Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-04-01
MAI. RAINFALL IxTERNIEHER

With the cOutents of the above in his
mind, a reporter Of tha APPEAL yesterday
called upon Maj r tmbAu, and intervie we'd
him ~ 10 that and school matters generally.
He found the m io-, who is president Of the
| School Com mission, quite willing 10 tell all
! he knew and answer any questions put to
| hiu, and very enthusiastic over the prospect
| for the schools, and quite sasguine that their
| future was to be very much brighter than
their past. Alter the ordinary civilities had
| passed, and some little explanation of his
| purpose ad been made, the interviewer pro-
| ceeded as follows:
| THE INTERVIEW.
| Reporter-MRior, have called to make some
| inquiries as to the public schools and would be
pleased 10 learn the plans and purposes of the new
| commissioners
Mai Ram6aut-welI, sir, as you are aware soon
otSanized and art 9nT commissions, ye met and
the services Of all the teache and other employs
of the LOaTd, SO that the sChoo passed from the
| old to the new board without jaT IL any depart
4 ment.
Rep.-How about your rules:
| Maj. R.-This was a very important matter, but
OF course we had the benefit OF the rules and Iegu
| lstions of the old board to guide us. We hav'
| done away with most of the Committees, and 9th
eTwise altered and amended the rules of the board
and also reduced and simplifed the rules of the
| schools, SO that all the needfuI regulations hayt
| now been put in force to meet the changed coudi
! tons of this school government
Rer.-Whst about the additional hour OF study
| Mai R--This was a ma ter of necessity to sons
| extent. You see our revenues are much behind
and financial condition is little ont OF joint
of the old board, whicn to the great credit of the
old hoard. I take pleasure in saying, was beinl
| in addition TO this the teachers and other EN-
ployes had not received their salaries due them fol
| DeCem ber January and February. At the same
time, as you know, the collection of taxes was very
slow. However, the taX-s for the current year are
now due and pay able, and the county trustee has
| alr~ady Civ notice 10 this effect As these come
10 III y will relieve US greatly but in present
condition of debt, we will have to shorten the
| term so we want the pupils to put in an extra
hour each day to make up for this shortened term
Rep.-Ho" about the back taxes in Ar. MeIi
| wether's hands?
r. Msj.-Tnis is q very important matter and one
| which we have taken in hand in good earnest.
We are satisfied from the present outlook that we
| have a right to all these taxes AS prud Mt men,
| however, we are having strong law-hrm examine
the law and all the facts beforehand to see if we
can make a recovery OF those taxes. am of the
| opinion that they amount to over 500. COO | am
| informed that the school Board did not get dol
lar of the school ia OF the year 1873 because OF
the repeal OF the city charter but to the lasting
credit of the old School Board be it said they kept
the schools open 10 1875 but this gave rise to the
Rep--Are you authorized to employ counsel
| Maj RI certainly think we sre. as our charter
authorizes to sue aad be sued, but if there is
any doubt about it we can probably get some
court to authorize US 10 employ under its au-
| thOrity, just as Mai Meriwether has done fe-
ceiyer As you are social sci nee reiormer, sup
pose YOU 20 up TO ChSnc-Ty Clerk Blacks Office and
look at the MAJORS accounts current IS receiver
from pril, 1879, and see about tua handsome ices
he has paid csrIsin attorneys, and i-quire where
he gets the authority for IL. His accounts cur
rent and general expenses is what ynu newspaper
men call mighty interesting reading" think
you cou d fill two or thTee co umns OF your per
with il and edify the whole city of Memphis. His
report is public properly you know. Referring to
the back school taxes, our board holds that the
school charter passed in January 1862. b as never
been repealed Here is the csar or. Please exam
ine the last sentence in section and also of sec
ton 10 70 lowing, and If these sect are public
l,w-nOt having been spec!fl ally repealed, as the
constitution of Tennessee Tequires-I think you
VIII agree tlst the c0uItF VIII have to ask the
ms ior as receiver, TO account to Tor all the
back school taxes, not only for 1875 but for all
the pre-, e ling years.
Rep.-How is the change regarding the increase
OF hours OF teaching receIveo"
Maj. R.-Well, it should be received with good
feeling for reasons just given; l certainly think
only leach, under the new rule, six hours each
day. and for five day out OF the week, and paid
BY the moth, While in all other pursuits persons
are employed the emit day and ceek
Rep How are the employees Of The board
peased with the chsuge-that is, OF five commits
siOuers?
though there may he soue in the board that
probably some few Of the teRcners-may have pre-
erIed Others instead; bu: that is of little interest
to the boa d.
Rep.-Do you find the new management work
smoo her?
Maj. R.-Greatly so. The commissioners are
much more inter sted, and scrutinize everything
appertaining TO school matters more critically;
they mean business
Rep do you hear Of any complaints OF any
character?
Mi. R-well yes: we now and then hear ''they
say such and such is the csse-natters of little
importance. They are generally from some party
opposed to or taking no interest in the schools, and
will not take the trouble to visit them. The board
would be much pleased to have the citizens visit
the schools ana take more interest in them and to
receive the benefit of any suggestions as our wish
anH IFf IS tn no sta Aard nF