The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-06

BOARD of Education but not audited. I'm
der the one-twelfth act, which Judge Sea
tion. there is a balance of but about $685.
600 with which to pay all these claims,
amounting to about $17S,OOO, that being the
unpaid balance OF sixtwelf53nSb s oI o ors
that the $4,000 illegally paid shall be
charged against the November ana pc
cember salary account, thus holding that
the teachers who received 1t owe 1t to the
CITY treasury. But in balancing accounts
after Jumping November and Decemper
salaries and all other accounts Mr.. Welis
finds that the teachers still owe money 10
the city.
He then goes beyond Judge Seawell, S
decision and finds clause in the consoh-
dalton act forbidding payment or claims
to any one who Is in debt to the city. AS
the teachers owe S123. 900 to the treasury,
and as they still owe balance after their
November and December salaries are de-
Quoted, the balance must come OUT OF tn ne
with a clean account and dream of what
they would do If they ever by any cnance
get nearly three months salary IN lump.
Not all the teachers are in debt to the
city on account of that $123,000 that must
be paid back. 1t is owed only by those
who received that amount last August
ce,yin 1sh tb fa9se amount MnG said Mr. Wells,
1.-The balance due Is generally more than
is coming to them in January with the 20
per cent reduction. Hence the January ar
deficit Without the reduction the accounts
would about balance.
but those who came into the depart
ment since July did not, participate in
that illegal payment, and hence they owe
nothing to the city. They and any who
for any reason did not get part of that
illegal sum will have their warrants
audited and get their money. In order
to find out how the accounts stand, 1
will tomorrow put a force at work to
see to whom all these illegal payments
were made. and VIII ask the BOARD OF
course will be to take each warrant in my
Office for a January salary and one by
one examine the account back through
the fiscal year. 1t will be big job. and
may take three or four days. There are
from 1900 to 1900 accounts, including all
employees"
ITS a great hardship on the teachers, y
all to facilitate the work so that things
may be Strengthened out"
If in few days it is found that a bal
ance of six bits or twenty dollars is due
but Mr.. Wells thinks that there won't
be six bits left for any of the teachers
who received that $123, 900.
my present view' continued he, els
that If 1t was illegally paid it is owing to
the city, and may pay nothing to a
debtor. to the city" said Mr.. Wells. IF
/ would credit it on the warrant and pay
the balance, If any. 1t was of course the
intention to pay the deficit of last year
out of the funds of this, but the court
available six-twelfths of the entire appro-
priation. The six-twelfths available for
the first six months was not quite all
audited but the unaudited claims are far
in excess of the $123 900. There will be a
deficit with this paid back When this
amount is returned the merchants and
teachers will get pro rata allowance and
the new teachers who owe no part of the
$12S 900 will be benefited. 1t is my view
that the November and December salary
claims are absolutely void and can never
be paid"
the Finance Committee for six-twelfths
of the whole appropriation was considered
and approved. There is another odd
thing. The original appropriation of
81 ,217 900 included 100000 for the salary
deficit, leaving the board 81, 900 for the
cash basis. Now the old board, which
went in with little money in sight
and with the pinching of poverty,
finds itself suddenly with one-half of the
whole original appropriation, or more than
the old board was supposed to have to
sudden change in the plans of the board,
and the AK of economy may rest little.
"If the teachers have drawn $123 900 il
legally. that does not affect the January
salaries" it Is said. 1.-THE Auditor is con-
sidering only what hhe teachers owe the
city and not what the city owes the
teachers. This is trying to collect from
the teachers what they owe the city with
out paying them what the city owes them
He follows Judge Seawells decision as
far as he wants to and then follows him.
self There will, of course, be a suit to
compel him to pay January salaries if he
persists in his promised course. Well see
If its good law or not.