Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-09
TUESDAY. NOVEMBER 9, 1897
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

There has been a great deal OF talk
about the Councils refusing TO. vote an
extra 9 appropriation for our PUBIC
scbools. and as member OF that pody,
and also OF the Finance Committee,
wish to say l think we have been un-
Justly criticised.
You well remember how much was
said about the time of our last municl-
pal election about economy In the anairs
OF our government. 1t was demanded Dy
the nress as well as by the public, and
now the same press is condemning us
for an honest effort in that direction.
have seen II stated that there was no
reason assigned for voting against the
anpropriation. This is an error. Inc
resolution was referred TO the Finance
Committee for it's action. They saw mt
10 return IT, with recommendation that
II he rejected because there were
no funds available.
The budget prepared at the beginning
of the year was not perfect, but De-
lieye the committee did the very best
they could, with all the information they
had at hand to guide them, and the APP
propriatIons made by them exceeded the
estimated revenues of the city by sl2OOo.
The Finance Committee gave the School
Board TO understand at that time that
they had done the best they could Tor
them, and that they would have to prac-
tice some economy. and thereby snare IN
the reductions made in most OF the de-
partments.
Now, MIR. Editor, I voted against the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS because / am opposed
40 extra appropriations to any and all
DEPARTMENTS. This custom of making
extra appropriations in the past has been
responsible .sor most of our financial
troubles. an6Snas caused the creation OF
a debt that now requires about one third
of our entire revenue to meet the interest
thereon. ! am in favor OF public edu-
cetion: but education alone won't make
q city
II we wall In our city by excessive taxa
ton. and thereby keep from our doors
capital that Is seeking investment, and
paralyze our business enterprises, we
will force the very people whom we are
educating TO seek employment elsewhere.
I believe, Mr.. Editor, that II this APP
propriation Is made II will be followed
by demands from every other department
In the city. and to grant those demands
means an increase in our debt which Is
already too large. i believe every think
ing man who will take the trouble to
examine carefully the financial condition
of our city will agree with me when
sny our debt should not be Increased
j have had numbers of tax-paying citi-
zens come to me personally and thanR
me for the stand / have taken, and they
approved heartily Of our action.
T.. A HARRELSON.
The Dispatch, In discussing this sub
oct. has meant to be conservative and
kindly.
we have treated the dispute as one
that has arisen by reason OF misun-
derstanding between the City Council
and the School Board. On the one
hand. Il was expected that the board
would be able TO make the appropria-
ton voted by the Council serve 1t
throughout the year; on the other hand,
II IS claimed by the board that 1t never
said that II would be able TO do so.
THE alternative now presented is the
curtailment OF the school term or the
voting OF an extra sum Of $1,000. True,
the School Board might undertake to
cut down salaries, and thus exc out the
5000. But would It be right to reduce
the pay of teachers after they have en-
tered upon their years work? Certain
ly Il would be a very rigorous mea-
sue--one far in excess OF any retrench-
ment that the Council itself has prac-
ticed.
Again. we much doubt II. In the first
place. the equities Of the case allowed
the Council TO make so large reduce
ton in the school appropriation. seeing
that no effort was made by the Coun-
eli to cut down the pay of the police or
firemen. or that OF many other salary
drawers. Knowing how very difficult Is
the work of Observation-Disclosures how
far short OF public expectation has
fallen the efforts Of the Council itself
councilmen ought TO appreciate the re-
luctance that the School Board has "a
cutting and slashing the salaries OF
teachers. and this, too. after the teach
ers have entered upon their years work!
Furthermore. It is within the knowl-
edge OF nearly everybody that our teach
ers are poorly paid. In comparison with
what other public servants here receive
and with what publie-school teachers OF
other cities receive.
As things stand. we cannot see hoy
the Council could do better than vot
the money needed for this year, and 8
enable the School Board 10 fulni II
implied obligations 20 the teachers.
II tae Council had made q general Gu
q eainrtcs--a horizontal reduction,
before the session began. we doubt /
~ tsaeh4rH would have marmurea