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

schools have passed out Of the hands OF the
old lumberins Board Of School Visitors into
these of FIVE School Commissioners, that
they would be allowed TO go pesceiully on
their way, and never again become the sub.
ject OF contention or newspaper controversy.
What they need most for tbs sake Of the
children, ia that they shall, so lar as the pub
lie press is concerned, epj1y a long season OF
peace and repose. They have for some years
been hardly dealt with. The income for
their support has been cut dOwn to pTeca-
riou. living, and the teachers have not only
had their salaries REDUCED, but have often had
to go without pay for m BIS at a time. This
was due TO the tact OF tax deliuquencies, and
especially becau-e the school tax for 1873
was not collected. Had it not been
for the public spirit of zone Of the more in
fusn,ial members Of the Board Of School
Visitors, these delinquences and failures to
collect taxes would have co "a PEELED the closing
OF the schools for one year, andthus perhaps
have lead, as the enemies Of education wish
ed, 10 their being closed altogether. 1t re-
quired some nice management to bridge over
tho,e dark days OF gloom and dependency.
II was done by reducing the number of
months during which the schools we're kept
open, and by the personal assumption
and responsibility for so much money as
might be necessary to csrry on the schools
until the taxes could be collected.
Ga the lat of July, 1881, this in
deDtednqss amounted to S25.l94 rs, and
on the LIST of Jolly of last year 10
S12999 70. 1t WAS Cou6drntly expected by
Prssideut Rlmbsut that the board would be
able to liqnidate tbil indebtedness. from The
back taxes due the schools, bat except the
SUN of $3.50 Of pol.taxes they have not been
able to secure any Of them, aud are not likely
TO il the assumptions Of Maj. Minor Meri-
wether are eorIoc', and srs in fu Ure 10 be
maintained by the courts. II would be a
sad reflection upon Memphis, now hat she
has assumed her indebtedness aud has
cleared her 6nAnci Al atmosphere Of lha clouds
that no long obscursd it, if any por-
tion of the School Fund, SO carefully
guarded By he tchool charter, w's
to be diverted 10 any other purpose,
either by the School Board sleeDing on its
rights, By the mistakes Of The Receive, or
owing to the confusion and chaos that 20
long prevailed ss TO the character of the iu-
4 debtedness of Memphis. 1t is in The hope
that we can throw some light upon The mat
ter, and put the School Commissioners fairly
before the public, and as we believe. correct
mistake into which Msj. Meriwether has
fallen, that We have veniured upon the sub
Jet to-day and deEoted 20 much space to it.
Mai. Meriwether's mistake, as we see il, and
SIS ex-Mayor johnson and President Ram
baut state il il that be Jumps the school tax and
the interest. payment tax together, and by an
order of the chancellor, based perhaps on this
Jumping view, has paid all the school money
he has collected to the holders OF the school
coupons and received coupons in payment Of
school taxes Aoeotdin TO section 10 of The
school charter, which h as never been re
peaIed, the Board of Mayor and Alder
men of The city OF Memphis were su
thorizsd to issue the bonds of said city
TO an amount not exceeding 100000
the OF oceeds to be turned over TO the treas
urer Of the School Board and to be used il
building Schoolhouses, and the semi-annua
interest on these bonds was to be provided
for by a special tax, 10 be levied by The
Board of Mayor and Aldermen in addition
TO the school tax provided for 10 section 8
This tax for interest payment WAS leVitC
each year by the Board of Mayor and Alder
men, and it is that, aud that only, that Msj
Meriwether could legally pay, or the cour
legally authorize him TO pay, TO the holder
of the school bonds in payment OF thei
coupons; aud he had no right whatever Il
take these coupons in payment OF the scboo
tax. az section OF the school charter say
that mo certificate of indebtedness, excep
the warrants issued by The said board, sbsl
be received in payment OF said school tax.
The School Board had no responsibility 70
the bonds, they we're issued by the city {
Memphis for a specific purpose, as othe
Sopds were Issued, and will no doubt shsr
the fate of all other classes of Memphi
boud., and be funded under the Ef!y-cer
compromise act, and this notwithstanding Ii
lien on the school buildings. Msj. Meriwethe
may, therefore, we think, have 10 account I
the School Commissioners for all the schoC
taxes collected by him. As to the decision
and orders OF the courte, the School Boar
az we learn, was not represented by couns
10 any of the cases from which these orders r
suited and had no notice of the suits. The pr
ceediugs seeA to have been had on the sfsun
zion that the School Board was not separa
corporation, but only Fart Of the nunicip
machinery run by the Board OF Mayor al
Aldermen of the city Of Memphis. 1t mi
be that as the School Visitors slumbered {
their rights 60 long, the School COMMISSIONS
will not be able TO recover the funds tn
have been paid to take up COUPONS, or I
value of the coupons that have lie
taken by Receiver MeriEether in payne
of school taxes. But that they have 1
Law to sustsin them in their claim for t
recovery Of what remains OF school taxes
be collected there can be no doubt. Secio
9 and 10 OF the school charter are Gle
ON that head. If the eminent conni
now looking into the matter advises
commissioners to bring suit for that reco
cry, we believe it will be their duty to ent
at once upon litigation to that end. I
School Commissioners are every way conf
tent for that or any other duty deyOlvi
Rpon them. They are men of ezperier
inesumerce, finance and law, and possess
hiSh degree the confidence OF the pub
- and they may be relied upon to act pruden
and to etpend any moneys coming into th
hands for the best interests of the pub
schools. We think Maj. Meriwether
made q mistake and that he should rec
from his position, refund the school mon
he has used 10 paying interest, IL he
turn ever to the School Commissioners
the back school taxes collected by him
future, and thus prevent the litigation WI