The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-05
vONNEGUT WAS SNUBBED
The Gar of the School Board Refuses
to Hear His Communication.
He Reads II to Two Members-Some Facts Set
Forth Plainly. Mostly About Interest
The Routine Business Transacted.


most important thing was the manner in
w hich Car Frenzel exercised his self-im-
posed powers. The meeting had hardly
been called to order when Mr.. Vonnegut
arose and said he had q communication
which he would like to read.
I'VE have passed communications" snap
ped the president, knowing foil we'll what
the communication was. I'VE are now
calling the committees"
OF course MIR. Vonnegut had nothing to
do but to submit. Later he requested the
members to remain after adjournment
that he might read the docu-
ment to them. Common courtesy
should have impelled each member to re-
main, but President Frenzel was the first
to leave the room, and the only members
who renamed to listen to the communica-
tion were Messrs. Conner and Scott. MessrS.
Roth, Adam. Russo and others remained at
the bottom of the stairs. The communities
ton was as follows:
have many times here touched the question
of interest that (his board could and should
have obtained fro IN the balances in the hands OF
our treasurer. Tlris has been pronounced by our
president as personal matter. However, l
herewith declare that I harbor no grudge
against our president our treasurer. and their
supporters. 1t is simply the good OF the public
l want to promote, not only in respect TO this
board, but also in respect to all public officers
who derive an undue income By fees and interest
on money that belongs to the community. The
public knows these practices and complains about
them, but nobody seems 10 act for their abo-
ntiOn. In some states there exists a law by
which every officer who by fees or interest de-
rives larger income than the statute prescribes,
Is bound TO hand this over TO the public sreas-
ury. Our attorney said we had such a law in
this State, but after close investigation he found
that not Indiana but other states lat least Della
war had m VI ~ a QQi "a
influence to have such law passed In this state
and eniOined 1T upon me TO do the same. That Is
Wnat am ,ryihg 10 a1 nov py tn,s agi,auomi;
my duty. Until now We had no law nor any
promise that would result III an income from
this source. But now We have solemn promise,
which should be considered ateast just as binding
law. Our president and our treasurer claim
that they don't obtain any interest from the funds
OF the school Board. The latter claims his in
ability to obtain them, although the way for it
has clearly been pointed oHt to him. The former
has stated to the chairman on finances that i. he
directly or indirectly, and said chairman pro-
nounced that as manly"
However, this fund is appreciated as valuable
deposit by Indianapolis banks. 1t makes
very little diff renee to the public which bank is
the benefciary of this fund. since the public
loses this benefit. Our president and treasurer
conducted it to their friends, and don't know
tween them.
Formerly the public had such an income of in
terest During period of nine years the board
obtained $S,S03.57, and besides In that period
no temporary loans were taken as long as there
was balance OF the combined different funds in
the treasury.
That was pretty good financial arrangement
compared with the present rule introduced on
the suggestion OF some financial authority in
this board by which the board does not obtain
any interest at all and bOrrows money at 3, q or
8 per cent interest. while there are more than
$4,000 in the Library Building fund. The same
authority suggested to borrow the 500, 900 for
the Library Building long before they were
iQd ha = ma
on that loan Most OF IL has been fruitless to said
board. Somebody has had the benefit or it
while the board could have easily borrowed
small sums as they would be needed in the
course of erection of the library building. The
same authority suggested when Mr.. Greenstreet
was chairman OF the finance committee to take
temporary loan of 100000 at once, while Mr..
q. succeeded in borrowing small sums as the
necessity OF IL appeared and thereby saved to the
pretty good financial arrangement as compared
with said suggestion. The same financial author
ity insisted a year ago that the board should not
levy more than a seventeen-cent city school tax,
while it could legally have levied twenty-five,
and really levied twenty-three, which at the end
100000, and at 25 cents would have left it in a
debt OF $4,000. The same authority sue
ceeded this year In retrenching the city
as enabling the board to decrease the
temporary debt $4,000, while the minority
that by the end of this school year 1t would be in
creased from $4,000 to $4,000.
Now suppose the board succeeds In selling old
lots Nos. 5 and 10 at ST. ,OOO and No. building
for $50, 900, which is quito uncertain, the deficit
will still be S5l 900. and probably be increased
by two new school. houses for the abandoned No.
was undoubtedly the intention of the Legis-
lature, when it limited the temporary loan to
such sums as should be liqu1dated during the
same school year. that no balance should lap
over TO the next school year. Now, this grant is
| haz ardously stretched.
The doctrine that the present generation
nnf hQ cd w AYn onno hat
necessitated for the benefit of the
| coming generation has certainly had its
OF 5000 Cod for school pnrpose. SDd SSS
for Library Building purposes. As for the charge
coming from our midst that the affairs OF this
School Board had been managed in q politically
partial manner, will read few letters from
former members OF this board which will show
the futility Of such charge and herewith warn
the present majority from turning this board in
to political body. In all the cities where such
| movements have succeeded they have led to
deterioration of the schools TO corruption and
shame.
The letters referred to were from w. A.
Bell of Vincennes. for twelve years mem
| Der of the board here, who said politics
had never entered into the boards bust.
ness, and from w. s. Tarbell, of Provi
dence. r. /.
The usual amount of routine business
was transacted by the board. The secre.
tary's report showed the monthly expendi.
ture to have been S64.S1S.4l. The treas
! urer report showed balance In the treas
| ury of S64. 339.77. The assistant secretary
reported bills allowed to the amount of g..
| 997. 80. The building and grounds commit
tee reported that it had received the re-
| vised specifications for the wiring of the
electric plant for theiLibrary Building. AND
| asked authority to advertise for bids in &C
cordance with the specifications; also, Il
advertise for bids for dynamos
and switch boards. The committee
further stated that provisions would
be made for steam power to operate the
plant and bids would be asked for q fifty
fiye.horse- power boiler and On q fifty
three horsepower boiler. The report "a.
| adopted.
The committee on normal training-schoo
| reported that arrangements had been made
| with the Social Turnverien for the the uss
of its Mary land street hall five evenings o.
| each week for an annual rental OF 5000, Il
| be paid quarterly. Russo at first moved Il
| lay the REPORT on the table for two weeka