Hopkinsville Kentuckian

CROOKEDNESS
IN SCHOOL
STATISTICS.
Some
Counties
Appear
to
Have Their Lists Padded.
INSPECTOR TO EXAMINE.
Christian Shows up With Figures About Correct.
Inaccuracy in the reports of the common school census for the past year or two, says a Frankfort dispatch, has determined Governor Beckham to take some step to protect the treasury and the common school fund from drains upon it from this source, which either from carelessness or design, have grown in enormous proportions from year to year, and are causing the school fund to lap over into other funds of the State annually to keep up the system of schools. Within the last day or two he has been in conference with State Superintendent Fuqua regarding this matter, the time for the taking of the new census being near, and he has about concluded that the only way to prevent such inaccuracies is to go, in vigorous fashion, after any who are found guilty of "padding" returns. To this end the State Inspector and Examiner will be sent into counties where this is suspected, or where there may be cause to suspect it after the taking of the next census, and upon his report prosecutions will be based. Already, recently, one County Superintendent has been slated for removal from office for such work, and another will very shortly be proceeded against.
Following are the figures of nearby counties, taken from the full list:
Population Pupils
Christian 37,962 11,789
Caldwell 15,510 4,608
Calloway 17,633 6,488
Daviess 33,067 12,823
Graves 33,504 11,246
Henderson 32,907 10,652
Hopkins 30,905 10,426
Todd 17,371 5,813
Trigg 14,724 5,238
Christian county has 6,228 white and 5,581 colored children listed, one to every 3.22 of the population. Trigg has one to every 2.66. Lee county is one of the most prolific, having one to every 2.36 population. Harlan's is 2.44. Boone with 4.18 is one of the best. The average is about one to three of the population.