Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-27
THE FEE. SYSTEM PREVAILED
Board of Education Upheld by the
 Citizens Committee.
A NUMBER OF PROPOSITIONS
Offered by Members of the Committee, but None of Them Accepted-funds, if
 Necessary to Be Raised Hereafter.

At the meeting of the citizens com- mittee held in the Commercial club par lors Thursday evening to discuss the sit- uation in the Birmingham public schools and map cut plan of action for the re- lief of same, the following were present: Hons. Frank " Evans and A. O. Lane, of the. board of education, and Messrs. R. H. Pearson s. Steiner, Robert Jemi- son, A B. Johnston, M. A. Porter, J. B. Cobbs, E. K. Campbell, John w. O'Neill, J. D. Chichester, James Bowron, Rufus N. Rhodes and William Hcod.
 Mayor Evans presided, and stated briefly the object of the appointment of the committee. Mayor Evans was elect ed chairman, and MT. w. J. Boles, of the Commercial club, was elected secretary.
 Mr Lane stated the condition Of the public schools, and remarked that IL would require about $1S,0O0 to finish the present term.
 showed the following income to the schools: Two thousand dollars per month from tuitions; total for four months, $S coo; $5 ,000 on poll taxes and $6,O0O now in the hands of the county treasurer ana tied up on account of protests against paving same which was collected through the OBrien tax law. He thought this was fair showing of the present status of affairs.
 Mir. S.. Steiner proposed that the city borrow money on the incoming poll tax which goes to the schools. He offered to lend the city money on these taxes at D per cent interest. The estimated total of poll taxes he said, was S7,5OO.
 He also made another proposition, yliz,: That he would be one of forty or even twenty to lend the city SlO,O0O, tne sum necessary to continue the schools tY, fla1 Urea surer. He proposed that city scrip or notes be issued to cover the latter pro- posed loan
 Mayor Evans opposed the scrip He felt that the city should be willing to issue notes to secure the funds, but at the same time doubted the legality of it.
 IA motion was made that the banks of the city be called upon to ascertain if the loan could be secured. MT. Cobbs offered an amendment that the committee soIc- it those whose had protested the pay ment of the OBrien law tax, and see if they could not be induced to withdraw their protest
 On being asked if his company, the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railway com pany would or had protested the tax, MT James Bowron replied very emphat- ically that they had paid the tax, had not protested same, and file of soldiers could not make them protest 1t.
 Mir Rhodes remarked that MT. James Weaherly, who represents the Southern railway had said his company would not be willing to pay the tax, as it woulG be dangerous precedent, but that the company would be willing to make as liberal a donation to the Birmingham m public schools as anyone else.
 MT. E. K Campbell stated that there was difference in asking people to with draw their protests against payment or a tax which the courts had declared un- constitutional and making donn tions. He did not believe in charging tuition in public schools, although willing himself to do sc. He favored tuition fee in the higher grades only
 MT. Lane said 1t was better to charge a tuition fee than to close the schools, and the measure was now imperative.
 Mir Pearson did not believe that when the people more fully understood the situation they would withdraw their chif- dren though some who were unable to pay the fee would be compelled to do so.
 MT. Bowron proposed that the matter could be harmonized by the appointment of a committee of three whose duty it should be to present memoranda to all required to pay the tax and ascertain how many would withdraw their pro- tests. He thought almost all would con- sent to do this
 MT Hood was of the opinion that 1t would be difficult to secure such agree mentS.
 MT Pearson moved that the sense of the meeting be that the schedule of tui- ton fixed by the board of education was proper, under the circumstances. The ! motion prevailed.
 Mir Rhodes moved that the board amend their schedule exempting chill dren in the first four grades, stating as his reason for so doing that he thought all children should be taught reading writing and arithmetic. The amend ment was lost.
 Capt A. B. Johnston did not believe in paternalism in governments. He had never heartily favored public schools He thought if any were charged tuition there should be no discrimination. Mir Bowron's motion having been with drawn, the tuition fee and raising, if necessary, of funds to meet the defici- ency prevailed
 The meeting then adjourned. COMMITTEE APPOINTED. Mayor Evans yesterday appointed NTax,ey.~ Ia ropq PpvrlSan R 1T PeEa rSOu