The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-02-04

TO date warrants issued to school teach
ers amounting to $4,000 have been reg
istered at the treasury department. OF
other warrants only $4,000 have been reg
istered.
The following are the receipts at the
treasury for the month of January, 1886,
on account of land sales:
Permanent school fund . ... s17,2l7 Il
Available university fund,,......... 49,. ~ 30
Lnnatic asylum land sales. .....,. -. :. $50 so
Deaf and dumb asylum land sales -. 60 20
Total ,.,. $50 50
COL. DARDEN's OFFICE
The genial colonel, with a cheerful fire
was found in his Office, but had no news
to impart.
MILITARY DEPARTMENT..
The adjutant general reports all quiet
along the Rio Grande and up in the Pan
handle.
ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE.
Routine business and letter writing kel t
all hands busy in this Office yesterday. No
opinions of importance were rendered.
UNIVERSITY.
The board of regents have elected DR..
I. d. Wooten president of the board.
His election will very much facilitate the
financial business of the university, as a
great deal of the work has to be referred
to the president of the board for approval
of accounts and vouchers.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
The following, in the caseo of M. A. Mar
tin VS.. Burnett county school trustees, APP
pealed to the superintendent of educa
ton, Hon. B. NJ. Baker, has been issued
from the department of education.
The board in this case shows:
First-The trustees of Burnet public
schools, said city, having legally assumed
control of the public schools within its
limit, prescribed course of study to be
pursued by the pupils, which course in
cluded Leeds History of the United
States"
Second Barclay Martin, son of
M A. Martin, legally enrolled
public school pupil and in attendance
upon said schools, following the instruc
tions of his father, refused to prepare. or
recite lessons in history, Notwithstanding
he was provided with the book to enable
him to do so.
Third-The superintendent suspended
said Barclay from school TO await the ac-
ton of the trustees.
Fourth-The trustees sustained the ac-
ton of the uperintendent and declared
said Barclay suspended until willing to
comply with the regulation referred to.
Fifth-From this action M. A. Martin.
for his son Barclay, appeals to the super
intendent of public instruction.
In my opinion, the trustees of the pub
lie schools of city which has assumed
control of the public schools within its
limits, have the power, under the law, to
prescribe course of study for the schools
under their control, and to designate the
particular books to be used in them, and
pupil in grade for which any par
ticular book is presented may be re
quired to study that book, even though he
or his parents or guardian may desire
that he be relieved from pursuit of the
subject upon which the book is written
altogether.
1 think, also, THAT if pupil refuse to
prepare and recite lessons from a book
prescribed by the trustees, and persists in
such refusal, having the necessary book
in his possession, even though at the
command of the parent or guardian, he
may be suspended for incorrigible conduct.
The gentleman appealingly declares the
history referred to Leeds) an unfair and
partisan one, and l must say, that, in my
judgement, the criticism is just, and, were
it in my power to try the case on that
la
But the subject is one necessary to be I'M
derstood by all American citizens, and,
therefore, important.to be pursued in the
public schools, and the law confers upon
the trustees-not the superintendent of
public instruction-the power to deter
mine what publication best presents it,
The action of the trustees of the Bur
net public schools, in suspending Barclay
Martin from school, is, for all said rea-
sons, sustained. b. M. BAKER,
Superintendent of Public Instruction.
ATToRNEY-GENERAL OFFICE.
The attorney general yesterday
advised the commissioner of insurance
that an agent of fire insurance company,
having a certificate of authority from the
insurance department and the comptrol-
ler's receipt for state occupation taxes, as
we'll as the county collectors receipt for
occupation taxes due the county of his
residence, may write policies on property
lying in other counties, where the com
pany has no agent, without rendering
himself liable for county taxes in the
counties where such property may be sit
uated, provided he does not go or send
into the other counties and solicit business.
STATE LAND BOARD.
The board yesterday received bids to
lease twenty eight sections in Scurry
county; two at 10 cents per acre. Bids to
lease one section in Daw son and one sec
ton in Borden we're also received.
A CAPFUL OF WIND.