The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-24
SALES OF THE CHARTS.
COMMISSIONER BRADWELL TO
MAKE THINGS LIVELY.

BE Advises tho County School Boards
to Repudiate the Notes Given in
Payment for Them The Commits
sioner Unable to Find a Case Where
a Bribe Was Openly Accepted.
ATLANTA, GA, April 23-Receutly the
state department Of education has been In
receipt OF numerous complaints about
chart frauds that have been perpetrated
upon county boards OF education In various
parts of the state. The facts, as arrived ah
by the state department, show that chart
agents have succeeded in placing a chars
which sells on the regular market at 50 in
the counties where they have operated at
prices ranging from $12 to SIS. Bribas
have been offered the county boards In
order to induce them TO purchase their
charts, which the law allows to be done out
OF the common school fund, aud which has
been done to the detrimsnt of that fund in
some cases. However, the commissioner
has been unable to discover an instance
where bribe was openly accepted, though
some OF the county boards are suspected OF
engaging in the chart business for their
own good by buying them from agents and
then ordering the teachers to buy them
under contract which forces them to pur.
chase the same at an advance.
TOOK NOTES IN PAYMENT.
But the most serious feature OF the fraud
is the fact that in order TO get these exorbi-
taut prices for their charts the agents took
two and three year notes from the boards in
payment and then discounted these notes at
regular banks and to private parties. So
FAR there are bet ween $40 900 and $4,000
worth OF these notes which have been me-
gotiated, some being held by Atlanta houses.
Since the charts were taken at these pre-
posterous prices their true value has been
discovered, aud it is now very probable that
the notes given In payment will be repudi-
ated by the county boards which have been
Bwindled. Commissioner Bradwell has ad-
vised this course in several Instances where
no has been appealed to, and the matter has
been laid before the attorney general for IA
general opinion. IL the attorney generr.
decides with Commissioner Bradwell it is
very likely that there will be CONSERVATION
among the holders of notes given by county
board Of education for their charts
THE CONTRACT MAY BE INVALID.
In addition to the fraud charged by the
exorbitant price OF the charts, there is
very serious doubt as to whether many of
the contracts made by the county boards are
valid. The commissioner holds that the
NOuublo5 huNo no Ilkub W bpBuu bub SCHOOL
fund in advance or to give notes to be paid
out OF future appropriation, and probably
by another board. Then in some cases tho
chart contracts were approved without
regular legal meeting of the board, which
makes them invalid. Altogether the chances
are that t'4ose who hold the S40, 900 or 800 600
IN notes for money that has already been
carried of by the chart swindlers will have
trouble in collecting them.
A CIRCULAR ON THE SUBJECT
To-day Commissioner Bradwell prepared
a circular on the subject, in which he says,
County boards Of education are clothed
with the power TO purchase maps,
globes and school furniture and while charts
are not especially mentioned they are un-
doubtedly included under this head. These
things are purchased for the common use Of
the schools and not for individual use. The
title vests in the board and under no cir
cumstances have boards the right to sell or
rent them 60 the teacher or patrons. No
teacher in this state pays cent for the
privilege Of teaching school under the pubs
lie school system.
THE FoRMALITIEs REQUIRED.
"The order for the purchase Of charts can
only be passed at a regular meeting, or at g.
called meeting. of which due notice shall be
given and at which there is a legal quorum
present. The action, either verbal or writ
ten, of individual members of the board OUT
blue OF an organized IneeClng or bhe board Is
null and void and cannot bind There is no
provisions for proxies in the state school
laws and any count, vote or ballot by
proxies is null and void.
"As to the duty of boards relative TO ths
purchase Of charts, earnestly advise them
70 use due care and caution. Buy them
provided the money can be spared from the
school fund. II the school fund, not yet
adequate for the needs OF the children of
the state, is taxed too heavily serious injury
will result. 1t IL the intention OF the de-
partnent not TO interfere with the school
boards. but to caution them against certain
box charts and the sharp prac ice Of agents
for their SALE This department is
reliably informed that these charts have
been offered for sale on time at prices
ranging from S47 80 down to 50.
Notes obtained from boards of education
have been offered in the market for one
half their face value. To accomplish the
sale Inducements have been offered by
their agents instruct you, county school
commissioners and members of boards Of
education, to invoke the strong arm OF the
law whenever these parties are arrested and
prosecuted. / advise you to sigu no notes. -