The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-07-18
FINANCES OF THE SCHOOLS
President Baker Speaks of Revenue and
the Course TO Pursue in Expenditure.
A Resolution Providing for Loaning the lii
brsry Building Fund to Some Bank-The
Boards Committees and Other Matters.
At the meeting of the School Commission

payable Dec. 10. The committee
on buildings and grounds recommended
that the contract % replace the heavy
mansard roof of school No. with q light
shingIe roof, be given to Burton g. DespO.
whore bid. 5000, was the lowest received.
This was concurred in. The change ismade
necessary on account of the weakness of
the buildings walls. Contracts for repairs
were awarded to Charles Huskey. school
No. 2; John A. Winter. Nos. 6. IA and II;
Buck & Schwartz. No. 9: G. NJ. Allen. Nos.
Is, IS and %. Contracts for stationary sup
plies were awarded to the Bowen Merrill
Company and the Burrls-H erszh Com
pany, for ink to the Western Ink Com
pany and brooms to the Parry Broth
ers. The appointment of Supply
Agent Hendrickson IS superintendent of
construction at the Library buiidln X,
which was made the special order for the
evening, was again continued, and In the
meantime is to be considered and reported
on by the new committee on the Oh bile IL
brary.
President Baker, in announcing the
committees for the year. said the last
Legislature passed laws indirectly en-
larging the powers of the board. as well
as all municipal officers of the State.
these enlarged powers" he said, grow
ont of the increase in assessment under the
new law governing the assessed valuation
on all property and the special increase in
the limit of levy allowed this board for
to raise additional revenue beyond
actual needs increases the responsible
ity of the board on account of the
danger of extravaganza. The board has
been in q cramped financial condition for
several years. caused by q decrease in
assessment. This has compelled the use of
great care and economy. and the result has
been beneficial to the board and the tax
payer. and not detrimental to the school
interests, though, from the teachers stand
narrow at times We have had ample rev.
enue for ell purposes. except the purchase
of grounds and erection of new school
houses, which deficiency has been supplied,
the past two years. by special loan author
lied by the Legislature of 1889.
I'VE have been compelled to anticipate
our revenue by temporary loans, made
pay able at close of each half year at which
times the semi-annual settlements of the
treasurer of the city were made with this
board. Under the new law we will receive
our settlements monthly, which will re-
lieve the necessity of this anticipation to
some extent, but as the bulk of the receipts
will still occur eemi-annually-in NOvem-
Der and May, instead of February and July
-we will need to anticipate our revenue as
Cs
flush our treasury. The latter course is
unwise and dangerous, and sincerely hope
it will not be adopted. This board will be
urged to every species OF extravaganza, and
it should take strong position against all
efforts to increase its expense beyond the
demands of actual growth. / urge upon
all that we do not male greater levy un-
der the new assessment than will provide
for the necessary expenses under present
economical estimates and actual demands
a
after careful inquiry and report by the
buildings and grounds committee and the
finance committee.
THE board ana library COMMITTEE" he
continued. should use the same care and
economical methods In regard to the man
agement of the library. As to the library
building, the limit OF 100000 for the cost
of the building proper should not be ex-
ceeded. The finishing. furniture. heating
and ventilating apparatus should be per-
CANT. and can be provided for out of the
revenues for library purposes. Mr.. Clay
pool has secured q judgment against the
board Tor foreclosure of mortgage on this
property to secure 100000 purchase money
bonds. together with interest. costs, etc.
to make q temporary loan to pay
this debt at the earliest date the money
market will allow it to be done at reason
dble rate of interest. There is no escape
better for Us to settle it now than to wait
and pay accommodating costs. The property
will be needed for library and school offices
for at least one year and the board car
then make such disposition of 1T Is shall
seem wise. Its market value will be much
be sold as O whole or subdivided, givinl
the board much better chance to realize
from it's sale. / recommend the adoption
of the meter system in the purchase OF
e. ,hxx<.I
lieve it will prove to be the most econom
zeal. with proper care"
TIE committees were then announced. as
follows:
Finance and Auditing-Vonnegut, Conner, Cot
Buildings and Grounds-scott. Williams, Bud
denbaum.
Furniture and supplies-Cofin. Calvin, Gar
Textbooks and Course of Instruction. Con
ner. FrenZel, LOeper.
Supervision, Examination and Manual Train
ing-Baker, Frenzel, Williams. superintendent
Jones.
Appointment of Teachers Williams. Budden
baum, Coffin
observation-disclosures. G lvin, Scott.
German. Music aud Drawing--Loeper, Budden
baum, VOnnegut
Heating. Hygiene and Observation-Disclosures
Judiciary. Districts and Boundaries-Galvin
Conner, Carver.
Public Library-Gsrver, Conner. yonnegut
Citizens Advisory Library Committee-Dr
Henry Jameson, Mrs. Y. It Malott, Mrs. Z. G
Foster, Mrs. Edward II. Dean.
Mr.. Frenzel next introduced q resolution
directing the committee on buildings anC
grounds to report on the condition OF
schools Nos. and Is. This was adopted
He then introduced one providing for loan
ing the library building money, which
amounts to sos, 900. The resolution provided
that $4,000 of this amount should bs
%a1 in l4x, Ioa.
than per cent. interest if allowed
terest if allowed TO remain six mouths
eminent county and city bonds as security
Mr. Frenzel explained that il is probabl,
fully S75, 600 of the sum will not be required
for seven or eight months. and that such
course as laid down in his resolution would
of interest the board is obi
In answer to the suggestion of other mem
bers that some of the library money might
be loaned to the board without interest il
place of the so, 600 needed, Mr. Frenzel said
such action would be contrary to law. The
board voted unanimously for the resolu
ton.
The matter of retaining Charles w
Smith. the late attorney of the board. al
counsel in the litigation with Mr.. Clay
pool over the mortgage on the old library
building, caused great deal of discussion
and was finally referred to the committed
on judiciary.
a Rarteuderss Suieide