Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-05-15

aOmlt tnat II Is pretty much q bore,
in spite of the period Of relaxation it
offers. The institute sessions, which
are, in effect. vacuous lecture series,
come at various times in the several
counties during the open school sea
son, to accommodate the wishes of the
peregrinating professors of our col
leges and normal schools, who are
paid SIS day and expenses for their
AristOtlean visitations. The other
costs Of the affairs are paid from the
fund Of teachers examination fees and
contributions from county current ex-
pense funds donated by the commits
sioners.
Teachers Embroider and Read Novels
at Institutes
If you attend one of these Institutes
you will be enlightened as to it's use
fulness by observing the number of
teachers who occupy their time doing
embroidery work, crocheting, gossip
ing or reading novels during the pro-
ceedings; and it will instruct you
further to note the sigh of relief with
which the eliminating ice cream and
marshmallow banquet is welcomed
II the teachers institute spells so.
cial jollification to some of the fra
ternity, no objection should be made
If it is held at the cost of their own
time, but the educational code pro-
vides for the adjournment of the pub
lie schools for a week.
To appropriate this period when the
term is in full swing must have a de-
moralizing effect in disrupting the
continuity and discipline of the stud
les. Besides, it costs pretty penny,
sum in excess of $175,O0O for un-
earned salaries alone. The number
Of teachers drawn from their regular
labors last year was 8459, each of
whom was paid a weeks salary for
the layoff. To make matters worse
the average attendance of pupils upon
the basis of which the school taxes
are apportioned, was marked up every
day of the week at every school in
the state.
Beneficiaries SaIaried Professors who
Get Per Diem
The real benefit derived from the
Institutes, if one is to take account
of the Indifference and criticisms of
large majority of the teachers, falls
to the lot Of the salaried professors,
of our institutions of higher educa.
ton, who make the route in theatrical
schedule at SIS day and expenses.
The jobbery and waste in the ex,
penditure of road taxes justifies in
many counties of the state the closest
espionage of the commissioners and
supervisors. Local taxpayers organi
Ons-denominate them what you
like-should start right rigid inquiry
into all contracts and vouchers for
materials and labor Emergency con
tracts for bridges or repairs deserve
especial scrutiny, as they often con.
ceal private arrangement. Cases of
costly collusion between a material
supply house in Portland and commits.
sioners in certain West Side counties
are already getting aired.
The deals were for steel bridges
and were put through without proper
competition, as emergencies" An
other instance is developing where
for about $4,000 worth of road work
it is charged that the commissioners
agreed on behalf of the county to
pay $500. There are good commits.
sioners and bad commissioners, but
the bad are very expensive to the tax.
payers. and not SO easily found out as
the good. Hence the necessity for
extra vigilence this year in every
county of the state, because of the
temptation to corruption and conni
vance presented in the form Of ex'
cessive taxation for road expenditures
More Money In Sight Than Needed In
Numerous Counties
More money is in sight than is &C
tually needed for necessary improve
ments and extensions in numerous
counties, and it will be squandered
recklessly unless the disbursing of
ficers are restrained by the fear Of
public criticism and rebuke.
Under an act promoted by the bu
reau Of inspection and passed last
session the road districts will be
forced out Of debt in few years ant
will have to keep within the bounds
of their annual estimates hereafter
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