The record-union., 1892-02-12
NO COMPROMISE.
Inc City Trustees Discuss the School
Tax Levy.
Mayor Comstock Favored a Compro-
mise, But the Others Did Not
A Joint Meeting.

There was special meeting of the
( City Trustees yesterday, called for the
( purpose of considering the matter of the
mandamus suit brought by the Board of
Education to enforce the levy of thirty
! five-cent tax rate for school purposes.
City Attorney Hart was present, at the
request OF the Trustees, and on being
called on for his opinion as to the situa-
ton, said he believed the better course
to pursue would be to compromise with
/ the School Board, if that could be done,
Continuing, MIR. Hart said the question
as to the extent of the Trustees author
/ ity would depend upon the Interpretation
that the courts would make, since the
law and charter are not clear in their pro-
visions. 1t seemed to the City Attorney
that it is unreasonable to maintain that
! the Board of Education has the power to
compel the Board of Trustees to levy
| taxes to any amount that might be in ex-
| cess of the needs of the schools. II the
! contention Of the School Board that they
| have the right to demand money to build
/ school houses, and beyond the amount
actually required to maintain the schools,
| is correct, they might go on and build
y
| legal limit Of 30 cents. There ought to be
a check somewhere, but if the strict letter
! OF the law is adhered to the Trustees
would have no standing in court against
the demand for 35-cent levy by the
Board of Education.
Trustee Conklin claimed that the Board
of Education had not shown to what spe.
chic uses 1t proposed to put the amount
OF money asked for. This showing
should be made in a legal way, and
should specify the proposed expendi-
lures. lie did not wish to see the schools
stopped for single day of the term, and
! did not believe 1t would be necessary.
Mayor Comstock thought it would be
| cheapest to compromise with the School
Board, by allowing a few cents addi-
! tional, than to defend a mandamus suit
! before the courts.
Trustee Conklin said he was willing to
meet with the School Board and consult
in regard to the matter.
! Mr.. Hart said that, in his opinion. it
was the duty of the School Board to show
that 1t needs a certain sum of money. 1t
! was for the Trustees to determine at what
! figures to Tx the special tax rate. The
! 5000 asked for under the head of ''mis-
! cellaneOus" was too indefinite.
Mr.. Hart thought that Trustee Conk-
Inns suggestion to hold a conference with
! the School Board good one.
Trustee COnklin then moved that the
| members of the Board of Education be
! invited to meet with the Trustees in the
evening to consult in regard to the mat
! ter, and 1t was so ordered.
THE JOINT MEETING.
! School Directors Erlewine, Tufts, Har-
rison, Davis, Gardner and Chapman were
present in the evening, and Mayor Com
| stock and Trustees Mclaughlin and
! Conklin. The purpose of the meeting
! was, as explained by the Mayor, to see if
! the two boards could not arrive at an ami
cable agreement on the school-tax lew
and avoid, if possible, the necessity of
/ pushing the mandamus suit commenced
! by the Board of Education.
Mr.. Conklin was the first to speak. He
! said it had been reported that the Trus-
| tees were too previous i'll making the
| SChool-taX levy. He was a member of
! the Board of Equalization, and that
! board raised the assessed valuation of
/ city property Sl,000,000. He believed
/ 81 20 was as high a taX-rate as the city
could stand, and the board concocted no
scheme when it fixed the school-taX at
twenty-siX cents. Twenty-six cents tax
this year would equal twenty-nine cents
! last year. for the valuation of city prop
erty was now greater. He thought the
! School Board this year came out a better
! balance than ever before.
| School Director Davis replied that in
reality there was deficit Of 81, 200, tor the
| board was compelled to draw $4,000 of
this years money, and out of this sum
$1,000 had been paid out.
Director Tufts informed the~Trustees
| that the superintendent of Public In
struction had told him that the School
Boards share Of money from the State
this year would not be as large as last
years amount by about S5, 900.
Director Erlewine figured that the
Board of Education would find itself
about $1,000 short if it had to accept
levy of 26 cents.
Mayor Comstock said litigation was
bad thing, and he wanted TO avoid it if
possible.
Mr.. Erlewine was Of the opinion that
the matter could be compromised by fix
ing the rate at Sc cents.
Attorney Anderson stated that the
members of the Board of Education
would be satisfied if the Trustees would
fix the rate at 80 cents.
The Mayor said he was willing to sub
nit and add four cents to the levy of 26
cents originally made. He would also
favor increasing the entire tax rate max
ing ii " a instead Of - 20.
Trustee Mclaughlin did not think the
board had power to do this. The law
said the board should meet on the first
Monday in January and make the tax
levy. 1t was too late now, and he did not
believe the figures could be changed.
Trustee Conklin said he could not see
why the School Board could not get along
on rs cents. The directors should under
! stand that the city had to cramp itself in
other departments, and the School Baard
! should try to get along on as little money
| as possible.
! The School Directors then retired to the
Assessors room for the purpose of meet
ing in executive session. They stated
that while meeting they would entertain
any proposition the Board of Trustees
might see fit to submit.
The Trustees then went into session.
and the Mayor made motion to increase
the levy cents.
Auditor Young said he could figure no
other way than that the School Board
would have sly, 900 to expend during the
fiscal year, and this he believed would be
ample. The School Board had spent SO. 600
last year alone for improvements to school
property in the way of sidewalks, street
grading, etc. All Of the city funds would
| be very tight this year, and the levy of
l9 cents for the Police Department fund
| would hardly allow the board to have
city ambulance, for which the people
were at present crying.
The Mayor wanted the Clerk to call the
roll on his motion, but Trustee Me-
Laughlin held that the motion had not
been seconded.
The meeting then adjourned on motion
of Trustee Mclaughlin.