The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-09
ATR0UBLESOME TREASURER.
School Commissioner Frenzel Refuses to Pay
TuitiOn-Fund Warrants 0utof Other Funds

There was q special meeting of the School
Board last night. Chairman Conner stated the
call of the meeting was made upon the report of
the finance committee that Treasurer Frenzel
would decline to pay outstanding warrants that
have been drawn, because part of the fund re-
quired to pay the warrants is not tuition fund.
As there would be call for the payment of these
warrants today the board was called upon to
act somewhat hastily.
Mr. Frenzel stated that he would not pay the
warrants drawn on the tuition fund, which was
exhausted. out of the library fund, as such
proceeding was unlawful.
Mr. Greenstreet: 1--WE now have in the treas
ury about $l4 OO0 This includes the library
fund, ST. 1853 so; balance special fund, Sl1 PAL 90
The custom for the past twelve years has been
to borrow from one fund for use in another, the
object being to use the money in the treasury
instead of borrowing outside. If We proceed on
this theory the funds now on hand are ample to
meet the warrants issued by the board Mr.
Frenzel now declines, after years of precedent
to allow the board the use of the library fund in
his hands for other than library purposes, and
for the purpose of determining the wishes of
the board, we ask instructions whether we shall
allow money to lie idle in the treasury while we
borrow other money to use Instead, or order
that the library fund shall be loaned to the board
for other purposes until such time the fund is
needed for library purposes. as has been the
custom of the board and never objected to by it's
treasurers.
This brought about long discussion, in
which it appeared that Mr.. Frenzel's position
was new one, and it was charged to be brought
about by his antagonism to the finance commit
tee.
Mr.. Frenzel said he had just discovered the
use of the moneys of fund to pay warrants
drawn against another was not legal, and would
injure his bond
1t seems, however. that Mr.. Frepzel did know a
year or more ago exactly what he pretended to have
Just discovered, and this was clearly intimated
by one or two of his colleagues It was further
suggested that he had better resign, aud allow
the board to choose a less troublesome successor
DR.. Jameson said the question to settle
whether Mr.. Frenzel was creature of the board
or not He wanted to know whether he made
his bond to the School Board or the State officers
Mr.. Conner held that the treasurer of the board
is clerical officer, and his bond is made to the
board-and not to the State of Indiana. This
board is the custodian of the fund. and the treas
urer is simply an agent delegated by the board
for the management of the funds, and is under
orders OF the board for the disposition of the
funds.
Mr.. Conner offered the following resolution:
Resolved That the treasurer OF this board be di-
rected pay the warrants of the School Board out of
the several funds in his hands.
After long discussion the motion carried.
Yeas-Baker, Conner Dean. Greenstreet, Will
Jams, Vonnegut and Jameson. Nays-Bingham
and Frenzel.
The board then adjourned In the meantime
it will be seen what MIR. Frenzel will do about it.