The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-19
THE SCh5OL FUND.
AN INTERESTING HEFORT BY
PRESIDENT JORDAN.
The Conflict Of Authorities and the
Necessity That Action Should
BE taken.

President Jordan has compiled his
report of the condition OF the 6nar ces
OF the city schools, and those who are
interested in pubic education will
find IL deeply interesting reading.
President jordan says: Rel, renee
to former years will reveal the fact
that the average enrolment far TX
ceeds that of all others, and 534 mo 9
than last year, an increase that tn
tiIely justified the additional outays
made Dy the board to meet the de-
mands on the schools. All obligs-
tons Of the schools have been paid off
and discharged, but t, do s, we have
been again compelled to bear heavier
burden OF indebtedness. The income
OF the schools OF the city from all
sources no to the last scholastic year
reached the sum Of s50,704 IA. The
out ay, embrscirg every expense,
amounted 10 ST., l84 36; an excess OF
expeDd ltures over receipts OF S2O,-
4S0 %; and we now owe the sum OF
$29, 1884 SO, Nine thousand two hun
dred AID nice dollars and sixteen
cents OF this sum YVES carried over
from the year ending July l, 1885, at
which time our disbursements wee
only $i76i0 Is.
The income for these years was
about the same, thai OF 1886 being
the gre later of the two. Thus it will
BE- observed that our exYenses are in
ere a.ing while there is little increase
in the ganersl revenue. But while
this ia tus the rictest economy, coz
sis emf with any tni' G like success, ID
observed in the management Of toe
schools. OF the excets in the past
year in expenditures ever receipts,
more Than $751; 90 wss invested in
school grounds, buildings and fdrni-
ture. The establishment Of the new
s,hool houSs neCessitatgd the en-
ploymeut of more teachers, thus
swelling the pay loll over $4,000 more
than that Of the previous year, so
that though our indebtedn es3 is much
heavier than it WIS last year there ic1's
lod deal 10 show for it ia the way al
perm lnentimprovements and ince assd
accommodations to the patrons of the
public schools.
1t is sppropiists here to say that the
above OUTLAWS and expenditures, which
have increased our debt, would not
have been made had it not been sup
posed, and with Will grounded rsa-
cons, that the Board Of Education
would have received some financial
Gid from the tax OF 10 per cent. levied
by the last Leg stature for public
grounds ard buildings, including
school buildings" of which the Board
was to receive oDe-half; but mp to the
close of The scholastic year it hes prac-
cally obtained no lelief therefIom.
The funds arising from THE levy is
shown by the following statement
from the President Ct the Taxing Dis
tiict:
Collections to June l, 1885,. $25, 270 %
Collections to Ju y l, 1885,. 1880 IS
To,al....".."."."". ..... 1zo,ooO o.
One-half OF this goes to TIE credit Of
. tie B ard of Education, $13. $50 Al,
and has bsen discussed by HIM al
! follows:
) Paid F. II. Ccssitt in settle
, ment of bonds and cou-
: pons of city OF Memhi',
Issued to build old city
schoolhouses ...... ...... S4,232 sc
. Paid w. "A Collier 10 take up
/ and satisfy certain bonds. $500 OC
: S. II. Dunscomb, Treasurer
4 School Board. ........... 1884 OF
.
Total. .................. $l2,097 OC
q Board ........ ...... ......... 1888 "a
: You will thus see there is now avail
able out OF this fund only the sum o.
d $4597 "a, where there should be
: $4,000 additional, beside the 1923;
paid Mr.. CoEsitt.
j. The money paid to Mr.. Cofsi by
Mr.. Hadjep, PIe:ld mt of the Taxing
District, was reported to the boart
o last year and conditionally approved
and no complaint now made thereto
but the payment made by tee Pei
dent Of tie Taxing District to Mr.. W
> A. Collier was a volunteer act oil tut
city suthoti'ies, without the corsen
of the board, and should not be tub
n mitted 10 by the board.
/, l is true that the fund was apple
p to the payment OF judgment oil
I, bonds issued by the old city to bull,
70 schcolhouses, occurred by lien there
t. on, but the city of Memphie wss, an,
its successor is, prima y liable for tn
payment of these bonds, and the deb
should have been scbarged cut OF it
part OF the fund arising from said levy
70 or from the COLLECTION OF back take
y due the schools, which now, by dc
+ cision of the Supreme Court and opel
9 alton Of law, belong to the Taxing Dill
tr ct.
r 10 other words, the Taxing DistiiC
q is now the beneficiary of the take
L levied by the old city to pay thes
D. identical bonds and coup ,ns, aad il
governing officer applies the none
a. intended by law to b. app led 10 To
erection OF nsw buildings TO the pay
p. ment OF The old debt, created ny tn
Ell erection Of the old buildings. This
2, a piece of injustice that should not b
O. permitted by those intrusted with tn
le interest Of the public schools. w
h. need every dollar to keep down GU
is indebtedness and meet the demands
~ he public. It is the duty OF the boar
10 to see that this money is app led
es the law intended it should be applied
le and l recommend that suitable actio
2. be taken at once TO secure to tn
e. schools the imme late benefit OF TIL
t. fund. Respec fully submit ed,
O. r. D. JORDAN,
President Board of Education.
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