The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1901-06-09
The HICKS ORDINANCE
Is It in the Interest of the .Oity9

criticised adversely and favorably.
The Times, in strong editorials, ha'
opposed the sale provided by the
; Hicks ordinance, aud has attempted
to force conviction to its side ~ 81
series OF nine carefully prepared &
sons, framed in double columns, with
attractive black head lines.
The Caucasian with all due ro-
spect and in ell candor would say
that the nine reasons given, wien
scrutinized logically, disappear as
the mornlng mis-, in the face of the
rising sun, and will not stand the test
of impartial criticism, submitted Oh 6
business basis.
The Caucasian faVUrs the sale 10
the Cotton Belt, to firm or auy
individual who will buy, as a sim pie
business proposition.
The necessity for one. or more
school houses is imperative, and is
conceded. This need then should be
supplied without DELAY. Tne propo-
sition is to sell eight lots to the Cot
ton Delt for $4,000 and to invest this
money IN one or more buildings to
DE used for pubic schools.
The city provides that "sald school
houses be owned aud controlled 0y
the CITY,"
The Parish School Board has OBJ
jected to this proposition Oh the plea
that such action will embarrass and
probably defeat plan through which
they expect to secute $4,000 by the
is ne of bonds, the authority for
which is to be obtained from the tax
payers, at an election which is to be
ordered by the Police Jury of Caddo
parish for that purpose. The School
Board favors the lease against the
sale, andexpects the rental to d fray
expenses of the schools which musu
be met.
The School Board has jurisdiction
over the parish of which Shreveport
is = part, but the. School Board eau
have no control OF the affairs of the
city. =
The Jurisdiction and the power OF
the city is limited by .ita charter, an /
the city can exercise no authority In
parochIal legislation.
The Police Jury has ths..'authority
to order an election, 40 provided by
law, at which the taxpayers may vote
upon themselves q tax for school
buildings, and such an election may
DE ordered for what may be deslg-i
mated the Shreveport School District,
but the city has NO such power, and
the city can provide q tax for street
improvement and FIRE department
ana RAILROADS only.
AS it is conceded that public school
houses are an Imperative necessity
and tie cry for al least one additional
building, with desirable conve.
niences, Is long and loud, unceasing,
we may say, what was more natural
than the plan suggested through
the Hicks resolution5
The query for consideration il
Has the city the right to sell these
eight lots, batture property Has
the city the right to invest the money
from such sale into one or more
school houses for the use of the chill
dren Of the city?
1t has been.conceded that the city
is possessed of euch right.
Is the amount offered a tull'valus-
ton of the property, and can a
greater amount be obtained7
If the city has the right to sell ard
no greater amount can be seknred,
why not approve the sale?
Which is the best policy, to sell or
to lease1
A great deal is being, said about
lease. Lease Is the plant, the pauacea
which is to relieve all complaints and
from which --great blessings are to
dow into the public schools.
What has the.cIty to lease?
The record will disclose that the
property in question is leased and
yields rental per annum as follows
Cotton Belt, lease - years. $500 90
House adjoining, lease expires in
ISVo. ............ 10 90 1
House adjoining Msnning's, lease
expires in 1908 .............. 4O % !
Warnings stable, lease expires in
1SVo.......' .......... ........... l22 80 4
1Obai...ss..sss 'ssss..... ....SfI2 10 /
The batture lots ID block SO, on
which are located Parsop's foundry.