Bogalusa enterprise and American. (Bogalusa, La.) 1918-19??, 1920-02-12
Cassidy Eavors
School Athletics
BogaIusa. La. Feb. 9. 1920.

70 tAc LuAb0A "a sAS GAkS& p1ASSs
In the last issue Of the Enterprise
under the headline Plenty Of Fur
Over $3.50 School Bill" I feel that
an injustice has been done me. which
am sure was unintentional on your
part. The article in question starts
off with the interrogation: Should
any Of the money Of the school fund
be expended for athIetics?" It con-
tinues by stating that Commissioners
Of Finance e. r. Cassidy thinks that
the school finances should not be
used for such purposes.
In order that my position in the
matter may be made perfectly clear,
/ wish to state that as Commissioner
Of Accounts and Finance it is my
duty to scrutinize carefully all bills
presented to the city for payment,
and whenever the legality Of any Of
the bills is in question, such bills are
always referred to B. D. Talley, city
attorney, for an opinion. This is
done for the purpose Of safeguard
ing the interests Of the taxpayers.
During the year 1919 a very
young man was sent to Bay
st. Louis to participate in a foot race,
and shortly thereafter the city was
presented with bin amounting to
S43.50, being his and his companions
in connection with the race.
Mr. Talley was asked for an opinion
as to the legality Of paying such
bin out Of the school funds, and he
promptly replied, stating that neith-
ar the School Board nor the Com
mission Council had legal right to
the school funds for such
4 purpose, therefore, acting on the
advice Of our legal adviser, I OPP
posed the payment Of the bin when
It was presented to the Commission
but at the same time /
agreed to head a list Of voluntary
which was to be used
o iquidate the debt. At the last
Meeting Of the Commission Council
mother bin, amounting to $150.23, /
which had been expended for foot
,all paraphernalia, was presented
or payment, and attached to the bill /
vas q written opinion from City At
oney Talley stating that the Com T
mission Council had no legal right /
o pay the bill out Of the school
unds. With the written opinion be-
ore me, ! felt that it was my duty
0 take the same position that I took
zhen the former bin was presented
or payment, therefore I again voiced
ny opposition.
I trust that my position in the
natter is not misunderstood, for
m very much ia favor Of athletics,
nd whenever list has been circu-
ated to promote football, etc,
ave never failed to assist according
D my means. / desire to further
tate that it was my privilege to have
erved number Of years as princi-
Al Of a school, and since that time
have always taken a great interest
] the welfare Of all boys and girls
-ho are endeavoring to better their
in life by attending the
ubhc schools, and all through the
ariod that I have been a member Of
le Commission Council / have done
y utmost to bring about 8 better
ent in school conditions and school
seiIities il this city. When the
naneial condition Of the city will
arrant It, and we can legally pay
! the expenses attached thereto, I ,
ust that athletics win become d
lrt Of our school curriculum, but
king into consideration the present
nancial condition Of our city, !
ink that the majority Of the tax
ayers viii agree with me, that for
e time being at least we should
i spend any Of the city's money
necessarily. In this connection !
light also mention that at the be-
ming Of the present year, ! wrote t
circular letter to the heads Of the 1
fferent departments Of the city, i
ling attention to the fact that dur t
g the year 1919 our expenditures !
'eatly exceeded our income, and 6
at il we are to avoid a repetition
that which occurred in 1919 $
hey Of rigid economy would have q
be adopted By the different de- a