La Junta tribune., 1908-11-28
SATURDAY. NOVEMBER %. 1905
SO THE PEOPLE MAY KNOW.

there was lively strife or quarrel
going on in our city schools between
the school board and Mrs. Carrie
schools. but most of our citizens paid
little or no attention to IL thinking
tina, 1t was only small affair and
not worthy of much attention; and
being further Informed that Mrs.
Money was paying all the costs on
her side OF the case we naturally in
ferred that the school board was do
ing the same thing.
Many taxpayers in the city, how
ever, were somewhat surprised by an
item OF news in your issue OF Novem-
Der 18th. informing them that a Pu-
eblo attorney. just three days after
election, registered warrant with
the county treasurer for $5023O, is
sued by our school board for legal
services rendered this school board In
their contest with Mrs. Money, and
then many OF US began to take
Q more lively interest In this contest
and asked one another why We should
be called on to pay the costs in
personal strife between these two
parties.
Taxes in La Junta are very high.
and our school tax Is especially
high. II being very near one-third of
our entire taxes and very near equal
to our entire city tax. In view of
these facts many taxpayers feel an
interest In our schools and demand
that the school money be wisely and
economically expended. Therefore,
l. with few others. determined to in
vesugate this school muddIe and see
what there was in 1t and l desire to
lay before the readers Of the Tribune
the results OF my investigation.
1t has not been an easy matter to
get the truth In this contest because
of the bitterness of feeling and preju-
dice engendered in the strife. A few
! days before election a memLer OF the
school board gave me his version of
the case as follows.
The trouble between the school
board and Mrs. Money is this: We
board constitute the high school COM
claim that five members Of the school
mittee. and she claims II is only
three. She agreed with US to let
the district court decide the matter
and the district court decided against
her. Then she broke her agreement
with us and appealed the case to the
supreme court and the supreme court
decided against her and now she
has appealed to the supreme court
for a re-hearing OF the case. She
has Already made $500 or $500 costs
on the taxpayers. and the end is not
yet"
After investigating this case l am
prepared to state that with the ex-
ception OF the first sentence the
above is not fair statement of the
case. 1t Is erroneous, prediction
talk, and this sort OF stuff was ped
deied and hawked about our city and
county by her enemies In order to
beat her for reelection. The pro-
priety of school officers going into
q political squabble where they have
personal interest and from motives
Of spite. Is questionable to say the
least. It might be excusable In
I school district down at Nine Mile,
( where the people have nothing to ex-
cite them, and where a fracas once
in a while is needed to stimulate
t,,t<, nd hnn hp
circulation of the blood; but in
city of the size and character of La
Junta it is entirely out of place, un-
seemly and undignified.
l have interviewed two of the
school board. also several parties
more or less connected with the case.
! have not interviewed Mrs. Money.
but l believe I have gotten the ba-
sic facts in the case. This school
muddle began over two years ago
when the school board Of District No.
Ii LA Junta) was increased from
three to five members. A gentleman
who Is very near the school board.
one of It's strongest defenders and
in position to know whereof he
speaks. informed me that when the
school board was about to organize
the high school committee. the sec
retary OF the board wrote to the state
superintendent Of schools. asking
her whether three or five members
constituted the high school commit
tee and that she replied BY sending
a copy OF her decision informing her
that three and mot five constituted
that committee. This gentleman also
s-er~ua~A - fhat avoPv rnomt,of 0f