Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-21
OPINIONS OF ATTORNEY GENERAL.
what the Hon. L. B. Kellogg Has to Say About
School Board Members Living Outside
Ward From W hich Elected-vacancies
to be Filled by Appointment

The Hon. r. E. Lawrence stated yester-
| day that his correspondence with the at
| torney general of the state had resulted in
| turning ray of light on the school board
affairs. He has put number of questions
to Mr.. Kellogg and the same have been an
swered in a straightforward manner with
| out doubt as to the meaning, A letter was
received few days ago on the question
whether member of the school board
could act as such, living outside the ward
for which he was elected. The letter inter-
prets the law to mean that member Of
the board must live in the ward from
which he was elected, and should he move
out Of the ward, or from a re-warding of
the city should be found in another ward
he forfeits all right to be member of the
board. According TO the decision Mr..
Lawrence says it would seem TO him that
Mr.. Campbell, now living in the Third
ward as a result of extending the boun-
dairy of the ward, taking in part of the
Fourth. is not legally member of the
| board. He also applies the same rule to
Mr.. S. d. Pallet who lives in the Sixth
ward, it being cut off the First. He
seemed to think that the next meeting of
the board wonld probably find the ques-
tion considered by the board and some ac-
ton taken.
Concerning the manner of filling vacan-
cies the attorney general states the new
law on the question makes it compulsory
to fill all vacancies by appointment. This
| turn it is thought was taken in order to
decrease the work of the election commits
sioner as it would possibly impose more
work than one man could attend to. As
result the vacancy in the First will be
filled by appointment Of the board. The
two members of the Sixth also appointed
and one member from the Fourth ap-
pointed. This would again level up and
give the city a school board with all mem
bers present or accounted.
Concerning the appointments from
the Sixth ward couple members
of the board seemed to think
it would be the proper thing
to appoint Mr.. S. D: Pallett as one Of the
their judgment, to find some one in the
First who would accept a position on the
board, and the same is true of the Fourth
They seemed to think the appointments
should be made at the next meeting and
the board be ready to act legally on every
question of Importance at as early day as
possible.
AS to the time the term of Office of
member expires the attorney general
states the day is the first meeting in May
instead of August. In his opinion the
terms that expire under the old law next
August expired under the new law the
first meeting in June, that being the first
regular meeting after the new law was
published, which was On the 18th of May.
The committee appointed to secure
down town" Offices for the superintendent
of schools has had a number OF
propositions but as yet have
not found as good a bargain as they seem
to think they ought to have. They seem
to think there are some rooms to be found,
but not good enough for man whose
salary, according to Fegtley's motion,
shall not be less than 81, 500 annually.
One member of the committee suggested
that whole block would be in keeping
with the terms prescribed for salary, and
it should be fitted up with fine carpet, ma
hogany and large glasses in such position
that one could get good view OF the back
of his head as well as a fair view of the
face
There was considerable talk yesterday
about the coming election on school build
ing bonds Some thought the bonds would
carry, thinking they should be issued, 1t
being business to do so. Others thought
they should not carry, believing 1t would
not be business to vote in the affirmative
and thinking 1t would be unwise to place
that amount of money at the disposal of
board that would vote mot less than
s.. 500 salary annually" and at the same
meeting put money into the pockets of
committee to 60 east, for superintendent
or for improvements, the money to make
such improvements not having been voted
by the people.