Evening journal., 1916-03-29
COLD COMFORT FOR THE CLIQUE.

(NlTY SOLICITOR DANIEL o. HASTINGS has given
~ cold comfort TO the Baynard-Cooper clique that
controls the Wilmington Board of Education and
to think that it is above the reach of tho law and the
sentiment OF local taxpayers. Nor has he failed to
indicate to City Council the course should pursue
The board adopted, February 27 resolution
questing the City Solicitor to take such action with
the City Council with the courts would enable
the board to obtain the money needed keep the pub
lie schools here open until the the present term
The City Solicitor Immediately began an investigation
Of The situation. When he had completed it, he pre-
pared an opinion, TO which he gave his best thought
That opinion was transmitted to the Board Of Educa-
tion on Monday Stripped Of It's veneer of courtness
It is stinging rebuke to President Baynard and his
friends the board II also may be said that it
not fail to give food for reflection to City Council
mon and taxpayers
There are certain paragraphs in that opinion, the
full text of which published yesterday which we
desire 10 call special attention:
The complaint which has been made to me by GER
tain members OF your board, is that City Council in
fixing the appropriation for the Board of Public Edu-
cation for the present fiscal year did not consult with
the members of your board Members OF Council
understand. do not admit this. do not want. how
ever to enter into this controversy at all but do want
to call attention TO the weakness OF your position
with respect to this section.
This law undoubtedly contemplates that agree
ment shall be made between the Board of Public Edu
cation and the City Council TO the amount to be
puted But suppose no agreement is ever reached?
DOeS IL mean tndt no appropriation at all snail be
made? Suppose the Board Of Public Education is
reasonable in the amount it demands; is the City
Council to consent to the unreasonable amount de-
manded by you? On the other hand suppose City Coun-
ell is in your opinion unreasonable in what 1t con-
cludes to give your board; what is to be done about
it2 The only reasonable answer that be made TO
these questions is that this is matter which must
finally remain with City Council under the present
condition OF the laws do not by this that City
Council could act in way that il knew TO be wrong.
but If IL has acted i'm accordance with its best iudg
ment the Board OF Public Education is bound by Il.
m he itv In
nically comply with the law, is bound to attempt to
reach agreement with the Board OF Public Educa-
ton but meet this technical requirement in such
that court could assist you, and at the same
time pay little or no attention to your requests in the
matter.
have undertaken to show the weakness of this
law, in order that you may better appreciate the diff
cult position you place me in when you intimate that
should take tho matter into the courts l. OF course
would be further embarrassed by the fact that repre-
sent both sides.
take it. however that member OF City Council
and city official would deliberately do anything that
would hinder or prevent your board from doing the
work which the law contempates that you should do
fully agree with ypu that you do not get sufficient
money at the present time TO properly operate the
public schools of this city I am very much afraid
that the Board of Public Education and the city also
Is laying too great burden upon future generations
by means Of their frequent bond issues In other
words believe that both lare going in debt great
deal than they ought to do and surely the day is
not far distant when the remedy for all of this is an
increased tax rate
am exceedingly anxious that your board should
adopt budget and live within its four corners, the
/ S
done; the law contomplates that 1t should be done.
appreciate. Of the dniculty Of doing II with
out sufficient funds. but believe n the suggestion
am cndeavoring to make here be worked out, the
public will understand that City Council Is not "a
blame for the increase in tho tax rate for school pur
poses that the responsibility is yours The natural
! result II seems TO me. of this situation would be TO
make City Council feel much freer in the amount OF
money appropriated to your board and. IL you will
permit me 10 say IL not at all certain that your
board will not be little more careful about the
amount OF appropriation which it asks OF City Coun-
or course 7 do not know what attitude City Coun-
ell would take in this matter II Is impossible for it
20 escape the final responsibility OF fixing the rate OF
taxes for school purposes II would be its duty FOR
instance that the rate was not an eXtraVasant
rate, and that it was one that the taxpayers GO cou!u "a
reasonably afford to pay But is not TINS the way TO
determine whether the citizens want to pay for good
schools and advance in education or whether they are
content 70 remain at standstil because OF 'he lack
of funds?
In those paragraphs there much food for thought
for both the School Commissioners and the City Coun-
cilmen II the principles enunciated therein be ap-
piled unselhshly they will prove to be the solvent OF
the trouble. In brief they are:
An adequate tax rate.
An intelligent agreement to the financial needs
Of the schools.
! budget appropriation based upon that agreement
and made absolutely binding upon the Board Of Educa-
| iion.
There will he trouble Just long the tax rate is
too low to permit Council to give TO the schools the
money they need and Just so long as the Board OF
Education refuses to be bound by the budget and runs
up bills regardless OF business prudence and the law
under which our city budgets is formed
And, get at the real meat OF the situation if the
tax rate be increased 70 enable the schools TO
obtain the money they need there should be binding
understanding between the Republican and the Demo-
cratic party leaders that such increase is for the
benefit of the childhood OF city and that shall
not be made a campaign issue against the party in
control OF City Council.
Our City Solicitor like many others since the trou-
bic began, has blazed the path for reform The only
question open is whether the School Commits
sioners will be reluctant to follow the same gen.
eral advice when il emanaed from unofficial sources
iI;SL TLo D--,~.7zL