Charlevoix county herald., 1905-05-06
Unfair Comment.
Consolidation of School Dis
tricts misunderstanding
and Misrepresentation.

Mr.. EDITOR:
/ desire to reply to an article pub
lshed in the Enterprise of May 4th
under displayed heading Ripper
Legislation" for the purpose Of put
ting the matter rightly before the
people who are interested and all of
whom should attend the school meet
ing on Monday evening next
This bill providing for the election
is not Ripper legislation as the
editor of the Enterprise we'll knows.
A bill uniting the districts and not
providing for the payment Of out
standing indebtedness would be un-
constitutional and void.
The late Justice Campbell, one of
the brightest stars that ever adorned
the bench of our supreme court SAID:
"A municipal corporation remains
liable upon a debt which IL has created
notwithstanding subsequent change
in its corporate limits"
The officer Of the newly organized
district in determining the amount of
taxes necessary TO raise will take into
consideration the former Indebtedness
of each school district and he amount
of the old indebtedness will be levied
on the property In the old districts
according TO the amount Of its own
Indebtedness. in addition to current
expenses and the old school districts
will have 10 pay its own separate
Indebtedness and the Rogers and
South Arm districts, if they are out OF
debt, Will not be called upon to pay
one cent of the Indebtedness against
either of the other school districts.
The property within the East
Jordan school district will be assessed
TO pay all of its indebtedness in addi-
tion TO its share Of the running
expenses of the new district.
1t is true this act legislates out Of
office all of the present school officers
and prevent them doing any business
for about week but giving the people
the right To reflect same officers or
any other they may choose on Monday
night next.
The Enterprise says, "that school
districts 4 and had sufficient build
ings to serve them for years. This is
alb Mt as near right as any other por-
tion OF the article. School district
No expected to build new school
house and to employ an additional
teacher at its earliest convenience.
The article further says: 1.-THE
districts Nos. 4 and 6 are not only
made TO assume part of an existing
debt, but are told that new school
house must be built in the near flu
turc." / repeat agai n that they do
not assume or pay any Of our indebt-
ednesS but that If new school house
is erected anywhere within the
district they will have TO bear their
share of the expense.
The law cited in this article by the
cditorof the Enterprise telling the
people how the work can bo undone,
applies TO graded school districts
organized by the board Of school in
spectors but is inapplicabe. to dis
tricts organized by the legislature.
The old board of district No. had
expressed themselves on the question
Of Incorporating the three districts
fintU one and thought that it would be
"a good thing for the school children
within the territory as it would give
them the privilege of attending their
own school as they have been dong
until they desire to attend high school
then they could do so without any
extraexpense TO their parents. Each
student will now attend the same
school h. has IN the past.
Che Enter rise Of April 10Th says;
There is no doubt that this consoli-
datiUn will work q benefit To the
educational inter, sts Of the people here
giving better school advantages than
would be had with the districts as they
have been. +"
Why this change of heart?
: ELISHA y CLINK.