The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-16
Claim Money Justly Due Them Has Been Diverted
 to Other Sources
MAY GO TO COURT TO
 UPHOLD CONTENTION
Prof. R. G. Hewitt, Assistant County Superintendent of Education, Issues Statement Along These Lines at
 Request of The Age-Herald

The county teachers of Alabama are considerably upset because the state has no money to pay their salaries, and there are some of them who think someone has exceeded his authority in bringing about such situation.
 In fact the claim is made that under constitutional provision ample money is levied to cover these salaries and that the money has actually been collected but las been diverted and spent for some other purpose contrary to express provisions of the constitution.
 May Go to Court
 It is even hinted that representatives of the teachers may go into the court to uphold their contention that money just ly due them and collected for that spe- cffic purpose has been spent illegally for other things
 Those most vitally interested in the matter naturally do not like to discuss the subject for publication, although Prof. k. G. Hewitt. assistant county superin- tendent of education of Jefferson county, did consent yesterday, upon request, to give out a statement which sets forth some of the main points involved His statement vas in the, form of questions and answers, and reads as follows:
 Statement by Hewitt
 Question. MT. Hewitt, I see that the public school teachers did not receive pay for October teaching. Can you tell me why?H
 Answer: "I am informed that the governor says there is no money sin the treasury to pay teachers
 e. How do you account for this? Does not the constitution provide means for raising funds to support the public schools?''
 A. "Yes. Section 260 of the consti- tuition reads as follows: The income arising from the sixteenth section trust fund, the surplus revenue fund, until 1t is called for by the United States government and the funds enumerated in sections 257 and 25s of this constitution, together with a spe- clal annual tax of 30 cents on each sl00 of taxable property in this state, which the legislature shall levy, shall be applied to the support and main- tenance of the public schools. and it shall be the duty of the legislature to increase public school funds from tHiiS lo liiiie dS IHe HeCcSSlly lnefe- for and the condition of the treas ury and the resources of the state may justify"
 Q. Has the legislature complied with F the requirements of this section of the constitution?''
 A. Yes, by enacting statutes in aI- most the identical language of the constitution
 O. What, then. has become of the funds provided by these statutes?"
 "A. "I understand that the money has been paid out to any and all claim ants against the state under an act merging all the funds in the state and authorizing the treasurer to pay the auditors warrants out of any funds in his possession.
 Q. Has the legislature the power to divert funds from the purpose directed by the constitution?'
 A. T think not Section 261 of the constitution says: Not more than per cent of all moneys raised or which may be hereafter appropriated for the support of public schools shall be used or expended otherwise than for the payment of teachers employed in such schools
 Q. ''Since the school funds have been practically all paid out, how are the teachers to be paid?''
 A. ",Thtat is one of the questions we arc now preparing to ask the courts to, answer