The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-11-29

Second. AS TO the character and
ability of the teachers in the municipal
schools, THE STATESMAN is disposed
to endorse all the address says regard
ing them, and it is especially pleasing
to see it stated, after the declaration
as to the Intelligence and enterprise"
of other communities, that the
schools of Austin are an admitted
and emulated example to other school
communities in our state"
Third. 1t appears in place, after
the last declaration, to make the
roseate assertion. that the public
should have contributed "more to the
general prosperity and growth of this
city than any other single cause at
work here"
Fourth. The ex cathedra assertion
that there is perfect peace and har-
mony between public and private
schools is assuring. 1t ought to has
ten the beginning of desired educa-
tional millennium, under the bless
ings of which we may all unite in
praise.
Fifth. 1t is pleasing to know
that the intellectual lights of the uni
versity have been sent up to it out of
the public schools of Austin.
With declaration Five the trus-
tees take leave of a pleasant retro
spect," and go into a presentation of
financial facts, conscious of the pub
lie approval of their acts" This is
certainly an exalted sphere in which
to live-that in which a public official
knows, of himself, that he has done
his whole duty, and that he is ap-
The floating liabilities of the school
board, September 1, 1883, are set down
In the address as 1864, left over as a
surplus Indebtedness, on the school
account of 1928. for current expenses.
For 1882 there were collected,
through the various sources of reve-
nue., $14, 976.07, and the expenditures
for all purposes of current expense
were $14,876.07-a perfect balance
the school having been conducted
eight months. 1t looks like the most
arrant presumption for THE STATES
MAN to stop here, after the trustees in
their address say they "are conscious
of the public approval of their acts"
to remark, that had perfect balances
between. receipts and expenditures
been kept up, the board would not now
be confronted with grave financial diff
ficulties, for which they ask relief
through taxation. Eight months is
good public school term in this eli
mate, where for four months there
prevails a warm season, especially
enervating to children, and danger
ously so when they are crowded in
school rooms. In 1928 the schools
were conducted for nine and one-half
months, and it was then the surplus
Indebtedness of $1S64.OO, as stated, was
created. Here, if we may be permit
ted to differ with that uni
versal sentiment of which the
trustees speak, was the be-
ginning of an error, which the peo-
pie of Austin are called upon to cor
rect by increased taxation. Had
the school term been curtailed to about
what it was in 1872, this troublesome
item of Indebtedness on current ex-
penses would not now have been in
existence, obtruding itself with de-
mand for revenue to satisfy it. Be
sides this. there is the incurred in
debtedness for an entire block of
ground, and for school houses. In
stead of proceeding with the
greatest caution, confning expendi-
lures to receipts, the trus-
tees leaped boldly into debt,
a result not contemplated by the peo-
pie. Excluding the debt account for
furniture of some years ago. the board
has in the last year brought the NUM-
cipality nearly $4,000 in debt. THE
STATESMAN again so far opposes that
unanimous public endorsement as to
present objections to such a course.
A debt of $4,000 in one year, being
unauthorized, is, as we think. serious
objection to the management of the
present board of trustees. Had they
said to the people, in advance of cleo
tion, that they would so incur debt,