Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-05-15
School Betterment Associa- tlon Seeks to Increase
 School Revenue.
MAGEE AND PALMER REFUSE NOMINATION
Decline to Become Candidates for Trustee, and (. D. Guest Is Placed In NOminati0n-In Executive Ses-
 sion Bond Sale Discussed.

1 The School Betterment association of Pine Bluff last night approved the report of the auditing committee, T. M. Perdue. A. w. Mills and I. F, Ma 1 gee, which examined financial statement submitted by Hubert strange, secretary of the board Of trustees of the special school district of Pine Bluff, and recommended that the voters of the city support a tax of F mills for school purposes, in the election to be held here Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Rice voted in the negative, expressing the opinion that the people should know more of the affairs Of the district before voting would be best to "let them sweat a while longer" referring to the school board, and drawing from A. M. Free myer the retort, "But it is our chil- dren who are doing tine sweating" " Mr. Rice said the children are sweating, anyway" and probably would continue to do so," even If the 12-mill tax is voted
 1. r. Magee. nomina- ed for a place on the board at the last meeting of the association, stated positively that he would not be a candidate. He said his duties would not permit him to give the attention to school work that it deserved, and that "it would be an injustice to the people and an injustice to me-" even if he should be elected. Dr. J. T. Palmer, presi- dent of the association. and who was nominated as the associations choice for one of the board was not present at the meeting, but it was stated by Mrs. J. w. Blackburn tt at he had de- clned to make the race D. A. How. ell, president of the school board, was the third man placed in nomination by the association at it's meeting last week.
 Nominate Guest for Trustee.
 Later in the session last night the association adopted motion that the members exert "all their ener- gies" toward securing the adoption of the 12-milr tax, and toward ob- taining the election of c. D. Guest as a member of the school board for one of the three year terms. MT. Guest sought to have his name with drawn saying he did not think he was "the logical man" to make the race, but little attention was paid to his protestations.
 In the absence of President Pal mer, Vice President 'Bluerock ana Secretary A. w. Mills, the 25 mem- bers called upon Tracy Mills to serve as chairman. C.. D. Guest was chosen as temporary secretary.
 MT. Magee presented the report of the auditing committee, as printed in The Graphic Sunday morning. Mrs. Rice wanted to know f it "is not q fact that Doctor Jordan is paid $25O a month for 12 months each year, trough the report shows only ten months" MT. Magee said he be- lieved that to be the case, explaining | that the report of the secretary cov- cred a period of ten months, and So stated. Other items in the report which drew the fire of criticism were those relating tc supplies for the manual training and domestic science departments, and the pro- ceeds from. bonds issued several years ago. As to the bonds, Mr. Mills said this probably could be sat isfactorily explained; that apparent ly one issue sold for 92 cents on the dollar, but intimated that conditions might have been such as to justify the sale at that price. Concerning the criticism of the item of "sup- plies," MT. Magee said the committee | did not feel it necessary to investi- gate and determine if these supplies were needed, or had been purchased having confidence in the accuracy ot the report, and never doubting that the supplies were Lecessary nor