New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-16
BONDS OF WARD BOARD TREAS.
URBRS.

In the official proceedings of the Council
of the thirteenth instant, we find COM
mmication from Mr.. w. +. Loan, as secre-
tary Of q meeting held in the Senate Cham
Der on the eighth instant, and composed
principally Of gentlemen connected as di-
rectors with the public schools. This com,
munication contains copy of two resolu-
tions which, it states, "were adopted unani-
mously at meeting of the various boards
Of school directors Of the city Of New Or
leans, held in the Senate Chamber on the
evening of December s, 1870" The first Of
these resolutions pronOunces the condition
of the security bonds, required by the City
Council of the treasurers of the ward
boards, to DO unusual and almost imprac
ticable," and the Council is requested to
reconsider their action in relation to the
matter With the other resolution we have
nothing to do for the purposes of this article.
1t would be difficult to crowd more error
into as many lines as exists in this commu
nication to the City Council signed by Mr..
Loan. The wording Of the document leads
to the impression that the boards of school
directors, both city and ward, held q meet
ing, as such, and unanimously passed a
resolution which is presented to the City
Council, charged with all the weight of Off
cial unanimity.
Now, in the first place. the meeting at the
Senate Chamber, on the evening of the
eighth instant, was not, in any sense, a
meeting of the school boards in their Off
cial capacity. A few four members of the
City Board attended, and one of these, in
the course of the informal business that
took place, said with unmistakable dis
tinctness, that neither he nor his few col
leagues present, attended the meeting other
than as individuals, and that were he to
vote in the meeting his action could not in
any way bind the City Board and in this
statement the other members of the City
Board who were present concurred
There were not over thirty members of
the ward school boards present: for num-
Der of persons in the room had no connec-
ton with the matter, and of several of the
ward boards there was only one member
present. Besides, all the members of the
u
of the ward boards had left the meeting be-
fore this resolution was passed. In fact, II
the resolution had been passed unanimously
there were not moro than fifteen or sixteen
school directors present, at any rate. and
how these few, informally and unoficially
assembled, could by any action bind the
school directors, it is not easy to under
stand. Particularly as most Of those who
retired, did so because they felt little in
| terest in the proceedings, aud considered
! all that was done az merely the expression
of individual opinion. In short, it is simply
preposterous to attempt to give the dis
jointed proceedings OF few individuals
the slightest official weight.
| The gist of the resolution, asking of the
| City Council to reconsider their action in
regard to the bonds of ward board treaslI-
rers," is to the full as preposterous as the
claim that the resolution in question was
| the work Of the unanimous school boards.
| 1t is, in fact, asking the Council so to relax
as to make it easy for irresponsible persons
| to hold the Office of ward board treasurers.
The only object Of the City Council, in its
action, is to make the school funds fully Sc
cure. And why person who, as ward
board treasurer, has in his possession pOr-
ton of that fund, should not give uniln-
peachable guarantee for it's safe-keeping. it
is impossible to conceive, at any rate on the
| supposition that the treasurer intends to act
honestly.
With regard TO the comparison between
the stringent security bonds required from
ward board treasurers, and what had been
exacted from former treasurer of a school
fund, we may say, that previous laxness is
no reason for its continuance.
The office of ward board treasurer is not
intended to be lucrative, but merely honor
ary. 1t is, therefore, no great hardship not
to possess it. And if person, to whom the
Office is offered, does not feel inclined, Or is
| unable to furnish the security, such person
can easily leave the Office untouched. The
course taken by the City Council, in re-
quiring bonds, such as the banks would ad-
vance money Oh, will, by confining the Gus
tody of the school funds to none but the
most responsible, insure them from the
effects of any defalcation whatever. And
even under these stringent circumstances
there will be no difficulty in procuring the
services of proper person to fill the posi-
ton of ward board treasurer; the Office will
not go begging.