The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-23
pERPLEXED.
THAT n THE CONDITION OF THE AID
mINIsTRATOR or FINANCE.

Tn conversation held yesterday with the
Administrator of Finance, Mr.. A. FL. Isaac.
son. on the subject OF the attitude of State
superintendent Lusher regarding the dispo-
sltlon OF the $4,000 appropriated by the Leg
islature for the relief of the New Orleans
school teachers, the Administrator admitted
that he was perplexed. He felt confident.
however, that having acted In the matter OF
the payment or the teachers under the advice
of such legal talent AZ Thomas j. Semmes,
the president of the School Board and Samuel
r. Blanc, the assistant city attorney, his
acts will bear the test Of legal investiga-
ton somewhat better that the opinion Of
the Hon. II. M. Lusher would lead the public
mind to believe. Mr.. Isaacsons perplexity is
motived more particularly by the fact that
none of the objections advanced by Mr. Lusher
now were made prior to the payment OF the
$4,000 appropriated for the teachers salaries
for the year 1B7s-October, November and
December-when On the contrary, he agreed
with Mr.. SerDmes, Mr.. Blanc and the city
superintendent, Mr.. William Q. Rogers, as to
the method which was adopted and carried
out Mr.. Isaacson even thinks that Mr..
Lusher remarked that the plan was a wise
one, and In this the Administrator is sup
ported by Mr.. Sturcken, the book keeper OF
the Department of Finance. Another point
which perplexes the Administrator Is that
upon which MIR. Lusher lays great stress and
requires formal statement on the part OF
the public school direcH, n Of the amount of
the appropriation OF $4,000 needed to
nay the three months OF 1878 and the one
month OF 1877 for Mr.. Issacson assumes that
Mr. Lusher knows very well that the teach
ers' roll for each OF those months amounted
TO about $4,000, and that the aggregate
would exceed by nearly $4,000 the amount
appropriated.
As to that portion Of Mr.. Lusher's state
ment OF the fourteenth OF March. to the effect
that "the warrants herein mentioned are
synonymous with the pay rolls issuedby your
board the only vouchers or warrants for sal
aries wages, rents, etc, which your board is
competent to issue under the law, and In con-
formity to its own rules" etc. Mr.. fsaacson
says that 1t would take, under ordinary cir
cumstances, a powerful strain of the imagin-
alton, to make one the synonym OF the other, |
but In view of the fact that the law prohibits |
the school board from paying negotiable evil |
dences OF debt (seetions is and 4 Of school act |
of March &c, 1870, to which Mr.. Lusher him
self refers in his letter Of February to Adj
ministrator Isaacson. the effort would be in |
deed herculean.
Neither can he understand the persistency |
Of Mr.. Lusher to require the afidavits OF the
teachers; because. first. the law never oontem-
plates an impossibility. The teachers never |
having received any evidences Of Indebtedness,
and having none In prospective wide the law), |
they could not have cold or disposed OF their |
claims for salaries against the board, to any |
particular individual or Individuals; hence |
that portion Of the law requiring teacher
TO make oath that he Is still the owner of his |
claim, is surplussage, IL not an absurdity.
To cum up, Mr. Isaacson adds that his con- |
struction Of the law. confirmed by the legal
opinion referred to, Ia that the appropriation
of the Legislature WAS intended as q relief to
the teachers and employees OF the schools, to
whom were due their salaries for October,
November and December, 1878, and Deem
Der, 1877, amounting TO about $4,000 land for
which $4,000 was appropriated regardless
OF their private arrangements with brokers |
or money lenders. grocers. butchers or other
surveyors, and he was further confirmed In
bis construction by that portion OF the letter
OF Mr.. Lusher. which says:
IL is obvious that all Advances or loans made
by bankers, brokers or friends to teachers or
other en- ployees on account OF their salaries,
are mere personal accommodations, which
have not in any legal sense dtvested The
teachers and Other employees Of Their original
and continued o,os,ship OF such salaries.
Since, therefore. the possible advances or
loans have not In any legal sense Invested the
teachers OF their original and continued own
ership of their salaries, and that the law re-
cognizes no evidences OF transfer, Mr.. Isaac
son say he ID at q loss tosee the necessity |
or availability OF an affidavit from the teach |
ers that be or she has remained the owner
of such salary from the date Of the certifying |
OF said pay roll to the present date" which is |
part OF the form" provided by Mr.. Lusher
for the guidance OF the school board.
BENZ. r. YOUNG, sR.