The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1874-01-25
rENAS rRRE SCHOOLS

yolvcd in much confusion. Many
think Ii strange that oar schools nrv
not everywhere IN succe,, lul operation.
Many al.o think II strange that teach
err OF 1879 are yet unpaid, Wehayc
Il few words 10 say on the subject,
When the last Legislature met Last
January they found the whole ,choo.
machinery In the hand, or Radical
Officers, state, district and county,
beaded by an imported, unRnownman,
named DeGress, who had come Ia
Texas Us lieutenant in negro comps
ny, aud who had shown, IN hi, r,paci-
ity ~ state superintendent OF public
instruction, ignorance, dishonesty, and
an utter disregard or the public opinion
of the people OF Texas.
The Legislature, actuatcd by the pur-
est motives, Went 10 work with a good
will TO reform the school law, strip Il
of every unnecessary expense, stop
stealing and place its administration
in the hands Of officers TO he chosen hy
the people themselves. These honora-
BILE desires and the measures growing
out of them, met and have continued
to meet with the combined opposition
Of the army OF school officers pla ed IN
power by Davis, DeGress and their dis
trict pimps, called supervisors, Al every
point the new law has met this oppose
ton. The Legislature exhausted every
means in its power TO ascertain how
much money was Necessary 10 pay oil
all teachers up to March, 1873. Com
mittees waited repeatedly on DeGress,
and always returned feeling that he
was not only incompetent but unwill-
ing to furnish full and honest state
meRt of the condition OF the school
funds. Adopting the best course
they could, with the lights before
them, and believing the amount suf-
ticient, they appropriated four hun
bred thousand dollars to pay of all
teachers up to last month. DcGreSs
told the committee that would BE-
enough. But it come to pass that it
only paid teachers to The end of No
vcmber 1872. Who is to blame?
Certainly not the Thirteenth Legisla-
ture but DeGress and his lieutenants.
The Thirteenth Legislature, by reason
of the Radical officers being unwilling
to make a clean breast, was compelled,
in its desire to protec, the people from
further pillage, to move in the dark
Ii passed the present school law as the
best il could do, with Davis rs gov
ernor and the senate practically tie
between Democrats and Radicals.
They well knew the difficulty and the
impossibility, under the circumstances,
of cnacting such school law as they
and the people desired.
The people must remember that
until now the execution of the new
law has been in the hands of the
former school officers, not elected by
them, but appointed rs aforesaid by
Davis, DeGress and their district sub
ordiuales. 1t is beyond question that
the great majority of them have
sought to bring the new law into disre.
putc, by directly or indirectly failing
to carry ont its provisions in good faith.
For these reasons, to large extent,
Notwithstanding the last Legislature
appropriated five hundred thousand
dollars to pay teachers and carry on
the schools from and after the first of
September last, but few schools have
been established since that time. As
before said, the people ask why" We
have given glance at the reasons.
But, practically, now is the first time
the people, through a Legislature fair
" representing their will, nave been in
n condition to establish u genuine sys-
TEN of free public schools. Now we
have Democratic governor, senate,
house, and superintendent Of educa'
ton. The Legislature, now in session,
will have to commence anew, wipe out
the frauds of the Radical system, pay
off its debts, and devise such Il plan n
will suit the situation of the country.
But this will necessarily require some
time. and good citizens must be pa
ticnt. In the meantime the county
boards of school directors were COM
PEELED TO stay action till the Austin
was disposed OF. But now
they are moving forward. The board
of Dallas county met II second time
Yesterday and proceeded in the dis
charge oftheir duties. Several teachers
were examinedand the county divided,
at least, into school districts.
We repeat that the Democratic party
is IN no wise responsible for the confu-
sion existing, or the temporary sus-
pension of the schools, With rea-
sonablc time allowed they will have
the best common school system in the
United States.
NAMES ASD fI0NORS.
Jones. Brown and Smith are three