The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-23
CoFFER.s SCHOOL FUND.
An Interesting Letter From County su-
 uerfufendenf Simmons,

An Interesting Letter From County su-
 perintendent Simmons.
 Enterprise, Ala, Aug. Fl, lsOS. Editor The Advertiser;
 see an article in your paper headed incident that the very day (Aus. 20), that this. article appeared. there was papers whereby this surplus was re- duced to a little less than $3oo0.
 We have the Special Tax and also ing from the dispensaries to the rural schools. This fund has been exhausted in running the schools and has left the State fund in the State Treasury, but from contracts already made this Ei.0o0.
 Coffee County has the largest avail able fund of any county in this section of the State. and mas run her sch ools from i've to nine months. paying the best salaries Of any county in South i. The County Board has managed the sch ools on the naozt economical basis. at the same time has hsd a school in the easy reach of every child in Coffee County. It, however, has made no ef- the payment of extravagant salaries, or great salaries to teachers who do not have an attendance of over six or sev- en pupils. When our schools run down by reason of the patrons having to use their children on the farm, we encour- age the teachers to close their schools, beieving that it is better for the school fund to remain in the Treasury than 1t Is for the State to pay $50 per month Go teach, say, five children.
 In the meantime. let me say. that a large surplus would cause us no alarm. whether in our own purse. or in the vaults of the State.
 Very respectfully,
 c. W. Simmons,
 Superintendent Coffee County.
 The LeGrand Good Roads Meeting. Editor The Advertiser.
 Since your reporter failed to state my position on the good roads move- ment along with that of the other speakers at the LeGrand meeting. and since I regard this subject as among the most important that now confront our people. I ask enough space in your columns to briefly state my views.
 In the first place. the use of Govern ment revenues for internal improve ment is contrary to established Dem ocratic doctrine. It was in fact the Democracy now. however, does not seem to mean what it once meant. Perhaps 1t ought to STOW apace with our industrial and political growth, but have not yet made up my mind that 1t is wise to incorporate bodily into Democratic policy the doctrine of internal improvement at public expense. However. if the loose construction policy of the past forty, years is to continue. justice demands that the South be fairly treated in the matter of appropriations for internal improve such aid than the building of good rural roads and schools. Even then I would want the appropriations subject to the absolute control of State au-
 In the second place. I am opposed to the overton bill because the amount of the convict fund when epportioned among slxty-seven counties would and If prohibition should result in a great reduction of the number of con- victs Gas ] believe 1t will.) the amount of this fund must greatly decrease. small fund to the State might serious ly affect its finances and, therefore. in the end. cripple some of it's most use- ful enterprises. In response to an in- quiry. State Treasurer Seed virtually admitted at LeGraao that such would be the case. I believe. therefore. that the Overton bill is unwtse. Now, as to the Overton amendment to the Con- 1 that it restores to the people a right 1 which every sovereign people ought to possess. viz. the right to do all promote their general good without en- l dangerine( their government and their | liberties or infringing upon the rights | or their nefghborS. As this Is true | Democratic doctrine, I am disposed. at | present, to support the amendment and | rely upon the wisdom of future legis- | latures to protect the peoples rights 1 It was apparent both rom rhe speeches l and from general conversation at Le- Grand that there exists much confusion in the public mind regarding the Over 1 ton amendment and the Overton bill i and those who are chiefly interested | should take steps 10 remove this con- | fusion.
 I have advocated and voted for every proposition that has come before me ] up to this time: but differ from some l of our friends as 10 the best plan for ] building them. Many of the counties 1 of Alabama have built their own roads 1 and have done so on the only reason | able reliable and economic basis. viz. l that of taxation. The others have the same authority. Let them do like
 Being called on very suddenly and not having previously given the sub- 1 feet specia! consideration. doubtless l failed in my short speech at LeGrand | to make my position clear and I will thank you To publish this In your peo- l ple's forum. Resnectfully. l F. M. Shackelford Troy. Ala. Aug. 21. 1908