The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-15
SCHOOLS WILL RUN.
Taxes Cannot Be Levied to Pay
Past Indebtedness.
LONG WAIT FOR OLD WARRANTS.
After uey whites Plan for Getting the
school Beard Ont OF . Dtfemma-
The Law Defective.

The attorney FOR the board OF EDUCATION,
W. H. White. has happily relieved that
body OF burden of an iety. Considerable
apprehension had been felt lest the board
would be Obliged TO close the schools
owing TO the refusal of the people to bond
the floating indebtedness OF the district,
which is considerably larger than the
revenue for the current year. and which
some people believe exceeds the legal limit
Il was thought that the entire proceeds OF
this years taxes would be taken to pay
the outstanding warrants and that there
would be no money left 10 run the schools
with According TO Mr.. Whites interpre-
ta.ion Of the law, the taxes levied for the
purpose of running the schools are only
available for that purpose and cannot be
taken by the county treasurer and applied
to the liquidation of outstanding warrants.
In fact, he doubts that the board can
levy taxes for the purpose Of iiquidating
the indebtedness of past year AZ all.
but if IL can then all that can be devoted
to that purpose is the excess of money
received over that necessary to run the
schools. III this be the correct view, it will
be several years before the present out
standing warrants will be redeemed For
if the board should put the tax levy at the
maximum limit there would be only about
$50. 90 year to apply toward the liquida-
ton of the $349. 600 of floating debt, or but
little more than pay the interest on the
debt.
At the regular monthly meeting of the
board last evening all the members were
present, President Barwell coming in late.
and Mr.. Spencer occupying the chair.
The canvassing of the vote of the recent
bond election was deferred until 1:30
O'Clock today.
Principal Story, of the Mercer school,
asked that window be put on a narrow
staircase in that building. Messrs. Mac
Dougall and King objected on the ground
that economy was the popular thing at
the present time. Mr.. Spencer said he
was opposed to such petty economies, that
the board should not defer to such Popu-
listic notions when it was well known that
the wealth of the city had sustained the
board i'm its course hitherto. Children
might get hurt there and if thereswas any
danger of this he was in favor of granting
the petition.
A communication frem Health officer
r. s. Palmer was received stating that
there is . nuisance at the Pacific school in
the shape Of dry closets and urinals and
ordering ats abatement by connecting the
closets with the kenney street sewer. No
attention was paid TO the matter as tue
closets are entirely inoffensive and the
complaint was thought to originate among
the plumbers, who are opposed TO the
adoption of the dry closet system.
Architect John Parkinson reported in
regard to the sliding of the ground of the
South school toward the northeast, that
the portico of the building had separated
one inch from the main building. The
matter was referred TO the buildings and
grounds committee for examination.
John Parkinson rendered his resignation
as architect for the school board to take
effect April l. Messrs. King and MacDou-
gall wanted to save 500 by dispensing
with his services on March I. as there was
nothing for him to do, and there was no
use in paying him ono months salary for
nothing. Messrs Buryeli and Colkett
preferred accepting his resignation. The
question of hurting Mr.. Parkinson's feel
ings was alluded TO. and Mr.. Burwell said
something about Parkinson voluntarily
offering his resignation, whereupon
Mr.. King stated that the only rea-
son Parkinson offered his resignation
was because he fking) would not agree
to vote 10 retain him at salary OF 500
month. He stated that Parkinson had
told him that all he needed vas his vote.
King had refused to agree to the PROPOSE
ton, and therefore Parkinson had put in
his resignation. On being put TO vote
Spencer voted with Burwell and Colkett
against dismissing Parkinson. The matter
was then laid on the table until today's
meeting in order to enable Mr.. Parkinson
TO change the date on which his resigna-
ton should take effect.
Mr.. Ming raised the point that the law
requires that no expenditures should be
made without the roll being called, and he
had understood that such had not been
the practice heretofore. Attorney White
conceded with Mr. King in this view of
the matter, and on the question of order
ing the drawing of warrant TO pay the
contractors the balance due on the Cas-
eade building the yeas and nays we're de-
nanded, and Mr. King alone voted no.
He stated that lie did so because he be-
lieyed the school board had already ex-
ceeded the limit OF its Indebtedness and
believing so be would as matter OF prin-
ciple vote against all expenditures. He
was not in favor of closing the schools,
bet this question should be settled by the
supreme court.
Attovney ". II. White. who had been
invited TO be present, hereGpon stated
that sections 20 and 81 of the act govern
ing school districts in cities of 10,o0o or
more inhabitants. provides that the board
of education shall annually report 10 the
county commissioner an estimate of the
amount Of funds required for the support
Of the schools, for the purchase of school
sites, the erection and furnishing OF school
buildings, the payment Of interest upon
all bonas issued for school purposes and
the creation OF a sinking fund for The pay