[1746] Clark, p. 232; Report of Cloud, Nov., 1869; Montgomery Mail, Sept. 16, 1870. In connection with the act merging the Mobile schools into the state system, the Board of Education took occasion to enlarge or complete its constitutional powers. There was no limit, according to the Constitution, to the time for the governor to retain acts of the Board. Governor Smith had pocketed several obnoxious educational bills, and the Board now resolved “that the same rules and provisions which by law govern and define the time and manner in which the governor of the state shall approve of or object to any bill or resolution of the General Assembly shall also apply to any bill or resolution having the force of law passed by this Board of Education.” The governor approved neither resolution nor the Mobile act, but they were both declared in force. Montgomery Mail, Nov. 3, 1870.
[1747] Senate Journal, 1869-1870, p. 419.
[1748] Montgomery Mail, Sept. 16, 1870.
[1749] A specimen pay-roll of Emerson Institute (“Blue College”) for the quarter ending March 31, 1869:—
| Months | Salary | Total | |
| G. L. Putnam, Supt. of Colored Schools | 3 | $333.33 | $1000.00 |
| H. S. Kelsey, Prin. Emerson Institute | 3 | 225.00 | 675.00 |
| E. I. Ethridge, Prin. Grammar School | 3 | 200.00 | 600.00 |
| Susie A. Carley, Prin. Lower School | 3 | 180.00 | 540.00 |
| A. A. Rockfellow, Prin. Intermediate School | 3 | 105.00 | 315.00 |
| Sarah A. Primey, Prin. Intermediate School | 3 | 105.00 | 315.00 |
| M. L. Harris, Prin. Intermediate School | 3 | 105.00 | 315.00 |
| M. A. Cooley, Prin. Intermediate School | 3 | 105.00 | 315.00 |
| M. E. F. Smith, Prin. Intermediate School | 3 | 105.00 | 315.00 |
| Ruth A. Allen, Primary School | 3 | 105.00 | 315.00 |
| N. G. Lincoln, Primary School | 3 | 105.00 | 315.00 |
| M. L. Theyer, Primary School | 3 | 105.00 | 315.00 |
| Judge Rapier, legal opinion | — | — | 50.00 |
| American Missionary Association, fuel | — | — | 40.00 |
| Total | $5425.00 |
At this time the average salary of the teacher in the state schools was $42 a month.
[1750] Montgomery Mail, Sept. 16, 1876. Cloud’s Report, Nov., 1869, shows that $10,447.23 had been drawn out of the treasury by Putnam, and he had also drawn $2000 for his salary as county superintendent.
[1751] Report of the Auditor, 1871; Report of the Commissioner of Education, 1871, 1876.
[1752] See Act of Dec. 2, 1869; Somers, “Southern States,” pp. 169, 170.
[1753] The law stated that the trustees were to receive $2 a day, but Cloud said that it was a mistake, as it should be the clerks who were paid, and thus it was done. There were 1485 clerks in the state; they were paid about $60,000 a year. The county superintendents received about $65,000, an average of $1000 each, which was paid from the school fund. Before the war the average salary of the county superintendent was $300 and was paid by the county. In few counties was the work of the county superintendent sufficient to keep him busy more than two days in the week. Many of the superintendents stayed in their offices only one day in the week. The expenses of the Board of Education were from $3000 to $5000 a year, not including the salary of the state superintendent. Montgomery Mail, Sept. 15 and 16, 1870.