The Indianapolis journal., 1893-07-22
SCHOOL FUNDS INTEREST
Mr.. Martindale Undertakes the Job OF
Answering Mr. Vonneguts Letters.
His Notable Logic Applied TO the Case--Mr.
Frenzsl Takes Misunderstanding
Committees Announced.

routine Work was disposed OF, buG
with trifle more circnmlocution than is
usual with this expeditions and most ener-
getlc body.
Mr.. Vonnegut was ready with another
school fund resolution. asking that the
treasurer be instructed to ask from the
banks of this city propositions for the safe
keeping of the school funds and for pay in 9
interest on the same. Before consider.
ing the resolution Mr.. Frenzel stated
that the matter had been decided
over and over again by the School Board
and the Supreme Court of this State. and
that In his opinion it was referred
to only that the board might be
annoyed and its better nature
rasped by the harsh so unding phrases
contained in the resolution. The board,
remembering that MIR. FIenzePs bank con.
tanned the fund. seemed TO understand and
sympathize with him, except Mr.. Vonnegut
and Mr.. Coffin. The Chair then decided
that the resolution could not at that time
be considered. Mr.. VOnnegut stated that
they were at the beginning of a new year,
and that IL was time TO do better. He had
been defeated on the resolution several
times. Is was hardly any use to speak upon
IL, but it was matter that meant
about S3, COO to the board. It was certainly
politio and prudent for the board to realize
something on the funds. and greed should
no longer be encouraged. The board had
better rescue S3.0 900 Of It's own money from
the pockets of its president If il could.
1t was at this juncture that Mr.. Martin.
dale spoke to the question. detailing his
reasons for voting against the resolution.
Mr.. Msrtindale said that the treasurer OF
the board had no right to ask In
keeping of moneys. The board could
not. he said, go before the people as law
breakers. The Supreme Court had de-
cided that treasurers are the absolute
sureties. They could burn, or destroy. or
do what they chose with moneys intrusted
to their care SO long as their obligations
were met in the end. Taxes were collected
tor school purposes and not for specula-
tion. 1t was not the boards policy nor the
sense Of their morals to put the public
funds up for sale. It was bad banking to
pay interest on such funds. Mr.. Martin
dale alleged that Nh. Vopnegut had offered
funds if the board would elect him it's
treasurer. and also that his proposition had
been declined. 1t was fact. he said. that
had the office of treasurer of the board
been purchased his bondsmen could never
have been hold responsible for the actions
of the treasurer. and consequently his bond
would have besn void. Mr.. MartIndale
quoted DR.. johnson. MIR. John Morelv to his
case in point. and ended with the allegation
that deep. underlying motives were beneath
the agitation. 1--WE all know" said he.
that there are s0mo clearing house banks.
and some that are not. in this city, and
there are persons pushing this thing that
will give sums of money to this board for
these funds" There wRs no use longer
incorporating. he said, or harping contin.
ually on the subject of inter ass. IL was ne
use putting in another year playing to che
grand stand"
MIR. Vonnegut returned with the asser-
tion that MIR. Msrtindales speech was full
of error. The Indiana National Bank had
sustained his offer of per cont. for the
funds. This could be done and a healthy
on the funds should 70 into no mans
There is no doubt but that interest is
collected on this fund" said MIR. Vennegut.
Eel. that what you say is q falsehoodf" =
II know that 1t 10 true" returned Mr..
vonnesut. aud Mr.. Frenzel apologized
saying he had understood him to mean that
Treasurer Adam collected interest on the
funds. and Mr.. Vonnegut reminded him
that IL the treasurer in question did not.
he was made very willing TO deposit the
money in Mr. Frenzeps bank. By degrees
tho debate or wranGle quieted down and
the resolution was voted through she floor.
only Dir. Vonnegut and Mr.. Coffin support
ingit.
Treasurer Adam submitted his bond in
the sum of $100. 900. with p. II. Fitzgerald
and Z. G. Cornelius as his bondsmen. W which
was adopted. Prof. Jones read q short re-
port of the enrolment of the schools. which
showed an increase of 1916 over 1892
Joseph Lawrence asked i'm o communiea-
tion to be appointed as Janitor for the Pub
lilo Library, which was referred.
Secretary w. 5. X. Harrington. of tho
subcommittee on programme for the enter
tainmcnt Of the National Encampment.
asked for the free use of .he high schools
for Professor Bsrus and his chorus ou Aug.
81 and Is and Sept. ], which was granted.
A ropert of tho committee on finance stated
that the bond of assistant secretary was
assured by L. z. Haughey, which was ae-
cepted. The c0mmittee's report on public
library for the month ending showed
an expenditure of SIS. 25S 81. s., 600 of which
was for shelving In the new library build.
ing and $500 for plumbing done therein.
The other amounts were In detail for re-
pairs. ETC. The report was adopted.
The committee on buildings and grounds
recommended an appropriation of $1,000
to meet present demands and submitted
that repair work amounting to about sc, 600
was needed on schoolhouses numbered 2.
9. Ii. 20, %, &c. 10 and IL, and recommended
that it be authorized to contract for the
same. The appropriation passed under q
suspension of rules and the report was
adopted. The committee on high schools
recommended the selection of A. |. DOty
to teach algebra in High School No. 1 and
1t was so ordered.
The committee on Public Library sho wed
the number of books to be at present 54.-
O33
The committee on buildings and grounds
recommends that jaDitors houses at
schoolhouss No. 10, II ard 13 be built az q
cost of $500 each, thereby saving SIP at
each place, which was being paid each jan
itor above his regular salary as rent mon
ey. The matter was referred to the COM
mittee on finance. The committee on
rules suggested number of
changes In the rules which
shall govern the board for the comm 9
year. About the first thing suggested to
be changed was the ealary of the superiD.
tendent OF buildings and supplies from
81. 200 to 81. 400. An economical stand was
taken by several mem bers of the board.
and the matter was referred. 1t was de-
cided that 800 manuals, containing the
| rules of the board and the course of study
prescribed for the schools. should be
| printed. President Frenzel handed down
bis committee appointments. which fol-
low:
Finance and Auditing-M essrs. Russo. Scot,
| and Martindale
Buildings and Grounds-Loeper. Roth and
| Scott.
Furniture and supplies-Adam, Coffin and
Martindale.
Textbooks and Course of Instruction n-yonne-
gut. Coffin and Calvin.
Supervisors Examination and Manual Train
| ing-Frenzel, Conner and Loeper
Appointment OF Teachers and Salaries-Con-
ner, Roth and Adam.
| High schools-Scott Martindale and Coffin
German, Music and dDrawing-Vonnegut. Adam
and Russo.
Heating, Hygiene and JanitOrs-Ross, Russo
and Calvin.
| Judiciary. Districts and Boundaries-Galvin.
Vonnegut and Loeper.
| puhlic Iihrarv-MartIndala Adam poth