The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-21
ANOTHER STORMY SESSION.
A Renewed Exchange of Asperities Be-
tween Members of the School Board.
The Trouble Arising from the Deficiency in
Funds Temporarily Adjusted, but Is Dis
approved by the Frenzel Faction.

All the members were present, and after quar-
reing awhile over points of ORDER the secretary
read from the minutes the second report made
by the finance committee at the last meeting
Mr.. Greenstreet said he had matter to pre-
sent to the board. but Mr.. Frenzel raised the
point of order that there could be no statement
except by general consent, there being no motion
before the house.
II could have presented the matter while you
have been talking" said Mr.. Greenstreet.
TIE Chair decided that the statement was in
order Mr. Frenzel appealed from the decision,
| and the Chair was sustained by vote Of to 3,
Messrs. Bingham, Thompson and Frenzel voting
| in the negative.
Mr.. Greenstreet then presented the followings
| 1--WE report that County Treasurer Hiram w.
Miller makes the verbal offer to furnish $50 600
on June IL. 1886, for the use of the school board
without written or verbal promise to pay from
the board or from any member of the board,
without interest, to July 2. 1886. 1t is under
Stood however, that the money thus furnished
| is advanced to the board on account of his first
settlement in the next school year."
Mr.. Frenzel moved that the offer be accepted.
He said: II am going to say something personal
| to this board had the authority to make this
offer myself. The chairman of the committee
went to Fletchers bank, and first obtained from
him q written proposition TO furnish this money
without charge. This they took to Mr.. Miller,
and showed to him. This is one of the personal
tricks resorted to in order to iniure some mem
bers of this board Mr. Miller showed it to me.
Before will permit the adoption of the plan
proposed, of allowing the teachers to take war
rants, and go to the trouble of getting them
cashed at Fletcher's bank I will furnish the
money, without charge, myself | call upon two
members of this board to answer IL did not
tell them that this afternoon"
4You did" answered Mr.. Stratford Mr..
Frenzel proceeded to denounce this act of the
finance committee as a design to injure his repu-
tation.
Mr. Greenstreet said: II have taken nearly
all the personal abuse intend to take. give
notice of that now and here took to Mr.. Mil
Ter letter in the form Of proposition from
him to this board to take the school warrants,
| and naming Fletcher's bank. told him to name
any bank he chose, and left it with him to
designate that they should be taken up at Fletch
er's bank. I assure the president of the Mer-
chants National Bank, who has taken each OPP
portunity to boost mis- bank at the expense of the
school board, that had.no thought Of any bank
whatever in considering this matter"
Dr. Stratford moved that special committee
of the board, consisting of Messrs. Frenzel.
Bingham and Conner, be appointed to consider
the financial condition OF the board, to suggest
measures of relief and to report at the next
Mr. Carey was opposed to this motion because
he feared it would tear open old wounds and lead
to further parade Of differences in the news
| papers.
Mr. Bingham thought it would be good thing
to have the matter considered by q new commit
| tee.
Mr.. Conner said he was not as familiar with
the finances of the board as others, and declined
to serve as member of the committee.
Mr.. Thompson favored the appointment of the
committee He did not think 1.-The wisdom of
| the board was eternally wrapped up In the
finance committee" The finance committee had
presented four remedies for the difficulty the
board was in. Other members had views on
| the subject and could, perhaps, suggest some
thing better.
| Mr. Bamberger said one Of the difficulties had
been bridged over by the charity of County Treas
urer Miller The means of meeting the obiga-
| tons was next to be provided. He thought the
| members had considered the matter and ought
! to be prepared to suggest plans then. He was
there to hear some of the wisdom reported to be
| buttoned up in certain members He was IN
| favor of the motion, without questioning the
| motives of the mover. 1t was the rule for the
| chairman to name the members OF the commit
| tee, but he would pass that by.
| Mr.. Bingham said the members of the COM
mittee had taken sudden notion to make
things public. Why had they not made these
| things public before?
| Mr.. Carey said it was reflection upon the
| members of the board to make such an insinua-
| tion AS a member of the board, he resented
| IL. Every order and every expenditure had
| been open and above board.
| Some of the members having spoken dis
paragingly of the financial difficulty having been
| paraded before the public, Mr.. Conner said
everything should be made public. If there was
! any disgrace attached to the report, lt was to
| the fact of the present condition and not to the
| making it public. The matter of the $685. 900
| could be disposed of by carrying it as current
| debt The Legislature could 80 amend the Win
fcrh hot &ho hno 0nr11a rot 4fc
| every month"; as under the old law.
| Mr.. Kuhn thought it was an ilconsidered
movement to put before the world the fact that
| the board was on the verge of bankruptcy.
| Mr. Frenzel said that the talk about opening
| the books" INDUCED in by prominent member
| meaning Mr.. Bambergerl. was mere catch
| penny phrase. That was an expression used by
| demagogues Talking that way was begging
the question. He would say, for himself, that
he had all along taken pains to inform the public
| of the condition of affairs The committee had
reported correctly, and had made suggestions.
| Other members had right to make suggestions.
The trouble was not to be settled in easy way,
| as DIR. Conroy had thought it might be- He
| hoped to be able to show that there were mem
| bers who, when the 800, 600 debt was incurred,
| pledged themselves to lay aside $10.0 600 a
year to pay it off, He believed it was
| not necessary to go to the Legislature
| the proposition to close the schools for
six months, was idiotic. Some people had said it
was criminal He did not come there to criti-
| cize the new members of the finance committee,
OF 90 say that show the true condition of things
| was wrong. He wanted another committee, to
see if, by cutting down the high-schools or by
some other means, the trouble could be remedied.
Ire Winter bill had nothing to dc with it. To
, nssation it as a difficulty was beg
girs the question. The trouble 9th
the members had been that they
did not regard the affairs of the board as they
| regarded their own. They should not make
debts without providing the means of pa vment
| They should admit they had been wrong, that
| they had wasted SOC, 900 in one piece of work.
| and should resolve to retrench. The board was
not in financial straits, and would not be, with
economy.
| Mr.. Greenstreet said the finance committee
| was willing to hear from other members of the
| board. To appoint new finance committee was
to take the business out of the hands of the reg
uar committee The animus of the motion was