Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-03-28
nAIvEsrnN nnnNrY.
eALvEsros. 1'sN.. Mareh 30. 80

GALVESTON, TEN, March 20, 1856.
To tho Editor Of the Gazette;
In answer to your circular letter call.
ing for opinions OF county judges as "a
the operation Of and needed changes in
the school and road laws OF the state,
can make but few suggestions, but such
as occur TO me you are welcome 10 II you
deem them worthy Of consideration,
SCHOOL LAW.
AS 20 the school law | will say that
am well pleased with the working OF the
district system. | think under 1t the gem
eral tone and standard OF the schools
have been much improved These Is one
important particular, however, In which
/ think change should be made in the
school law In order to place the schools
upon higher standard than they can
possibly ever attain under the present
system, and that Is as TO the supervision
Of the schools, and for the reason:
1 County Judges who are made by law
the superintendents Of the county schools
are not supposed to be practical edu.
Gators, at least no such qualification IL
required Of them to be eligible TO office,
and TO show the Importance Of having a
practical educator at the head Of the
schools OF the county II Is only necessary
TO refer to the high standard Of excellence
attained by the schools under such man
agement in cities that have organized
into separate school districts.
y. County judges OF populous counties,
even II they have the qualifications
for school superintendent, have not
the time, II they propose to attend TO any
other duties, to give anything like the
proper and necessary attention to the
schools.
B. The compensation allowed county
judges for their duties In school mat
tiers Is wholly inadequate TO secure
faithful and efficient service, and
II they are required TO perform
the laborious duties OF superintendent OF
schools they should be allowed some adj
equate compensation therefor.
4. / think 1t would, perhaps, he adyis-
able 10 let the commissioners courts, in
such counties as they deem IL necessary,
appoint superintendent Of schools,
and In such counties as none were so APP
pointed the county judge could, as he
does now, act as such. Under this AZ
rangemont superintendent Of schools
could be provided wnen the school fund
was sufficient 20 Justify this additional
expense and in counties whore the other
duties imposed upon county judges pre-
vent them from giving the necessary at
tention to the schools.
ROAD LAW
AS TO the road law can only say that
owing ~ the peculiar situation aud
topography of our country we have very
little occasion to make application of it and
my observation aud experience as to its
operation might therefore be said to be
limited, but do believe that IL would be
better aud more equitable TO have the
road work done by the county and paid
for out of n fund created by general tax,
for so much OF the work as could not be
done by convict labor The roads are
benefit to the whole public and should be
paid for by the public, and by tax for
the purpose. Many nonresident land
owners, the value of whose lands is OF
course improved by the laying out and
maintaining OF roads and who now con-
tribute nothing towards the making of
the roads In work, as do the residents of
the county, would be made to contribute
their proportion for this class of public
improvements. WM. Il. AUSTIN,
County Judge Galveston County.