The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-01-24
THE SCHOOL MEETING
Spirited Discussion as to the
Question Of Expenses.
NO SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED
he Board Decides to Make a Levy
of only Two-and-One-
half Mills.
) SCHOOLS VIII sE CLOSED

The proceedings at the meeting Of
taxpayers at Cedar Street school last
evening were very interesting to all
and instructive to some of those pres
ent, and the tax levy for school pur-
poses was fixed at 2h mills. Remarks
were made by Mayor Kinney, Judge
Taylor, C. w. Fulton. r. O'Hara, ]. Q.
A. Bowlby C. j. Curtis, School Director
Dealy, School Clerk Ferguson, and 9th
ers. On behalf of the board Of school
directors. Clerk Ferguson presented an
array of figures in m endeavor to show
that allowing for no reduction in the
floating Indebtedness. which is Sl7OOO
a levy of five mills would be necessary
to conduct the affairs of the depart
ment without closing any of the schools
cor making cut in the salaries of
teachers.
c. w. Fulton made an earnest plea
for economy in school matters, but he
did not favor any reduction in salaries.
He believed the resources of the school
should be husbanded to the best pos
sible advantage. and suggested that
the present floating debt could be car
ried and the present full force of the
school kept up by levyfng tax of 21k
mills. Judge Taylor and Judge Bowlby
spoke in similar strain.
After Clerk Ferguson had accepted
an invitation to use the blackboard and
chalk in showing why levy of five
mills was necessary, Mayor Kinney
arose and asserted that the clerks fig
ures were incorrect, taking the chalk
and proceeding to point out errors of
Mr.. Ferguson. The mayor proved that
far from being just sufficient to defray
the running expenses on the. present
basis, 1t would also reduce the floating
Indebtedness about so per cent. This
reduction, DR.. Kinney claimed, could
be dispensed with under the circum-
stances, and he indorsed Mr. Fulton's
suggestion for a levy of 2h mills.
Even with that" he continued, "ev-
cry school can be kept open, every
teacher can receive his or her present
salary, and in addition the floating in
debtedness can be reduced by $1,000, and
the clerk could still receive his salary
of $1,000 a year.
1T had been claimed that if any re-
duction were made in the proposed five
mill levy, the closing Of the schools in
Uniontown would be necessary. On the
contrary, another school could be es-
tablished in Uniontown with what could
Judiclously be saved from the $1,000 sal
airy Of the clerk"
Pat oHara was the next speaker and
announced his belief In the advantages
accruing from free schools and plenty
OF them, The city barons," Pat as
serted, who never paid their taxes,
wanted to cut off the poor people's
schools" The speaker referred to those
IN Uniontown. He also plainly inti-
mated that the proposed reduction in
the levy was a political move.
G. j. Curtis spoke in a similar vein
and his remarks and those of Council-
man OHara brought Mayor kinney
again to his feet with the assertion
tnat there was no politics in the un-
dertaking This is business proposi-
ton by business men. myself believe
not alone in free schools, but also IN
the payment of good salaries. Before
election 1t was all right to talk politics.
ana at such times 1t is safe to saw
that politics plays prominent part IN
many movements, but after election II
Is different We are all here now as
citizens working for the general good
trying to do honestly by all, and an
xlous to see school matters conducted
as we would conduct our private bus
mess affairs"
ochooi Director Dealy was the next
speaker He said: They say feurea
don't lie, but say that DIR. Kinnev,s
ngures 40 lie-" In support of his as
sertion Mr.. Dealy attempted to nrove
by figures Of his own, that the estI-
mates OF the board, as prepared bv
Clerk Ferguson. We're correct.
Mayor Kinney again took the chalk
ana pointed out inaccuracies in Mr.
Deaiy's arithmetical calculations ana
by remarIking triumphantIv
nat ar. Dealy's figures were incor-
'ece and that my figures still stand
md are correct" 7'-'
inc result was a determination, as
-Oose s'Atea, 70 levy a tax Of 2s1 mills