Birmingham state herald., 1897-07-08
THE PUBLIC seHooLs. s

Much anxiety is expressed by the peo- pie regarding our public schools. Since your inducItion into offfc= you have paid over to he schools fer salaries and ex- penses about $11 600 against S7 750 paid by your predecessors for the same pe- riod eff 1896 The failure of the law al- lowing the county tax collector to collect a special assessment for school purposes ]. in Birmingham. to stand the test of in- quiry for consti utional authority was a great disappointment to all interested in the welfare of our splendid school sys- tsm, and at one time it seemed that the doors must be closed before the end of The ter m. The interest manifested by you in supplying from your general fund the deficiency enabled the board of educ9- tion to continu4 to the end of an eigh+ months term. The question of he con- sititutionality of the O'Brien law as amended by the last general assembly has been submitted to the supr me court in frierdv way. and the bo9rd now awaits a decision. Should the court sus- ain the law, the way would seem clear for g successful continuanca of the schools. Should th- law again fail. the responsibility will fall upon you to SUD- plement from your general fund the mesere amount, received from the state and from the county. or the schools must cellss for a. time to afford opportun.' for the eduea ton of the thousands of chill dren in our midst. ] need not recite to you lue eIleCC CnlS NNulQ nave pDon the gere~al progpts of the city. Yet there is hope for perma nent relief for the schools after 1898, in the possible adop- ton of the proposed constitu tional am ndnrert. which will enable the mayor and aldermen to make annual appropria- tions for educational purposes.
 RAILROAD RIGHTS AND FRAN
 CHISEJS
 Extraordinary franchis=s have been o m Q "a cPuaua1 raj panies, operating lines in the city, by your predecessors, and some of the reg ular railroads ans occupying streets and avenues to the serious inconvenience of and danger to the public. In the matter of Duplication for extension of these rights and franchises, I would rscom- mend that you consider well the adyisa- bilsty of such grants before acting Have the companies fully complied with their cor,iicts with the people? Have thsy trapscs nded the limits of authority granted hem in he use of thoroughares? By what authority do the several rail road companies occupy Powsll avenue Twenty seventh and Twenty-ninth streets and Ninth and Tenth avenues? ! These are matters for you. as agents for thee Psople, to Inquire into dihgen ly I rscegnize the fact that the corporations l perform an important function in the progress and development of the city. but they mrst be held amenabla 70 the gen.
 
 CHARITY
 Your present appropriations for char ity amount to $75 per month--s50 tn the l United Charities and S25 to the Mercy Henis While this seems a very meagre | amount, + is larger han the appropria- l tons made by your predecessors for sev. I eral years past Suffering humanity calls i loudly for a continuance at least of thsse i alppa9prie tions, and an increase of th-. ;, 7mauEit IS soon as you flrd 1t possible l to do so The two organiza ions,are man. 1 aged by good active women. Who give | mr,1h time, though, Ia hor and zeal 10 the ! work They are rendering much r lief l to the needy and acco mplishing great good. The Mercy Herne is now mixing 1 efforts to raise funds for the erection of a building Eu..abl for itss rreseat pur- l poses. to ccsi about $50e0 and will ask 1 the city to assist hem in tho work. 1 recommend to you an approximation of ss-a for tNis rse, te heg peid when the l ladies shall have secured sufficient sub