The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1914-10-29

Thompson can throw some light or
this, but so far he has refused to dc
it. These graders operated along in
May and July, and he hasn't made any
report yet. OF course, he says that
the board of examiners hasn't met.
Why hasn't it? Every effort has
been made to get meeting of the
state board of examiners. The meet
ing on Jan, 26, nearly a year ago, is
the first, last and only meeting that
has ever been held. Mr.. Thompson
says that some time when business is
not so rushing meeting may be held,
but that is as far as he will go.
What the Graders Got.
The total collected in fees from
these teachers, as shown by the comp
troller's books, was $12,343.47.
Those same books show that UP to
Oct. l the total paid out was $11, ,952.-
g. A few hundred of this went to
preparing papers and other necessary
expense which probably was legiti-
mate and legal; the remainder went
to pay per diem and expenses of the
graders.
1t isn't any excuse for Thompson to
say that the law allowed all this. He
knew exactly how it would work out
when he was busy trying to put the
law through. Fact is, Thompson fig
ured around right sharply trying to
get more fees, and finally had to face
the notification of cutting the per
diem to SO during a part of the last
grading farce in order to keep within
the examining funds. But the ex-
penses were allowed just the same.
Always Scheming for More.
Back in January we find circular
sent out by Thompson declaring it to
be the policy of the state board that
no teacher, bond or free, old or
young, would be exempt from this ap-
preaching examination. 1t was his
desire that even the old and expert
enced teachers holding unexpired cer-
tificates should present those certif-
Gates sor surrender, pay the ante and
be examined along with the rest.
But somebody stopped this. Some
body pointed out that under the exam
lining law "all certificates outstanding
at the time this act takes effect shall
be valid for the times and purposes
for which they were issued"
A little later on Thompson announc-
ed that only new teachers would be
examined in 1914, and that temporary
certificates for the session of 1914
1915 would be issued to. old teachers
holding unexpired certificates on July
/, 1914, the date the examining act
went into effect. These teachers had
to pay their $3.50 or $3.50 just the
same.
Under this law it is provided that
examinations shall be held by the
state and by the county also, but all
papers go to Nashville. The fees are
the same, except that one-half the fee
paid to the trustee by the applicant
taking the examination at the county |
seat goes to the state treasury. AS a |
sort of hammer to compel the appli- |
cants to take the examination under |
The state instead of the county, the
law is so framed that certificates is
sued to the applicants taking the ex-
at the county seats are
good only in that county; whereas,
he other is good anywhere in the
state.
ThOmpsOn's Travelling Expenses.
Thompson rides around with a
pocket full of passes, and is allowed
by law $3.50 year to pay his legiti-
nate travelling expenses. The legis
ature appropriates out of the common
school fund $500 for this purpose
Every two years. And yei Thompson
says this is not enough. He wants
more. A good while ago he saw that
lie was about to spend all he was
to by the law and an eff
ort was made to run in some Of his
expense to the account OF the high
school inspectors. They have an un.-
United expense account OF Of the
ligh school funds.
The fact is that of the $500 apgro-
,riated to Thompson for the two-ycar
period ending June 80, 1915, there had
,een spent up to Aug. /, this yMl,
j, ,317.30.
And TO this must be added the trav
ling expense of Thompson's charged
lp in the expense account of two high
chool inspectors. The state auditor
let this sort of thing 90,
trough There is also an account of
46.10 of Robinson's and $1S.75 of Adj
ock's that must be added. This
leans 1t up, and he has nothing to
ravel on legitimately for nearly a
ear.
When it was seen that the high
chool inspectors expense accounts
ouldn't be worked. Thompson looked
bout for some other place to get in.
What did he do? Last January he got
he state board of education to allow
i'm to charge up the expense accounts
f visits to the state normal schools
:. a.. .......nI rohn.,I f,,nd nNl,in ,.r..