The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-04

It is a very difficult matter for the pub
lie to secure information regarding the
transactions OF the city's new school
board
Although the board was created by the
public and is responsible to the public for
its actions, its meetings are held behind
closed doors and newspaper reporters are
refused admittance.
After each meeting the secretary gives
out only such information as the board
thinks the public should have. Every
action of the board is supposed to BIO
or should be for the best interests of the
schools, and should be open to the pub
lie, but according to the new method OF
taxed for their support and who have
children to be instructed In these schools,
must not be informed Of new plans adopt
ed, new schemes Matched. or new posi-
tons created,
On several occasions during tho pas,
two months The Post and other papers
have had great difficulty in securing the
proceedings of this board, and doubtless
great deal Of the business tnansacted at
these meetings viii never be known.
kumors have been depended upon hereto
fore to great extent and as a rule these
rumors have eventually been confirmed
by the board.
One very important matter recently
acted upon by this body at meetings held
some time back and that has Just leaked
out. was the decision that the secretary
Of the board should be paid 500 A month
or $500 year for services. and that the
treasurer should be paid S1l00 per annum
Why this action should have been con
sidered an official secret Is a question foI
the public to solve. How long was in
tended for this matter 10 be officially kept
from the psopie is not known. hut IN,
fact that one member of the board has
made vigorous protest against the dc-
ton of the other trustees in attachln,
salaries to these positions has Just made
IL public. The member who has rebsllec
at the boards work Is MIR. Andrew Dow
wh), II may be incidentally mentioned
WAS not present when the meetings t.
act upon this matter were held.
Mr. Dow has declared that the tmr
had no authority TO appropriate the schoo
fund for this purpose, and that he woul,
enjoin the payment OF these salaries, usini
the courts to test the matter.
~
Whsn seen by a Post reporter yester
day. MIR. Dow said that it was true that h
was preparing to bring INDUCTION proceed
ings against the board OF trustees to en-
Join them from paying the proposed sal
aries TO the secretary and treasurer of tn
board. He says that the suit is merely
friendly one TO settle once for all whethe
or not the school board, under the ne,
law, has the right 10 fix such compensa
ton
II contend" said Mr.. Dow, In discussu
the matter yesterday with a reporter TO
The Post. that they have no such righ
and am borne out in this conclusion b
such eminent legal authority as MesSr!
baker, Bolts, Baker a. Loyett ana Juds
T. p. Hamblen. though | believe the trus
tees have Il letter TO the contrary frOl
the office OF the attorney general an
that this contrary opinion is shared In D
Mr.. II. f. Ring, an attorney OF this cit.
who has been consulted upon the subjec
THE new law creating the school trus
tees for Independent school districts spe
citically says that they shall serve viii
out compensation and take it that tn
mere creating of an officer out OF one
mora Of the trustees does not in any Wa
alter this law--they are stll members
the board, no matter what additional o
fees or duties may be imposed upon then
III the mere making of officers out
members of The board will entltle the
to salaries. the members of the dlfferer
committees created out of the hoal
might. with equal propriety. demand sa
aries, on the ground that additional wor
had been imposed upon them in const
quence of their being placed on these =,
spective committees.
81 have left the matter with Messr
Baker. Bolts, Baker & Lovett, and the
will file the Injunction proceedings
soon, | imagine, as they can prepare II
pleadings."
How Is H." asked the reporter. "th'
Mr.. A.. A. Szabo as treasurer of II
sdhol fund. Is allowed one-half per cent K
the collection and one-half per cent Il
the disbursement Of ali school funds.
] per cent for the handling of the fun
and yet you deny Mr.. Settegast, as II
treasurer OF the fund, any compensate
for lis disbursement
Simply because Mr.. Settegast Is
member OF the school board and the la
very plainly says that members OF tn
board must serve without compensation
II understand that the State law fix