San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-05-28
CITY TOPICS.
SUPERINTENDENT SMITHS CON
TENTION.

TENTION.
Public school superintendent, Smith,
who has been enjoying a long, easy
pull at the public tit, is very 10th to
let co. he claims that he has a contract
with the city which will not expire un-
til the 31st of next August, and ten
ders his services to the city up to that
date, in other words Mr.. Smith consid-
ers himself the superintendent of
schools Notwithstanding the action of
the council electing his successor. NCV
it seems that Mr.. Smiths appointment
was never ratified by the city coun-
ell, therefore he has held the position
during the past two years as the ap-
pointee of the school board, which
gives him no tenure of office whatever.
The school board" is only a commit
tee of the city council. This point was
made when Mr. Smith was appointed
August 1st, 1895 to succeed Prof.
Rote. Prof. Rote appealed to the city
council that Mr.. Smiths appointment
was invalid because made by the
school board. His case was present
ed by attorneys. There was also
strongly signed petition of citizens
protesting against Prof. Rote's dis
placement. The council proceeded to
settle the matter by voting upon the
confirmation of Mr.. Smiths appoint
ment which was carried by a MAORI
ty vote. Prof Rote did not carry the
controversy any further. Prof. Rote
had been appointed in 1880, after
careful consideration of applications
from several eminent school men of
the country. He had the practical ex-
perience of a school superintendent at
Lawrence, Kansas, and elsewhere, and
was thorough scholar. 1t was due
to his energy and ability that our city
public schools were brought to high
point of efficiency and great progress
was made in the cause of public edu-
cation, He began on a salary of $4,000
which was increased to $500 in 1888.
1t was Prof. Rotes custom to visit the
schools daily, and to personally super
intend the schools. Now things are
different. The principals of the schools
run the whole business and although
the superintendent is allowed $3.50 per
year for forage for his bicycle, his Wis
its to the schools are angelic, that is
few and far between. Hell also fur
drudgery of the office work Superin-
tendent Smith began on 81, 800 but his
services became more valuable and in
September 1888 his salary was increas-
ed to $4,000 with $3.50 thrown in for
forage. September 80, 1892, the sala-
ry was again increased to 81, $780, with
$3.50 for forage, and $3.50 for clerk. The
forage item became permanent part
of the salary. So we find that Mr..
Smith has drawn $2S,4O0 salary and
$500 forage or over $50, 900 during his
term of office. 1t would seem that he
might step down and out gracefully;
he has had good, easy time for twelve
years. 1t was Mayor Callaghan who
made him and it is Mayor Callaghan
who unmade him. Our public schools
have grown to be the glory of our city.
superintendent Smith can point with
pride to the growth of the schools dur
ing his incumbency. But the time has
come when in the judgment of the city
administration the schools require the
services of more efficient superin-
tendent. The schools are the proper
ty of the people, and should be admin
istered for the benefit of our children
and not simply to provide fat jobs for
teachers.