The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-10
LITTLE CASH ON HAND.
School Bonrd will Have to Ask Credit In
the Purchase of Lot from Mrs. Phil
lips OF the South Side.

| lips or the south Side.
| The school board is I'm bad financial
straits. At the meeting last night 1t
developed that the funds are not only
depleted but that after all the out
stnding taxes for the year are collected
there will still be deficit of about
| S2S,OO0.
This fact was brought out in the
discussion of the building committees
| recommendation that additional land
| be purchased for the erection of the
proposed new No. 10 building on the
South Side. The board owns a plot of
ground which Is too small to accommo-
date the structure planned by Archi-
tect Davis and the committee recon-
to Mrs Elizabeth Phillips be purchased
for $4,000.
Realizing the Strengthened condition
of its finances the board hesitated max
ing such a small, although absolutely
necessary. expenditure and finally con-
fessed fatty that 1t could not be safely
done, by referring the matter back
to the building committee with instruc-
tions to get tick" from Mrs. Phillips
If 1t was possible. Mrs. Phillips will
be asked to accept few hundred dol
lars and take the boards I. o. U. for
the balance.
1t Is not to be understood from the
foregoing facts that the controllers
have been prodigal Of the districts
money. The strlngency Is due to the
extraordinary demands for school ac-
commodations and the policy of the
board which always has been to sat
isfy such demands If 1t Is necessary to
borrow money to do 1t. The immedi-
ate embarrassment is accounted for
by the action of councils in extending
the time for the collection of taxes un-
til January !. The city treasurer Is
meeting all warrants drawn on the
district fund so creditors need have no
fear of being stood off. The boards
credit Is best attested. however, by
the premium of s1.OS received on the
sale Of the recent $4,000 issue of new
high school bonds.
Teachers Salaries Increased.
Even in its poverty the board felt
that 1t could afford to be generous, for
when question as to the raising of the
salaries Of two teachers came up and
a technicality left the board in a posi-
tion to decide either way it voted
unanimously to give the teachers the
benefit of the doubt and accordingly
the young ladies. Miss Nettie Nye and
Miss Frances Connor.. will find that
one of the bulges in her Santa Claus
receptacles Christmas day will be
substantial increase In salary
This decision also settles a hereto
fore open question as to whether or not
the experience qualifications were
to be regarded when considering
the rule which allows $55
month to principals assistants in the
preparatory grade. The apparent con-
filct Of rules has now been Strengthened
out and the official Interpretation is
that even first year teacher is entitled
to $55 month II he or she Is appointed
as an assistants principal. Superin-
tendent Howell's recommendation
when summoned in consultation on the
question had much to do with its being
decided in the teachers favor.
The pay roll for November contained
the following items: Teachers, yl2.-
1885; substitutes. $298.75; janitor, 81
3235o: night schools, $1.562.5O; total,
$15,32S.30.
On motion of Mr. Wormser a half
months pay will be advanced to teach
ers on December "a, as In customary
before the Christmas holidays each
year.
Contracts for Supplying Cosi.
The supply committees award of the
contracts for furnishing coal was as
follows:
The First district, comprising schools
Nos. 4. 5, 9. q, 80. "a, 35 and IS, to James
Kearney at the prices named in his bid,
viz. $3.50 for large sizes, $1.5O for pea.
The Second district, comprising
schools Nos 2, 3. 6, z, 8, 10, IL, 30 and 81.
to the Consumers Ice company at
2.49 for large sizes and 81. .65 for pea coal.
The Third district comprising schools
Nos. ~. IL, IA, Is. 16, II, IS. 10, 20, 20, 81
and 30. to the Consumers Ice company
at s249 for large sizes and $1.65 for pea
coal.
The Fourth district, composed of
schools Nos. II. 22. 23, "a, 25 and rs, to
the West Ridge Coal company at 81. 40
for crate. $3.50 for chestnut, egg ana
stove, and $1.60 for pea coal.