The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-22
CAN USE SCHOOL
FUNDS FOR AUTO
Judge Scott Enters Order Re-
straining Use Of County Funds
for This Purpose.
INJUNCTION is PERMANENT
School Board May Be Held Per-
sonally Responsible for $l,e73
Already Expended.
INJUNCTION is PERMANENT

Judge r. Carter Scott yesterday
granted permanent injunction re-
straininE tile treasurer OF Henrico
County from honoring drafts made on
him by the school superintendent. or
the board OF school trustees for the
further upkeep of an automobile. pur-.
chased for the County Superintendent
OF Schools, or for the rental of Offices
In The Chamber OF Commerce Building.
The Injunction was granted in the
Henrico County Circuit Court on u pc
tttion entered by r. a. Smith and cthcr
citizens of the county who protested
against the use of tile school funds for
this purpose. Judge Scott intimatcd
that he thought the school beard had
exceeded it's authority In authorizing,
the expenditure of tho school funds
for, these purposes. and that the indi-
vidr;,l members Of the board might be
held personally. responsible for the
money thus expended.
EXPECT FINAL DECREE
TO FOLLOW NEXT WEEK
Tie Hr:sl decree In the case was not
entered yesterday. 1t will probably be
entered during the latter part of the
present week or early in the week fol-
lowing. 1t was said last night that IN
attempt would be made TO cancel the
lease secured on the Offices OF the
superintendent in the Chamber of Com
mcrce Building, and that IL was prob.
able that these offices would be re.
established In the Henrico Courty
Courthouse. whence they were, removed.
Judge Scott indicated his opinion
that tho school board funds were for
the sole purpose of paying teachers
salaries. and that the members of the
school board might be held individ-
ufsliy responsible for money otherwise
expended. The court took no official
cognizance OF this detail during the
proceedings yesterday. but intima ted
that further court proceedings might
be brought
Attorney Julien Gum. who repre-
sented the petitioners. read to the
court an attcrted list of the expendi.
lures made by the school board, and
characterized them as being wantou
waste of the school funds. This list
showed that, besides the money spent
for the automobile and it's upkeep and
the establishment of Offices in the
Chamber of Commerce Building, the
board had pad expenses incurred BY
the superintendent In attending a con-
vention at st. Paul. Mimi. last sum-
mer. and also of trip to Fredericks-
burg. They embraced the eSpendi-
lures made from October, 1913, to June,
1914, and showed II total of SI,97341
EXPENSES WE'RE PAID
Each of these expenditures had been
paid through drafts drawn on the
county treasurer by the superinten-
dent and taken out of the State and
county levies. 1t was also alleged by
the petitioners that these drafts had
bee drawn before the school board
had acted upon the expenditure which
they covered. The ratification of the
course taken by the superintendent, 1t
was charged, Is n direct viola ton OF
the rules OF the education board. Ac-
cording to the petitioners. these rules
specifically state that tile school trus-
tees shall meet and appropriate the
money before 1t can be spent by the
superintendent.
Attorney G. w. Throckmorton rep
resented the respondents in the case
and argued that the rules OF the edu-
cational board left the expenditure of
the school funds almost entirely to
the discretion of the school board He
said that II was left to It's Judgment
TO determine the best ways OF spend
ing the funds for the Improvement of
the county school system. With this
as it's guide, Attorney Throckmorton
held, IT had deemed II wise to pur-
chase the automobile and TO secure the
offices in the Chamber of Commerce
Building as n means of Improving the
schools.
No official announcement was made
last night as to who would be held
responsible for the money spent for
the purposes protested against by the
petitioners, but Il was intimated that
proceedings would be brought against
the individual members of the school
board for the recovery Of the money
which they authorized expended for
purposes other than the payment Of
tacherS' salaries"