The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-01
THE EAST LAKE SCHOOL
MRS. JOHNSTON TALKS OF GOV
 ERNoR'S VETO.
She Declares That Future of Boys Industrial School is in Doubt and Says It is Now
 Cramped.

Mrs. R. D. Johnston, President of the Board of Trustees of the Boys Indus trial School at East Lake, who was in Montgomery yesterday, is perplexed over the veto by Governor Jelks of the bill providing for maintenance of the insu- tuition.
 She says 1t appears that the State gov ernment proposes to force the ladies to again beg the public for funds to sup port the school.
 Mrs Johnston came to Montgomery from Birmingham yesterday morning and returned to her home on an afternoon train.
 There are now 65 boys in the East Lake school and Mrs. Johnston says they are crowded almost beyond endurance. ht was proposed to build a plain building to cost $15,OO0 which would provide room for 100 boys. There were to have been school rooms, dormitories and work rooms.
 But all of our plans have been up set" said Mrs. Johnston regretfully, "and I cannot now say what will be the future of the school.
 Mrs. Johnston discaimed any criticism of Governor Jelks for disapproving the bill saving that he of course, knew the condition of the Sta;e's finances. She added, however, that from her point of view it would have been common justice for the school appropriation to have been scaled down and pro rated along with other appropriations.
 ''The material for the present building at East Lake said Mrs. Johnston, was begged from all over the State, the State government only giving us 5000 to as- sist in its construction. The plant Is worth SS0,O00 and we presented the State with 136 acres of land, the market value of which is $10O an acre. The State ap- propriated $10,oOO for maintenance of the institution for two years. During that time the members of the Board of T1us- tees begged $S,000; put it in improve ments and notwithstanding our capable superintendent has frequently gone with out his salary We went before the Legis- lature without cent of debt"
 The bill vetoed by Governor Jelks car ried an appropriation of $15,OOO for a new building and equipment, 5000 to estab- fish and maintain four trade depart ments for four years and $11O a year for each inmate of the institution. The amendment suggested by the Governor and adopted by the Legislature merely provides an appropriation of $s,O00 year for four years.
 SpeaKlnS or the per capita approprla- tion of $1l0 a year which appears to have been objectionable. Mrs. Johnston said 1t was exactly the amount allowed by the State to sheriffs for feeding prisoners; that the boys were taken from the jails and 1t seemed to the members of the board of trustees that the school should be allowed as much as the sheriffs for caring for the boys.
 This was the smallest amount asked for by any State institution" said Mrs Johnston. Ut was so small that Mir. Lusk the representative from Marshall county tried to amend the bill so as to give us $10,OO0 more"
 The future of the institution, Mrs. Johnston says is in doubt. Notwith- standing there are 65 boys at the school others are clamoring for admission.
 Why, there are three small boys in jail in Birmingham now" continued Mrs. Johnston. eloquent sympathy in her