St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-04-13
WING THE PROBLEM,

SOLVING \ II II tNODLtFAh'
Gov. Fuller having declined to call
the supreme court judges together to
unite new school law knots for the
benefit of doubling directors, the ed
ucational committee of the house
met at Montpelier last week to make
clear some things that were not clear
to the newly elected school officers.
State Superintendent Stone was
present at the meeting Chairman
Arnold tells the Burlington Free
Press of the result Of the council, and
we CLEAN from his letter something
OF the committees work.
The special points considered were
the division of publil money and the
disposition to be made of the sur
plus remaining in several district
treasures.
The verdict on the first point is
very brief-to the effect that there
was no other course than to di-
vide the public money as provided
by the old law. This Interpretation
was the only one, it seemed to the
CALIFORNIAN, as stated two weeks
ago, that could be given; and the
decision of the house committee in
this regard ITALICS precisely with
that of majority of the Caledonia
county directors at their recent
meeting here.
AS to the disposition of the sur
plus, the committee conclude that
whatever remains in the treasury
after the settlement of all legitimate
school expenses, belongs to the dis
trict, and that the district may by
vote dispose of the surplus as it sees
fit.
There may be chance for argu-
ment here. Did the educational
committee forget that, in the eyes of
the law, there were no such things
as districts" after April first, and
that, taking this view of the case, it
would seem rather inconsistent to
expect any transaction ofbusiness by
the district after it's decease? Posi-
bly,, however, the committee believes
that the district exists under the
new law, "for the settlement of its
pecuniary affairs" not only until
its legitimate school expenses are
paid, but also till it can vote away
its surplus. In this latter view of
the case, the committees decision
on the surplus question may be
taken as final, Otherwise it has
failed to make the point much clear
er than it was before, and there is
tenable ground for belief that as the
districts disappear and are known
henceforth simply as sections Of
the town, the surplus would natur-
ally be looked upon as part OF the
towns general or school fund.
The committee considered also
several minor points and answered
some questions. They conclude that
the wood on hand April / is not
property belonging thereto" under
the law, and so can not be taken
in charge by the town; and that the
school directors may appoint clerk
who is not of their own number.
1t was reported that some towns
failed to comply with that part of
the law which calls for a separate
ballot for school directors, and in
such an event the committee suggest
that the directors elected otherwise
than on separate ballot resign and
allow the vacancies to be properly
filled by the selectmen--thus avoid
ing any chance of legal complca.
tons.
The deliberations OF the committee
and the conclusions they have reach
cd, will doubtless afford certain de-
gree Of satisfaction to those direc
tors who have called for more light
on school law points; and while
naturally enough there may be fric
lion in some quarters, it is to be
hoped that both directors and pub
lie generally will work cordially to
gether to make the new law a com
plete success.
THE POPULIST BREAK.