary to state that his maligners
argued from data drawn wholly from their
imagination, and without exception they
were IN no position to judge of the merits
or dement's OF the superintendent"
Continuing, the writer claims: "First,
that Mr., Wells has devoted larger amount
OF personal attention to the duties of his
office than any of his predecessors, and
thereby has advanced the cause of popular
education to a marked degree; second,
that he thoroughly enjoys the confidence
of the county superintendent, whose rela-
tions to the department are of the closest
kind, and that through his bipartisan and
able administration he has gained the
respect and good will of the prominent
teachers of the state. He is not only pop
| ular superintendent, but he has gained his
popularity in the face of strong opposition"
Among the good work accomplished by
| the state superintendent office under the
present administration has been the change
from sEp-shod methods of former admins
trations to an intelligent enforcement of the
laws governing educational work in the
state. The code of school Jaws has been re-
yised; all the laws were verified and errors
corrected. The matter was rearranged in
! more convenient form New comments ON
the laws, brief. direct, clear and simple,
were put In place of the verbose comments
OF former editions The revision was done
with that thoroughness which marks all
the work OF the department, and the result
is school code of good value.
In 1887 school districts were authorized to
purchase books for district libraries with
portion of the school funds. The privilege
was falling into disuse because boards had