The log cabin Democrat., 1915-04-02
BOARDS DECIDE 10 CLOSE 4 SCHOOLS
ACT ON MOoSt'S ADVICE
AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL TRUS TEES TAKE RADICAL
 STEP.

Little Rock, April 2.-The four ag- ricultural schools of Arkansas will be closed after July 1, in accordance with a resolution adopted by mem- bers of the board of directors from each school who met in conference at the Hotel Mahoney Wednesday after noon. This is necessary because of the veto of the appropriation for teach CTS salaries, and the rendering of an opinion by Attorney General w. l.. Moose that the other amounts appro- priated cannot be used for paying the salaries.
 At the close of the meeting the fol lowing statement was given out by the conference:
 At the meeting of the Board of Trustees of the four state district az ricultural schools held today at the Mahoney hotel, it was decided to call upon Attorney General w. L. Moose for an official opinion as to the legal ity of the expenditure by the agricul- tural school boards of the funds ap- propriated by the last General As sembly for the general maintenance of the physical plants of these insti- tutions, for the purpose of paying teachers salaries since the item for salaries for teachers was vetoed by the governor.
 Following is the attorney gener- al opinion:
 "'April 1, 1915. Mr. R. Whitaker,
 " President Board of Trustees, First
 Agricultural School, Jonesboro,
 Ark.
 ''Dear Sir-Your letter of the 29th was handed me. In reply to your inquiry, I beg leave to state that in my opinion your board will have no lawful right to pay salaries of the principal and other employees of your agricultural school out of moneys ap- propriated by the legislature for maintenance and other purposes.
 "I am informed that the item of $40,000 which was appropriated by the General Assembly to pay salaries of the principal and other employees of the agricultural schools was vetoed by the governor. If that be true I do not think the board will be justified in paying the salaries of the principal and other employees from any fund set apart in the act for other specific purposes.
 "'Section 12 of Article 16 of the constitution contains this language:
 "'"No monies shall be paid out of the treasury unless the same shall have been appropriated by law, and then only in accordance with said ap- propriation.'
 "'This provision of the constitution seems to me to prohibit the use of money which has been distinctly ap- propriated for one purpose and ap- piled to other purposes.
 ''I know of no reason why the gov efnor, by special proclamation under Act 234 of the Acts of 1913, should not authorize your Board of Trustees to incur indebtedness for the purpose of paying salaries of your superin- tendent and other employees of the ag- ricultural school. The act in ques- tion authorizes the governor in causes of dire necessity to issue such proclamation. If the governor should decide to do so, I know of no persons who have any right to question his authority for so doing. If 1 am cor rect in this statement of the law, it would apply equally, of course, to the other agricultural schools of the state as well as your own,
 "'Very truly yours,
 "'Wm. l.. Moose,
 "Attorney General
 "It is the opinion of the board of trustees that in view of the opinion from the attorney general above cited that it will be necessary to close the schools July 1, 1915, which is the end of the present fiscal year. The school farms and the physical plants will be maintained and improved with the funds appropriated for that purpose. We regret sincerely that this action is necessary"
 V. c. Rays, principal of the Jones' boro school, was one of those attend ing the meeting, as was also Geo. A.. Cole, superintendent at the Russell vile school. Neither would make a statement regarding their plans, or if they would remain in charge of the schools durino the period they will be