Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-04-06

fore IL must DO decided on general princi-
Piles Of law. Some claim that it must be
distributed among the taxpayers, aud 9TH
ers, that it must be turned into the town
treasury. Now those who claim that tho
surplus should be givon to the taxpayers
seem to have forgotten that the State and
the towns, with the income Of the funds,
Huntington fund, lease lands, etc., paid
more than one-halt the expenses of the
schools. They paid for the year ending
April /, 1899, S371, 305 %, while the dis
tricts paid 1858, 1857. During the past
year the payments have probably been
about the same. If we admit that the dis
tribution among the taxpayers would be
just and legal it will be found, think, in
nine cases out Of ten, that the entire sur
plus belongs to the taxpayers of the town
and not to those Of the district; for In most
districts the surplus will consist Of the pub
lilo money paid this spring, or the money
paid by the State next July.
If there is any thing to this claim, which
is very doubtful, it will be mere nonsense
for any one to attempt to confine the dis
tribution to the residents OF the districts
Tbs surplus money must go to all who have
contributed to it. and in proportion as thsy
have contributed. After the towns and
State have received their share there will
not DO enough left for anyone to wrangle
over. Some men reason as though the
schools at this time were in the condition OF
bankrupt bank that is to be closed out and
its funds divided. This Is great mistake
and is the cause of many false interences.
Tho schools are to be continued as in the
past. 1t would be nearer the truth to say
that the school districts instead of bong
destroyed, were enlarged to take in whole
ha tha NJ
cessors in office to the district officers, and
are to perform all and substantially the
Same duties that the district officers have in
tho past. Therefore, the district officers
should turn over the records and all funds
after payment of debts to the town Officers.
4. Final settlement-I have said that the
seleotmen should divide the public money.
There is no doubt whatever as to this; but
there is no good reason why they should
pay to the districts money to be paid
back at once by the districts surplus
money. By the statute the towns assume
district debts for school houses, lands fur
niture and repairs, but not other debts. All
those districts that owe nothing are not en-
titled to any public money-because If paid
it would be q surplus In tho district treasury
which had been paid by the town and must
belong to the towE. Those districts in debt
are entitled to so much OF their shares oil
the public money as are needed to pay their
debts, but no more. OF course, where the
debts exceed their shares OF the public
| money the excess must bs paid by the dis
trict. The town and district officers SD ould
meet Immediately and have full settle
rneut. l know of some town officers who
have offered this plan to the districts which
will probably be accepted. Taking any
view of the situation, there is hardly pos
sibiity that district tax payer can get
one dollar of this surplus. He will be bene-
fitted like every other citizen. by having II
retained by the town and used for the sup
port OF the schools. In that case, hi,
money will be used for just what he paid il
for and he has nc ground for complaint
Edwin f. Palmer,
Waterbury. March 2S. 1893.