Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-12-30
GEMS OF THOUGHT
Picked Up by an Appeal Reporter Coz.
corning the Delicate Health Of
the School Board.
W hat the Practical Business Men Think
OF the Island Question:
Drafted Bill.

Yesterday, 10 view OF the proposed chang
| in the form of the School Board. which wa
| squelched 10 that distinguished body OIL
Thursday night, an APPEAL reporter csllet
upon several well-known citizens, mostly
lawyers, for their opinions upon it. The hrs
gentleman visited was
JUDGE CLAPP,
who was found at work in his office.
Have you noticed the proposed change
10 the constitution OF the School BoardP
asked The reporter.
Yes, and it meets with my appreciation
l have b, en- opposed 10 the present School
Board all along; it is terrible botch. l. il
place for CAB and long-Winded discussions
which have nothing 10 do with real issues
l don't think you will find two men in town
who differ upon this point"
"What do you think Of the proposition
that the governor shall appoint the 6rst body
of COMMISSIONER
81 see no objection to it whatever. In
deed, would not object TO the governors
appointing them alWays, as / believe we
would get better meD."
MR. ". z. MITCHELL,
an old educator, was the next victim OF the
reportorial hydraulic press. He was found
in his Office at the Planters Insurance build
ing.
do you regard the present School Board
as an ideal organic ation" asked the scribe.
ST do not" said Mr.. Mitchell, mildly but
firmly.
"Do you think there should be a commits
sion of, say fve%
al do; think Mr.. Lynn's main idea was
an excellent one. My own view il, that the
governor ought to have the power to appoint
one commissioner for one year, one for two
years, one for three years, one for four years,
and one for five years. Then elect enc COM
missioner every year for = term of five years,
and let the board fill every vacancy or upex-
pired term. / would like 10 see the schools
divorced entirely from politics"
"What do you think about the clause in
the bill providing for the payment OF the
commissioners"
al am not much in favor OF that $500
feature, unless the commissioners were e1ecu-
live officers The legislative Council dis
tributes probably S4O0, 900 in a year, and the
School Board about $4,000. 1 cannot re-
call any city where the school trustees are
paid anything for their services. The secre-
lary does all the clerical work."
dHave you any ether objection to the
bill?"
ait is open TO the objection that it does
not strike at the assessment rate, or provide
a way 10 raise the money TO support the
schools"
was taken in by the reporter OF the wing.
The colonel deruurred 10 being interviewed,
aud said he must move on; but being pinned
TO the question as 10 what he thought Cf the
School Board, he said at wasn't business"
Whether he referred 10 the int, rEiew or 10
the board, the reporter couldn't gather, but
he suspects the latter.
LIFE 30 sHGRT.
Another gentleman called upon for an
interview said: Excuse me, young man;
life is too short and / am bnsy. l have only
to say that there ought 10 be more education
in the Board of Education"
JUDGE C. W. HEIsKELL
was called upon by the APPEAL reporter
next. He said be was heartily in favor Of
a bill reducing the present unwieldy BODY Of
school visitors TO a commission Of five. The
matter should be taken entirely out of
politics"
aDo YOU think the superintendent should
be president OF the Board OF COMMISSIONER
81 do NOT. He should have full control of
the schools. III he were member of the
beard, he could not rid himself OF the idea
that be was a part OF them. Ii at any time
there was any obi, ction TO the superintend-
eat. he could, of course, be discharged. l
would like to see the School Board modelled
alter the style OF the Taxing-District. l see
no objection to the governors appointing the
commissioners until the first election"
EDWARD SHAW,
q former member of the board, was met
upon the street. He said he thought Mr..
Lyun's proposed amendments to the charter
excellent. The present board was entirely
too large, and four or Eve persons were am.
ply sufficient to meet all demands.
JUDGE MORGAN
was called upon by the APPEAL scribe.
"Judge, would like 10 get your views
upon the School Board question:" said the
reporter.
1.-THE present machinery of the School
Boardy said the Judge, fis entirely too cum
bersome. 1t would be the proper policy 10
simplify it by establishing a commission of
four or five. am glad that the APPEAL
has taken stand in behalf of simpler
form of school government. / hope you
will keep the matter stirred mp. L see no
objection whatever to The governor appoint
ing the commissioners until the election
shall be held"
COL. c. W. FRAZER,
when asked his views about the matter, said:
81 don't know much about the School Board.
L have never been to one OF its meetings, but
papers, and have seen the necessity of abol-
ishIng it. / don't like that salary psri.
Three hundred dollars is not enough TO in
duce good men 10 run for the Office. The
8 ,lary ought TO be either very small or suffi
GENTLY large to induce respectable men 10
assume the duties of the Office. / don't see
the necessity for paying the commissioners
apythiDg. We might allow them enough TO
pay their street.car fare, and loss of sole
leather in attending meetings. The kind OF
men we want is the kind of men who don't
want the Office. l think the plan TO have
five commission is an excellent one"
The Island QuesltOn.
The island lease expires on the LIST of j an
uary, and the serious question confronts the
Taxing District authorities az 10 what will
be done with its prisoners. Yesterday after
NOR, an AnnrIr rannrtar calIad unnn seu.