Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-02-16

and ofener if deemed necessary, to submit to
the city or town council, in writing, classified
estimate of what funds will be needed for the
proper maintenance and growth of the public
schools Of the city, and to request the council
to make appropriations accordingly" and,
further. that it shall be the duty OF the city
council of every city of the first class, to pro-
vide IN dur time, and it shall have no power to
withhold, the SUN or Sulns reported by the city
school boards and declared to be necessary for the
maintenance and growth Of the public schools
of the city proviso being annexed that the
council shall not be required to appropriate a
sum greater than double the State apportlon.
luent to the city, but may, at its discretion give
any sum which will not require a tax OF more
than three mills gu the dollar on property.
All these provisions were faithfully carried
out, this year, by both parties The School
Board knowing the embarrassed condition of
our finances, asked for only six thousand dol
lars, when the law allowed them to demand
eight, and the City Council Of last year levied
this six thousand upon the people, and collect
cd it with the other taxes
Your readers must understand, however,
that the school treasury, though III charge of
the same person, is a different thing from the
city treasury, and that the City Treasurer can
pay warrants drawn BY the proper school au-
thoritics, H. c., the Chairman aud Clerk of the
School Buard) out Of the city treasury, as he
does those signed by the Mayor and Auditor.
The present City Council, therefore, directed
its Finance Committee to pay into the school
treasury, on the last day of each school month
six hundred dollars, and had this order been
executed no trouble would have arisen. But
it seems, that it was not executed in No
vcmbcr, December aud January, and hence,
when the State apportlonment and some
intended to use in building school house, ito
save the city in future, from the payment OF
high rents for unsuitable rooms, were exhaust
ed. the teachers and janitors, could get no
further pay Under these circumstances, the
its arrearages and enable it to pay the teachers.
spondci by taking the whole matter out OF the
hands of the Finance Committee, which had
failed to obey It's orders, and directing the City
Treasurer to pay all arrearages as soou us posi-
ble and see that. III future. the plan OF paying
fully carried out The Board of Aldermen
happened however to have but bare quorum.
and the chairman of the Finance Committee
succeeded in pcstponing action. with the
promise that the matter should be attended to-.
Now what is to be doue? Our teachers are
very poorly paid. and they are all poor people.
For less services than male principal performs
here for 5000, he could get, in New York
1900 and the other teachers ale paid there.
and everywhere else except in some cities OF
Virginia. III like proportion. They must live,
they and the poor mattresses who get from 50
to ! . month for their hard work in making
the fires before day in the cold winter mornings.
and they can Just live. soMch0W. On their Sala-
ric>: but they can't afford to sell their warrants
at heavy discount. The other employees of
the city, ali of whom are better paid, have re-
cnived their wages. and yet the teachers are
told that they-wll he attended TO.
1t looks very fair TO say that all employees
Of the city should he paid at the same time,
but any attempt to carry out that plan under
our ,,rescn, laws will break mp the school sys-
tenn. For instance, $1,000 is paid into the
treasury of the city; policeman who has the
Auditor warrant for his pay. comes into the
Treasurers Office, and with him teacher, with
school warrant The Treasurer pays the
forme", but the latter h. can't pay until the
money Is transferred to The SchoOl treasury, and
before the Finance Committee can be called to-
gcther to order such action the thousand dol
lars Is pad out to the police anu other omcerS
or to other creditors Of the city, and there are
no funds to be transferred This will happen
from month to month, and, as teachers must
eat like other people, they must try to hnd
other employment suppose there can be no
doubt that Judge Lowe would have to Issue a
mandanu< compelling the City Council to pro-
vide the funds, if the School Board should ap-
ply to him, but, of course, such a proceeding
would DOT be thought Of by that body; SO the
only remedy is to let public opinion act on those
who are responsible in the matter.
The writer has 10 children to educate, and
he has some property on which he has to pay
heavy taxes, consequently, his personal inter
ests arc against the school system rather than
for it, but he would Mt like to be the man who
breaks up the public schools, when the people
wake up and find the school house doors shut,
and their children in the streets. y CITIZEN.