The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1901-06-05
The City Council and the Parish
school Board.


At meeting Of the City Council held
recently Councilman s B Hicks submitted
for consideration 81 ordinance providing
for the sale Of eight Lotto of the battuTe
property, five of which are leased to the
Cotton Belt for term OF years. at $500.
The proposed sale was to be made to the
Cotton Belt for $4,000, the amount agreed
to by majority OF the council and "all
go for school purposes land said school
houses be owned and controlled by the
city,v
The Parish school Board at their session
held on Monday. adopted series OF reso--
lutIons in which they disapprove the pro-
posed sale Of these lots and recommend in
substance that the lease OF the batture lots
be Continued and the rentals be applied to
defray part OF the expenses Of maintain
ing the schools.
Whatever may be said in criticism the
council is on record, officially, by the act of
Councilman Hicks, sustained by a majority
Of that body IS iavoring the construction
Of public school ho1ses. 1t is true the
council provided that ''Laid school houses
be owned and controlled by the city,"
which, perhaps, sug gested the disappfovai
OF the school Bozrd, However, it is due
Councilman Hicks and the council TO say
that they have responded to the urgent
appeals and the necessity demonstrst d
repeatedly in the Caucasian, Tor school
buildings. For years the Caucasian has
Dsen urging the needs OF school buildings
and no newspaper and NO cttIzens-excel t
Hon J 81 Shepherd end Hon II II Hargrove
have been more persistent in the advo-
cacy OF public schools than the Caucasian
and Its editor.
This much 10 said, not in q spirit OF vanity
or with desire tor recognition, but is
simply 10 remind the people that when
others were then indifferent or their voice
on the school question were muflsd, the
Caucasian was being heard in the LAND for
pobllc school buildings and the public
schools.
WHAT IL the condition today?
Shreveport (Caddo paflsh) has only one
school house-the High school-which
may sbe pointed at with pride, etc.," while
the other buildings are traps, not as good
Is oarns IN which are housed stock and
feed, etc.
There IL not self-respectlng citizen who
would take q visitor to Bonneville and
80 nria " 81 the house which
3 sAlls,I 3 $780,. nor would any either
venture 70 take visitor to the Crockett
school and point it out "wlth pride,v and
these are fair "spccImens" Of the school
houses so-called, in which children have
been and are going TO school.
It Is true that for years it has been
projected to build school houses by secui
Ing money through the sale of bonds whi b
are to be authorized by taxpayers. The
Police Jury has the aushority to order an
election for such purpose, and action m ~
be taken st the session OF that body, but 1t
may be year or more before the schools
10 contemplated could be erected, provId-
ing the election be carried to authorize
tie levy Of the tax and the issue OF the
bonds.
In support Of the opposition OF the School
Board It is commended that $4,000 is the
amount needed for the school buildings
which are designed Tor Shreveport, and
that II the Council ware to sell the batture
lots and invest the money in one or two
school houses, thar thls would operate
ngainss the proposed plans Of the school
Board In providing school HOUSES in the
city Of Shreveport
The Caucasian cannot permit it's faculty
70 wander or TO stray In that direction-an
Inconsistent proposition, which could not
be sustained on q substantial basis OF
logic. TO our mind, to suggest that the
building o. one or tWo school houses by
the city would operate against the con-
ntrucllon Of other school houses, il so
ordered By the taxpayers, through the
Police jury, is absurd.
1t il tfus that the council cannot levy a
tax for public schools, or public school
buildings, nor can the council authorize
an elootion At which to vote any special
sax, exeept for the Improvement Of streets,
the nrs department. ana railroads, bus, the
oitg can. with authority OF the council
sell property which 10 owned by the city,
and should the city sell the batture lots
and Invest the money in one or more
buildings which may be occupied by chill.
dren 81 the people and their teachers, who
would ohjectl
Il seems to the Caucasian that the School
Board has hair split technIcality. The
only question which should have been
salded u a. 70 price. Perhaps $4,000 is
rot sufficient and So, 600 or $4,000 would
BE- = fairsr and better valuation, but we
are not one Of those who believe 10 post
poning good Or IN holding on, indefinitely
and io< generations unborn. il the need
Of school houses il imperative. and every
rensiols, intelligent citizen must appre-
oiate the needs Of the children, then there
anouId Be No delay in providing all the
facilities In buildings and in improve
meats. for The welfare or the children and
their leaohers.