The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-13

There was a conference last night
between the board Of aldermen, coun-
ty board of education and represen-
tative from the school committees of
the city schools for the purpose of
discussing the advisabiiity of having a
bill passed by the present legislature
giving half of the money derived
from the city liquor license to the
county school fund.
Mayor William E. Springer and all
of the aldermen were present
except Aldermen Murrell and Moore.
Messrs. w. H. Sprunt and Geo.. Roun-
tree of the board of education were
present and the members Of the school
committee present were Messrs. Sam
uel Northrop, James F. Post, C. w.
Worth, James Sprunt and r. J.. Jones.
Mr.. J. j.. Blair, superintendent of the
city schools, was also present.
The meeting was called to order
by Mayor Springer and the following
resolution, which had been handed
him by Mr.. w. H. Sprunt, chairman
of the board of education, was read:
Whereas, 1t is apparent that it is
impossible to run the public schools
of New Hanover county with the rev.
enue at present within the control of
the board of education. therefore
Resolved, That the board of edu-
cation petition the general assembly
of North Carolina, now in session, to
pass an act giving to the board of
education for public schools, one-half
of the revenue obtained both by the
of New Hanover and by the
city of Wilmington, from licenses for
the sale of spurious, vinous and malt
liquor.
~-IseSolved, Further, that a copy of
be sent to our Senator and
Representative, with the request that
they secure the needed legislation.
Mr.. George Rountree explained to.
those present why the board of educa-
ton had asked hat a portion of the
evenue derived from The saloons be
given to the school fund.
He said formerly the schools got
three-fourths of the state and county
tax paid by the saloons but that the Jaw
changed in 1903 and now the coun-
ty gets one-half of the whole amount,
leaving the schools only a fourth instead
OF three-fourths. The board of educa-
ton he said was running behind all
die tine end having a most difficult
I 10 in SECURING funds to run the
..cAools. In stated that there was not
sotT not elough money to run the
4: .ncols, but none to meet the need for
increased educational facilities. Unless
relief was secured from some source
Mr.. Rountree said, the schools would
J I'VE to be closed at least a portion Of
tHe session. Last year he said the
lizard of education had 20 borrow $4,000
from the general fund to run the schools
through the fall session. Two years
ago he said the contingent fun was
5000, last year 5000 and by another
yea he stated that he didn't believe it
would be $500.
The amount required to run the city
CIIOO 10 dboIl So,UUU per llOllLu, tlkdt
is the salaries. and the county schools
81, 900 per month. BY having a few thou
sand dollars more Mr.. RoUntrae was of
the opinion that the schools could be
greatly improved. He said event had
to be derived from somewhere if the
h were kept open in the future
and he saw only two ways of securing
the needed funds, either by a special
tax, and he said he believed the tax
was already as high as the people
would stand IL, or ky securing a por-
ton of the license paid the city by the
saloons. He said the question would
probably be asked why the board didn't
ask that the county give the same
amount as received prior 10 1903. In
answer to this he stated that TIE county
was in worse condition than the city
and that the $50, 900 voted 20 build roads
had already been used and the road
building was now being done with
money from the general fund.
Mr.. Rountree said the liauor license
was recently raised from So per month
to $50 per month. and he asked that
the aldermen consent to allow them to
have a bill passed by the legislature
giving one-half OF the tax thus derived
to The school fund. He said if the raise
in license should cause some of the So
looms to go out of business that the
amount derived by the county fol
school purposes would be less than a
the present time as the state and coun-
ty tax was 800. He was of the opinion
that it was not unreasonable to ask tbs
aldermen to give UP half OF h a de.
rived from the saloons. The aldermen
he said, had many ways in which they
wished to use the money, such as pur.
chasing a park and establishing an ag.
ricultural school. He said he would .iks