Semi-weekly herald., 1910-05-02
become more general. The more we
hear OF wrongs, the less wrongs we
have.
DURANGO SCHOOL FUNDS HELD

and the attorney general about this
school tax which has become the par.
amount issue in the election to be held
In Durango next Monday. l first call.
ed at the state superintendent office,
and found that she Is out through the
state visiting schools, and that she
will be in Durango on May g. Upon
explaining my mission to her deputy,
| was introduced to Mr. Thorne. a
deputy from the attorney generals of.
flee to whom all questions OF school
law are referred. He told me that the
$3.50 per month provided by law is
all the school board can legally charge
outside pupils for admission to the
high school. and that Durango is the
only place where there has been any
trouble about the new law. then ex.
planned 10 him how majority OF the
Durango school board is charging the
farmers S2.50 extra, and how, as sec
retary OF their union, / am beseiged
with complaints about II. As briefly
as possible l told him how the farm.
ers had sent a committee to the school
board to find out If there is any legal
or equitable grounds for their queer
conduct, and how the board had re
fused to give the farmers committee
any information whatever about the
money they are collecting in this pc.
culiar way, When | told him that
they did not even pay It over to the
county treasurer as all school funds
are supposed to be paid, he jumped
up and said, Let us go in and see
the state auditor about that"
When entered the auditors office
and met Ready Kenehan | saw at once
that had found the right place TO get
a square deal He is big good ma.
tured Irish blacksmith, but he is quick
witted enough to see, and red hlooded
enough to revolt AT any suspicion of
fraud or injustice, and when | asked
him If he had authority to check up
the Durango school boards books, he
said: "Yes, have authority to check
up the books of every school board
and county officer In this state, and
they will all have to keep their books
straight as long as l am in office"
| then told him how the state legis.
iature had passed law giving every
boy and girl. who is qualified, right
to attend any high school In their
| county for $3.50 per month, which is
to be paid out of taxes levied on prop
erty; and how the Durango school
board in defiance of this law is charg
ing parents who dare to send their
| children TO high school $3.50 in addi
| ton. l told him how this lawless
conduct on the part of the board had
| aroused the suspicion of the farmers
upon whom the tax is laid and how
| the committee they sent to inquire
into the matter had been treated. His
eyes blaZed with Indignation when
| told him how taxes for the support
OF schools had been shifted from prop
erty on to patriotism, and he groaned
when told him how many farmers
stood for it. He could hardly sit still
as told him about children who we're
compelled to remain out of school be.
cause their parents were too poor to
appeal TO the courts, or too proud to
sign a pauper's certificate; and he lis
tened in open-mouthed wonder When
told him how the school board not
only refused to offer any explanation
OF their strange conduct, but that they
never paid any of the money they are
collecting in this unlawful way into
the county treasurer's office; and
therefore tnat the farmers have no
way OF finding out if there is any
reason or justice in it. ! told him
how, as secretary of the farmers un-
ion, and a member OF their school
committee, It had devolved upon me to
find some explanation of this peculiar
state OF affairs, and that thought the
easiest and most direct way would be
to come to Denver where | hoped to
find come honest man who would help
me to get the school boards books
pried open, and in that way clear the
STOuUu LOT luli anu Idlf settlement OI
the question. When / said that Roady's
eyes began to twinkle and he said:
"If you came up here TO find an
honest man you ought to have brought
a candle" But when | explained how
he could help me by holding up their
school funds, he brought his fist down
on the table with an oath and roared:
They'll get no more money from me
till they open their books" When he
said that | grasped his hand and thank.
ed him heartily. 1t was the first ray
of light had seen in our long and
dreary fight over this perplexing ques-
ton and | took the train for home
with light heart. For | know that
when the school board finds out the
$4,000 which they expect to receive
out OF the general taxes Is held up,
they will come down from their high
horse and show what equity there is
In the extra tax, IL there Is any, and
then II the farmers want to waive
their legal rights in the matter 1t will
be their concern and not mine.
BARNEY HAUGHEY.