St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-07-21
SCHOOL BUDGET.
Special Meeting to Consider the
City Council Position.

Special Meeting to Consider the
City Council Position.
A special meeting of the board of ed
ucation has been called for 2 o'clock
this afternoon to consider the position
of the city council in regard to the
budget for the school year lS9495. The
estimate Of the board of education calls
for s475. 200. For the year 1929 the
budget allowed was s452, gro. For 1884
it was s444,740, so the amount for the
coming year is little more than al
lowed for two preceding years. Yet it
is not at all an eXtraYagant or lavish
estimate. In every detail it has been
based upon system of close economy
In the sum asked for the ueXt year is
the Item of $40, 600 for the displacement
of Rutlan closet system. which all san
itary authority agrees must be removed
or the buildings closed for school use.
This expense is legacy. but neverthe-
less the duty rests upon the city to meet
it and repair the error made by former
boards. for which the present one is not
responsible. Deduct this from the total
of the budget and the addition over the
sum used last year is not much. 1t must
be borne in mind the city grows each
year and pupils multiply. The high
standard of the schools ought to be
maintained, and there is none higher
than those of st. Paul, but no one will
contend that the schools can be properly
and justly sustained. year after year,
for fixed SUN. More pupils come for
ward, more teachers are needed and
other expenses are added. The board
of ed ucation has not been negligent of
economy in preparing the salary list
and other details for school mainte-
nance. Last year, for example. there
were four salaries of 81, 800 each that
have been cut TO S1,600, and other econ
omies practiced, amounting to cheese
pairing almost. Certainly the figures
have been made as close Is justice to
the schools will permit.
Minneapolis had school enumera-
ton last year of 27,364, against 20, $50
for st. Paul The Minneapolis salary
list for the year was 1922. 693, or within
q few thousand as much as the total for
st. Paul. while the total Minneapolis ex-
penditure. shown by the official report
of the board of education, was $685.
1S4. SO. This comparison shows the STU
We
With only 1000 more pupils than st.
Paul the Minneapolis schools cost twice
as much. The Minneapolis expenditure
under Acknowledgement school SUP
plies, last year, was S26.512; in ST. Paul
for the same purpose the expenditure
was $4,000.
Moreover. it should be realized how
faithfully the board of education strives
to make the most of the facilities.
Forty pupils to a room is the conceded
limit. but if this were rigidly observed,
in seven wards of the city additional
rooms would be required. The fact is
the schools are conge5ted, but the board
is not asking for more rooms, but for
very little money to maintain the
schools as they are.
1t would seem as If the council should
be wise and 90 very slow In striking at
the most important and valuable public
arm, the free school system. Let the
council investigate as carefully as have
the board of education, and it cannot
cut down the school fund aud defend
the action upon the basis of intelligent
interest in the public welfare.