The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-09-09
UNUSUAL DELAY EXPLAINED.

The distribution of the States chool
tax money to the different cities and
towns which the law states should be done
by the 10th of July, but which has not
been done by the last Of August and was,
as a result, looked into by the Barre City
Council, last week, was explained to a
representative of the Waterman Monday
by Superintendent of Education, Mason
S. Stone.
The law states that the distribution OF
the State school money shall be made
before the 10th of July and always has
been done by that da e i'm the past but
tn year, because Of adverse circumstan-
ces and a change in The conditions which
materially affects the given date OF dis
tribution, the money could not be sent
out as early as it has been in previous
years The principal cause for this the
adjustment of the Court of Claims. For
merly tn court would rectify mistakes
when a wrong amount had been sent to
city or town and then put its findings
before the leg stature. The new law
makes no provision for the correcting OF
m stakes, consequently the clerks in the
Superintendent of Education's office have
to be doubly sure before they send out the
lit.
Many of the towns in the past, thinking
that they would get their money anyway
as the Court of Claims would award it If
they were dilatory in presenting their re-
turns, did not worry about communicating
with the State officials early, but some
tines let the matter drag. In such case
the apportionment was made withou,
their town in and later they would bring
the certified amount of the school expen-
ses before the Court of Claims. This year
n order to avoid further complications,
Supt. Stone has thought it better to wait
for delinquent town clerks and thus make
sure of as correct a list as possible. The
city council at Barre passed a motion on
the evening of August 3lst, to the effect
that their clerk, Fred Wells, should in
quire of the State Treasurer the reason for
the owness of the department in not
sending their apportionment. When seea
last night, State Treasurer Edward Ii.
Deavitt said that the matter between the
Barre city officials and his Office had been
parties.
Supt Stone, when seen last evening
said "The town clerks and school direo-
tors were dliatory in sending their returns.
An attempt was also made to verify data
and eliminate errors as much as possible
for the reason that the Court of Claims has
been abolished and mistakes now arising
will not be so easily rectified The num-
Der of claims coming from errors bas heer
much reduced by the careful review oil
the returns which has been done before
} al owing them to leave the department
} "The figures which have been given t.
I the papers for publication comprising thu
) percent of the school expenditures of thu
, various towns, in order that the towns
2 might know their rating, results, in thu
? information that several towns discovered
7 mistakes, This necessitated the figurini
8 anew of the entire fund.
2 1t is very improbable that interest vii
2 be paid ON the money that has been de
2 layed, as the Barre city council demands
7 as under the circumstances of the frs
0 working of a new law has made it diff
2 cult on all concerned to apportion tn
| amount and do it without error. Wor
is now being done on the new figure
$ which were necessary because some G
the towns made mistakes in their reports
2 but it is hoped to be ready for distribu
5 ton within a short time.