The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-12
GRAND JURY TO BE CRITICAL.
BOARD OF EDUCATION ASKED TO
SUBMIT A STATEMENT.

| of Education Invited TO BE Pres
ent-County Commissioners Seem
Confident They Bavc Made
Strong Impression on the Finance
Committee.
II is likely that the meeting of the grand
! Jury to consider the question Of The school
/ appropriation for the coming year will be
| held the latter part of next week. Mr..
| George j. Mills, foreman Of the grand
| jury, so stated yesterday.
Col. George A. Mercer, president of the
Board of Education, has written MIR.
| Mills, as instructed by the board at its
last meeting, that the board is ready to
appear before the grand jury on any date
the latter may name. In reply TO this Mr..
Mills has written Col Mercer request
ing detailed statement of the expendi-
,ture by the board of its last appropriation
of $4,000. When this statement is re-
.ceived Mr.. Mills viii call the committee of
the grand jury which was appointed to
investigate this matter, together and IT
win analyze the statement. After this
has been done. MIR. Mills will cali the
grand jury together and invite the Board
of Education TO appear before it,
This is probably the first time that the
Board of Education has been called upon
for a detailed statement of its expendi-
lures. The members of the board have
heretofore held to the view that their or
ganization Is an independent body, co-ordi-
nate with the County Commissioners, and
not subject to the direction of that or any
| other body. Hence they have always con-
sdered it their prerogative to make up
their own budget, simply making such
showing of their needs to the County Com
missIoners, or TO the grand jury, as to war
rant either one body or the other in giving
them the amount asked for. Last year
when the County Commissioners appro-
priated $4,000 TO the Board of Education
the latter, on a showing before the grand
| Jury. was allowed SIS, 900. Practically the
same thing has resulted this year, the
commissioners having appropriated $4,000
| to the board, and the latter having deter
mined to go before the grand jury and ask
| for $s5 600.
1t may be that the board will not be as
successful with the grand jury this year
/ as it was a year ago. conference was
held some time last month be-
| tween the County Commissioners and
| which the question of the educational APP
preparation was thoroughly gone into, from
! the commissioners standpoint Mr.. Mills,
| as foreman of the grand jury, was chair
| man of this committee, and he was I'M
| doubtedly strongly impressed with the
! commissioners view of the matter. Chair
| man Dale and other members of the board
evidently entertain the idea that they have
| made out a strong case with the grand
| jury's finance committee.
| There are two sides to the question of
course" said Mr.. Mills I'VE have heard
| the County Commissioners side, and we
desire TO hear that Of the Board of Edu-
cation also. A year ago when the Board
| of Education asked for an increase of lis
appropriation TO $4,000, ii was on the
| ground that there were extraordinary ex-
penses to be met. This year, when there
| are no extraordinary expenses to be met,
so far as we know, the board again asks
for sS5O co., This being the case l think it
| only proper that we should inquire how
the last appropriation of $S5,000 has been
spent. With the sum which the board re-
ceives from the state it seems to me that
$4,000 should be sufficient to run the
Schools
Il am no advocate of parsimony in edu-
cational matters" said Mr. Mills. "All
things being considered l think it wise
to appropriate as literally as possible for
this purpose, provided the appropriation
be kept in reasonable bounds. There Is
no impropriety that l can see in asking
the Board Of Education TO make state-
ment of its expenditures, as well as of its
needs Each year when the city goes to
make up its budget, the chairman of each
committee presents a carefully prepared
statement showing by item his estimates
of the cost of operating his depar tmen,
for the ensuing year, what improvements
| ~ IA ny md fha ,tol
cost of these improvements. Almost in
variably the chairman of each committee,
backed by the head of his department in
sists that there are certain increased ex-
penditures which are absolutely necessary
to the proper operation of his department
The improvements desired are almost al
ways meritOrious, and yet If all were 20
be allowed the citys expenditures would
, FAR exceed it's incomes, even with am in
, creased tax rate. The consequence is that
Council applies the knife until the estl-
mate for each department has been
t brought within due proportion. Because
: improvements are desirable does not al
, ways imply that they can be afforded.
) What is true of city affairs is also true
! of the Board of Education. Everything
: which is desirable ctnnot be supplied. ana
I expenses must be kept within bounds"
. Mr.. Mills was told that the report of
the finance committee at the last meet
2 ing OF the Board or Education showed
! that the amount of the appropriation ask
ed for above the actual amount REQUIRED
for the operation of the schools was de-
sired to provide additional school facilities
including the erection of new school
! houses. This he seemed to regard doubt
, fully
THE estimated annual increase i'm the
school population of 800 seems excessive
@ to me-" he remarked, when we consider
| hot my ,INar~ $50
out of the schools annually, either as
y graduates or withdrawn by their parents
/, to be pu. TO work"
a If the views of Mr.. Mills are shared
= by the other members of the grand Jury
the Board of Education will need to pre-
sent its case strongly to Offset the inn
preston which has evidently been made
by the County Commissioners.
There is no fight between the County
= Commissioners and the Board OF Educa.
ton" said Chairman Dale, when spoken
. to about the matter Had the board