The Helena independent., 1892-01-24
THE WEATHER.
scHOoL BOARD FINANCE.

In adopting tho report OF it's finance
committee to keep the public schools OF
the city open until the close OF the usual
term il June, the members Of the school
board we're only discharging their
bounden duty to the electors OF the dis
trict Even in the face OF certain
shortage, that was the only sensible
course they could pursue. 10 have
adopted the resolution introduced by
one of the members at the previous
meeting would have been worse than
the poor policy or no policy at all that
the committee designated it. Such ac-
tion would have cast upon parents anu
Guardians a care and responsibility
which, BY virtue Of the struggles Of
Montana's citizens for noble public
school system, they might reasonably
feel should not be saddled upon them.
No policy was but O sugar,coated style
Of speech. Call such proceeding a
colossal blunder, and we shall be far
nearer true statement of the case.
How would it sound if Helena, with it's
reputation as the richest city Of its size
in the world, with its promises OF educa-
tional facilities for all newcomers, how.
would it sound that our city had closed
its public schools for the year with
record Of six months work? Why, we
might as we'll write ourselves and our
city down on the worlds record as dis
credited failures, as pricked balloons.
But th 8 defeated mistake Of a resolu-
tion, Intentionally or unintentionally on
the part OF it's mover, was giving voice
to a discomfort that is fairly general IN
the city. The conditions Of school
board financiering are far from salts
factory. On the very surface of affairs
that much is plain to the most casual
observer. The high school is unfinished,
and already the outlay has far exceeded
the estimated cost. There has been too
much said for comfort about jobs of all
kinds in connection with school board
affairs. AS long as these were simply
matters of street gossip, of mods and
winks and innuendoes, former boards
might feel it consistent with their dig
nifty to,l leave them unnoticed But such
insinuations passed altogether beyond
the bounds of title tattie, when mem
Der of the board practically made them
the source of an impeachment Of for
mer school trustees. His resolution
meant, il it meant anything, thas for
mer methods were bad, we're corrupt,
and that the direct responsibility for
certain corruption lay on certain shoul-
ders The charges that were then
made, If the mover OF the resolution for
inquiry had any faith in them, should
have been fixed upon individuals and
the matter should have been driven
home. 1t is difficult to characterize the
conduct OF the man who makes grave
charges on insufficient Or utterly frivol-
Gus data But when the insinuations in
this case had been fathered, no personal
duties or pleasures should have pre-
vented the complete exploitation of the
whole business. Free as it collectively
is from the burden of blame, the present
board may not feel that 1t is within it's
legal rights in assuming the cost OF the
investigation that was suggested. 1t
may believe that the charges made and
deserted are not deserving OF further
interest, or that they should fall under
the cognizance of a grand jury. But we
know that we are simply repeating a
popular sentiment when We say that
impartial investigation Of one kind or
another would clnar thA atnoenhara ~
number Of ugly rumors and pave the
way for d general reinstatement OF
school board affairs in public favor.