The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-14
SCHOOLS ALLOWED $4,000
LAST YEARS APPROPRIATION RE-
DUCED by $4,000.

Schools should Get Along on $75,-
900 for the Ensuing Nenr-The
Roard of Education Having Dis
charged Its Indebtedness, They
Say. and No Statement of Any In
debtednesS or Extraordinary De-
mand Having Been Made They
Consider This Amount sufficient.
Board of Education Asked for
xs5.cOO-A Member of the Board
Tells why 1t Needs This Amount.
The County Comm. ssioners, at their
meeting yesterday afternoon, made an ap-
preparation of $4,000 to the Board OF Edu-
cation for the ensuing year. This is SlO'-
600 less than the amount asked for, which
was the same as the amount allowed by
the grand jury last year, $4,000.
The matter came before the commission
ers in the shape of a communication from
Col George A. Mercer, president of the
Board of Education, inciosing the report
of the finance committee of that body. Col.
MERGERS communication is as follows
Savannah. April y. 1870 the Com
inissioners Of Chatham County.-Gentle-
men: BY the law of Chatham county any
appropriation for the public schools must
originate with your body and the grand
jury of the county has a supervisory juris-
diction only. I, therefore, in obedience TO
resolution of the Board of Public Edu-
cation, enclose a copy of the report OF the
finance committee of the board, showing
that the sum of $s5, 900, the amount ap
propriated for the current year, will be
needed for the ensuing school year, and
will be required TO maintain the public
schools upon their present footing. I,
therefore, in the name of the Board of
Public Education, ask the appropriation
of this amount. Very respectfully yours,
Geo. A. Mercer, President.
A communication addressed to Col. Mer-
Ger from Supt. Otis Ashmore, secretary
of the Board of Education. was at
tached, enclosing the report of the finance
committee. The report is brief and sim
ply states the total amount desired with
out entering into particulars. 1t is as
follows:
THE finance committee of the Board of
Education, after looking into the resources
and liabilities of the board, are of the
opinion that an appropriation of So, 900
would cover the expenses of the year, and
We, therefore, recommend that the presi-
dent ask the honorable County Commits
sioners to include this amount in their
county budget"
There was no discussion of the matter
in public the question having been con-
sidered and the action of the board agreed
upon in caucus. When it was brought
before the board in open meeting the fol-
Towing resolution was offered by Alder
man Guckenheimer:
THAT the sum Of $4,000 be put in the
budget for the support of the public
schools, the accumulated indebtedness
which called for the appropriation of $S5.-
600 last year having been paid out of that
appropriation and no statement having
been made 10 this board that any other
Indebtedness or extraordinary demand now
exists"
The resolution was adopted without dis
sent.
Chairman Dale was asked after the meet
ing how the board arrived at the sum OF
$4,000 as sufficient TO maintain the schools
dor the ensuing year.
The resolution speaks for itself" said
Mr.. Dale. The Board Of Education had
q large debt last year. which il Is stated
they have paid from the appropriation Of
$4,000. AS they have no debt now they
can hardly be in need of as large a SIM,
as was allowed them last year"
The fact that no itemized statenant
was submitted. showing the amounts 70.
quired for salaries, improvements. repair,
ana other running expenses of the schools
was commented upon by some of the com
missioners. The amounts apnropria, od -
She school during the last several vear,
nave been as follows: For 1894, 1885, an
l6so, N9W0 each year; and for 1897 an
1898, $4,000 each year an
pntl recently the board had a dab+ y
about $4,000 incurred in the buiIdine y
the Henry and Anderson street scbocI
ana considerable part of the recent an
popIlallohs mas gone TO pay off that debt
CHAIRMAN Dale was mistaken in Stair,
that the Board of Education had AZ
charged its debt which made the ovtr
appropriation necessary last year IT,.
is stili %5,1OO OF the debt remaining unnai1
member of the Board or Education Nh
was informed of the action of the coy,,,,i.
sioners, stated that the board exnecte,1 =
De able TO free itself entirely from dob
oy means of the last appropriation M
proportion OF the school fund receive
from the state. however. proved 80 ),
smaller than usual, and there is roasa
10 believe that the revenue from the go,
source this year will not be as large az ,
previous years. 90
ON this account" said the menohar y
the board, 'the board did not place &C. ..
Innate any TOO high in asking for the s,,,,
amount that was allowed il last vear M,
amount allowed by the commissioner e.
coo. would doubtless be sufficient 10 r,,, ~ ~
schools but, In addition TO the doht =
S9,10o, We need s., 500 to build -four ~
country school houses. These cost Se
each, and require an additional evnor5
ture Of about 500 each for furniture M
there are repairs which it will he ~.
fary 10 make 10 the city Schools NJ
damages done by the storm We're onl,, h.,
fedly repaired and these viii have a. =
gone over again this summer Then ~.
vision must be made for about gOo ~,
children. IL must be remembered ~
ahere are now about 100 children for ~
room cannot De provided In the schl,S
and for the ensuing year the addI,lo,,.
number to be provided for viii hardly !
less tim 300." 4'9
meeting Of tho Board OF Educatio, NO,
"ouniless be called az an early dIte
consider The action OF the county oor,,,,t
r'oeers' when Il VIII ue decided whcth,
ne board shall appeal 10 The erspa a.,