The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-03
JONESBORO HAS
 SCHOOL MIDDLE. School Teachers In Doubt About Their Salaries CITY ELECTION IS NEAR Mayorfof Jonesboro Is Candidate for Re-eIection-Death of 6essemer
 Young Man in Ensley Is
 Very Much Regretted.
CITY ELECTION IS NEAR

Bessemer, October 2.-(Special)-I ne Jonesboro City Council met ill regular session tonight with the following mem bers present: Mayor John D. Martin and Aldermen Ray, Brady and Wilson. The aldermen absent were Rarden and Caugh- lin. After the regular business of the council had been transacted, Mayor Mar tin stated that a motion to adjourn would be in order, and after due process of law this was done. Then Mr. Martin stated to the members of the council that he was very anxious to see a copy of the contract that had been mace with MT. Morris, the Principal of the school. He stated that as chairman of the school board he would very much like to know just what the contract called for IT, other words, he wanted to know just what time the principal was supposed 10 open school in the morning and what time he was supposed to close the school in the afternoon He asked this question of Alderman Ray. and that gentleman was unable to answer. Mr. Ray stated that he was under the impression that the county board regulated the opening and closing Of the schools, but he was not positive.
 The fact was developed that MT. Morris elected principal of the schools at q regularly conducted meeting of the City Council, and the keys to the schools were turned over to him. However, when it came time to sign the contract fixing the salary of the principal the Mayor, who acts chairman of the board of trus- tees, was left out in the cold and up to date he has never read the principal S contract.
 He stated this evening that he had be n stopped on the street by MT. Morris once and asked to sign the contract, but he did not do so from the fact that lie thought that the contract should be signed at the city hall of Jonesboro be- fore the Board of Aldermen and trus- tees. He asked MT. Ray what the con- tract consisted of, and MT. Ray replied that while he had not memorized it's con- tents, he was under the impression that il was worded like most other school con- tracts.
 The question then arose as to what time the public schools of Jonesboro were supposed to open. It appears that when Mir. Morris was elected, Mayor Martin stated that the trustees would not be re- sponsible for his salary until the public school term commenced, which according to law is the first Monday in October, or the first day of October. This point has never been settled.
 The contract, when it was carried around by the principal, was signed by all four of the aldermen. but as above stated the Mayor as chairman Was left off and the Mayor claims that he Is In tho dark regarding the whole contract.
 When the principal and teachers were elected the salaries were fixed as follows Principal, $100 per month assistant prin- cpal, $50 per month, and the three teach CTS to receive s45 per month.
 To sum the whole thing up Mayor Martin wanted to know just how much work the principal and teachers were supposed to do each day In order to earn the money that they were to receive from Jonesboro.
 In the meantime the campaign in Jones' boro grows quite warm, and Mayor Mar tin who will stand for reelection, is picked as a favorite. The election will take place on next Monoay, al which time it is hoped every store in Jonesboro will close and do homage to the candidates.
 Grant Smithson, one of the beSt known young men in Bessemer, met a horrible death at the works of the Tennessee company in Ensley this afternon when he was supposed to have been shocked to death by an electrical current while running one of the immense cranes. Noth- ing definite has been learned of the acci- dent but the many friends of the young man in this city deeply regret to learn that he should have come to such an un- timely end.