The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1913-08-16
VOL. XXXvII
Mr.. LaCroix's Request Answered.
Pollock, La, Aug. IL, 1913.


Editor Cotfar Chronicle:
There appeared in the last issue of
your paper a request from Mr.. VIM.
LaCroix of your town for the appor-
tionment of the general school fund. to
which request | make the following
reply:
On April 4, 1913, at a regular ad-
journed session of the school board, the
various members of that body discuss
ed the question of re-fnancing the
schools of the parish, ard the appor-
tionment of the general school funds.
After lively discussion of the latter
question, the board requested that all
moneys to the credit of the general
school fund remain unapportioned until
l was notified by the board as to how
they wished the apportionment made.
j expected some advice or orders
from the board on this question at the
July meeting, but most ali of their time
being consumed on the question of fl
nances for the coming school season,
they failed to dispose of this question.
Mr.. LaCroix states in substance that
if this general fund was apportioned it
would be seen that the districts would
not need the proposed tax. Now. this
is all campaign thunder. and he Knows
it, and why not be fair and just in this
matter?
To illustrate: The total receipts for
the school year ending June 80. 1918,
were Sal ,994.67; the total expenditures
for the same year were S57, ASP. 02,
which leaves deficit of Sis. 457 30.
Had it not been for the cash balance
we carried over from the school season
of 1911 of S2l, 72l.76, the school fund
would have been overdrawn to-day
over SIS, 0O0.00
Does this show we do not need the
tax to maintain the schools?
For the past year we paid white
teachers alone $39, 635. rs, and to the
colored teachers we paid 81, 1915. OF,
making a total expenditure for teach
ers alone of Sal, 010.77. How shall We
keep up the other necessary expenses
with the remainder of the income of
little over $500?
1t must be remembered that all the
cash on hand for running the schools in
the parish until any further funds are
available is $6, 264. Al, and the schools
of the parish will need at least $50, 600
in the 80 days, before any further funds
are available. This means that if the
schools of the parish open in September
by the same date in December they
will run behind nearly $4,000.
Does this show we do not need the
tax to run the schools?
We have $21 ,2l6.1 6 of the general
fund unapportioned, which, when APP
portioned to the several school districts,
will reduce the overdrafts some and in
crease the cash balances of other dis
tricts, at the same time that apportion-
ment wiU not change the cash on hand
July l, 1913, of Sc, 264.41.
My friend LaCroix well knows that
when he was treasurer of the school
fund, and was paid out of this fund
some $500 or $500 annually for the dis
bursement, (which work | now do
without any compensatory, it was his
custom to disburse part of the general
school fund before he apportioned it to
the several school districts, which |
have done part of the time since have
been treasurer.
Now, Mr. Editor, because this money
has not been apportioned, and We are
trying to vote a tax of five mills so
tnat we can run the schools, Mr.. La
Croix would have the voters believe
that there is something radically wrong.
In legitimate and equitable manner
we are trying to raise revenues to
maintain the schools of this parish so
that we may give all of the children
the benefit of an eight months public
school.
Are you too penurious. friend La
Croix, to pay the sum you would have
to pay, or are you opposed to the public
schools of this State?
You know unless we increase the
school revenues the majority of the
schools will not open this fall, then why
take the stand you have, unless it be
for the reasons given above?
Quit your foollshness, now, and get
in line, if for no other reason than to
be on the winning side when the vote
is counted on August 10.
Very truly yours,
j. N. WARNER.