The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-18
THE SCHOOL SITUATION.
Mayor Brashear's Prohibltory Order Dis
cusscd How Il Is to Apply.
TREASURER szABo WILL PAY NO MONEY
Unless Ordered by the Mayor---In
This He Is Backed Up by the
Ordinances.

mayor that the city OF Houston will not
pay out OF her funds any bills for school
supplies. except upon orders for goods and
the like. which orders have been furnished
by the mayor OF said city," is causing
some little uneasiness among merchants
and others who are In the habit of furnish
ing supplies to the schools, some of whom
have already fled their bills with City
Treasurer Szabo, but as these bills are
approved simply by Mr.. Cade, as presi-
dent OF the school board. and by Mr..
shearn, as secretary of that board, and not
BY the mayor. Mr.. szabo says he will not
pay them unless ordered to do so by the
mayor These bills aggregate several hun
dred dollars.
Mayor Brashear is not in the city at
present, but City Auditor Banner says
that his construction of the notice is that
it means simply that the mayor will not
permit any of the public school funds to
be paid out until the present school liti-
CATION is definitely settled either by The
perpetuation or the dissolution OF the tenn
porary injunction now in force.
"Will this apply to the payment OF
teachers salaries as we'll as to the order
ing OF supplies?" asked the reporter.
While the order says nothing about the
salaries of teachers" replied Mr. Banner.
my impression is that the mayor viii
not permit any of the puTiic school fund
TO be paid out for any purpose whatever
while the matter is In its present unsettled
condition, but tho enforcement OF this or
der against salaries will not work any
hardship, as a final decree can be gotten
from the district court by the time the
tiist months salaries become due"
80
The city levies no special tax for school
purposes and the city school fund is made
up of the state apportlonment, which at
S4.25 per capitn. will give Houston this
year SIS 500. Last yen this city received
from the State $4,000. 1t requires, how
ever, nearly 100000 per anuum to run
the city schools and the balance of this
amount is made up by an appropriation
made by the city out of Its general reYe-
nues This year the budget allowance is
$4,000. The city also received last year
from the county Sl27572 as its share Of
the county school tax, The pay rolls alone
of the schools for last session amounted to
$4,000. which does not include repairs,
insurance, etc. all of which has to be
borne by the city and which will easily run
UP the total annual expense OF conduct
ing the schools to 100000.
~
Under the ordinances regulating the
schools and which Is the law under which
City Treasurer Szabo says he is now act
ing. no payments can be made out of the
school fund unless the warrants are first
approved by the mayor.
Article ass says; All public schools and
public school houses with the limits of
the city Of Houston are. and shall be. in
charge OF and under the exclusive control
of he corporate authorities OF the city of
Houston.
Article 457 says: The school trustees
shall have charge OF all school houses
provided for the public schools of the city,
together with all school furniture: they
shall see that the same are properly cared
for and kept in repair and insured for
reasonable amount, the cost OF all Of which
shall be paid by the treasurer upon the
order OF the trustees, approved by tho
mayor, out of the city gsblc school fund.
The trustees shall cause all teachers to
keep such school houses as they use clean
and In good order. The trustees shall also
provide all needful fuel for use in the
schools, aud provide for all proper contip-
gent expenses, all of which shall be paid
bv the treasurer upon their order, APP
proved by the mayor, out OF the city public
school fund.
Article 473. The amount contracted to
be paid by the trustees to a teacher shall
be paid monthly by the city treasurer on
pay roll approved by the mayor and super
intendent.
Acting Mayor TufHy was asked If he
knew anything concerning the mayors In
tention indicated by the prohibtory order
he has issued