The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-29
Surplus in Treasury Should bS Appropriated to School
 Fund at Once
GIVES FIGURES AND
 FACTS ON CONDITIONS
Says That the Best Way to Attract Immigrants of the Better Class to Alabama is to Have Superior
 Free Schools.

Congressman Sydney J. Bowie has writ ten an exhaustive article on the necessity of calling an extra session of the legis- iature for the purpose of authorizing the state officials to appropriate the surplus in the treasury to the school fund.
 In his discussion MT. Bowie sets forth in plain terms that this surplus does ex- ist. and that the public schools of Ala banla, especially those in the rural dis tricts, are badly in need of this addi- tionai fund to place them on an equal footing with the public schools of other states In the south.
 The congressman also stated that there is no better way to attract the better class of immigrants to Alabama than by having superior free school system, such as the immigrants from northern Europe are accustomed to. He states most emphatically that the extra session is necessary and goes into detail showing the various benefits that would result to the state were this money appropriated for school purposes.
 The article of Congressman Bowie Is as follows:
 The Statement.
 
 an extra session of the legislature with d view to applying the surplus in the treas ury to the benefit of the common schools in the state has. met with serious oppo- sition in some quarters.
 There are many people who believe that inasmuch as we owe $966000 of bonds, due on the 1st of January next this money should be applied to the payment thereof. There are others who fear that the use of so large a sum in one year for schools could not be made permanent, and would cause the schools to fall back after the first year and do the school in- terest more harm than good. This last ob- lection is based on a misapprehension Of the governors plan. It has never been suggested by him that the entire amount of the surplus should be expended in one year. Upon the contrary he proposed to so divide 1t as that the state treasury would be able in the future to maintain the amount annually thereafter. There fore there would be no prospect of the schools retrograding in the least degree.
 The first objection, however, appeals with great force to many thoughtful cti- zens. The permanent reduction of our debt In the sum of almost million dol lars would of itself be a source of great satisfaction to the people In a material sense it would be very important Net only would large amount of interest on the bonds be saved annually, but 1t would necessarily have good effect in the dis- position, at lower rate of interest of the remaining bonds which will have to be sold for the purpose of refunding the debt due six months later amounting to nearly seven and half million dollars; and 1t would be splendid advertisement for the state.
 No Inconsistency.
 Tt seems to me that there is no in- consistency or conflict between the plan to permanently retire the bonds due on the 1st of January and the governors plan to materially aid the common schools. Both propositions are proper, feasible and can be carried into effect and if carried into effect will be of materal benefit to the people. It will be remembered that the governor himself declared his pur- pose last June of paying one-half of these bonds on the 1st of July If the interest could be rebated, and the balance on ths 1st of January. This plan, no doubt, would have been adopted, as the state was abundantly able to carry 1t into effect, but for the fact that upon the matter being submitted to the attorney general he held that the state treasurer had no authority under existing law, to pay these bonds, inasmuch as section 72 of the new constitution contains the follow ing express provision:
 No money shall be paid out of the treasury except upon appropriation made by law
 ''As the legislature had made no ap- propriation of money for the payment of these bonds it is clear that the attorney generals ruling was correct and that they could only be paid. if at all by the extra session of the legislature passing a law to that effect.
 Impossible to Postpone.
 Tt is not a matter which can be post poned until the regular session, because the bonds will be past due for more than year when the next regular session is held. Consequently, if they are to be paid at all. it will take an extra session to accomplish that purpose.
 That there is money in the treasury sufficient to pay these bonds on the first of January Is perfectly clear. As to the money in the treasury being lawfully and morally available for the purpose, there is neither doubt nor mystery.
 If you go to the treasury itself, you will find the money there. It is fact, not myth. If you go to the bookkeepers at the capitol some of them may tell you that while the money is there, it has all been appropriated to the schools and old % siers.~And the cry has been raised