The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1914-10-29
succeeded in defeating any such bust
ness-like method.
That Institute Money.

succeeded in defeating any such bust
ness-like method.
That Institute Money.
The general appropriation bill sets
aside $4,000 a year to be used in hold
ing and conducting state institutes for
teachers. This appropriation has
been made for good many years.
The records in the comptroller's Of
flee show that on April II, 1914,
Thompson drew out of the treasury
of Tennessee $500. That was the in
stitute money. Who authorized him
to draw this out in such manner no.
body seems to know.
What became of this money?
All in the world that the comptrol-
ler's books show is that it was paid
to Thompson. The comptroller does
not know whether it was taken over
to Greeneville and deposited in bank
or not. He doesn't know whether it
was deposited to the credit of Thomp-
son personally or not.
Checks against this $500 didn't go
through the comptroller's office at all
The comptroller doesn't know whether
Thompson checked against it person
ally or not. =
Thompson, though repeatedly call
ed on, has never made any report to
the state board about what he did with
this money, and why he drew it out.
If he never explains to the board, he
at least ought to explain to the child
rem of Tennessee why he drew it out
of the state treasury on his own re-
sponsibility two months before the
state institutes began, and at least
two and half months before a nickel
of it ought to have been paid TO the
conductors and instructors of the in
stitutes.
The state auditor would do the peo-
pie turn if he would get into this.
Inspector of Libraries.
1t is matter of common knowledge
that Hooper will sign any bill or sup
port any move that creates a new Of
flee, if he can dictate the appointment.
This, combined with Thompson's dis
position to waste the states money,
brought on the fact some time ago
that the state was miserably in need
of library inspector.
The general education bill allows
per cent for school Libraries. When
a rural school gets up pile of money,
the state chips in so much, and Ii
brary is ordered. A year or so ago
library suppers and entertainments
were rather popular, and a number
Of little libraries were collected.
At the January meeting Of the board
Mr.. Oscar McMahan, the Newport
reported that about 100 Ii
oraries had been put in under the new
provision OF the general amendment
% the education bill which is little !
more liberal. He up and moved that a |
library inspector be appointed at 800 |
month with $500 for expenses. |
wanted to know who would |
employ said inspector, under whose |
direction he would work, and such
hings. 1t was urged that these were
minor matters.
Harry Luck and c. C. Hanson, mem
Ter from Memphis, voted no, but it
vent through.
Fortunately, at subsequent meet
ng of the board the folly of this was
hown and the resolution authorizing
he appointment was reconsidered and
Tiled. Whoever was instrumental in
illing this resolution is certainly a
riend to the children of Tennessee.
This library fund is very small IS
. is, but it is worth remarking that
1 500 of it goes to pay the salary of
director of library what
yer that is-with expenses to mattel.
Iseley and the Libraries.
Under the law the state superintend-
Mt is charged with the duty of arrang-
lg for the library books. Naturally,
business administration would have
pened-. bids, asked publishers and
gents to submit figures on a list OF !.
ooks selected for the Libraries and
arried the thing out in good shape.
Did Thompson do this? !,
Nay, Pauline. Before H. C. Weber,
cad of the Nashville depository, for
er superintendent of the Nashville
ty schools; Sam Hill of Knoxville,
1 =
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