Arizona republican., 1895-02-16

35 5
 The board of education of the terri torial normal school is Hon. F. J. Meth erton. Mesa P. J. Cole. Phoenix; Rev. Daniel Kloss, Tempe; Judge J. F. Wilson. Prescott; c. ". Miller, of Tempe. acting as secretary. The board recommends in it's biennial report for the past year that an appropriation of $35, ,000 be made to complete the build ing according to plans. I have, how ever, taken it upon myself in direct opposition to the wishes of my con- stituents to ask this body to levy tax which will not reach the sum asked for by the board. I have taken into con- sideration the financial situation of the territory and no member of the house stands more firmly opposed to a waste of money and increase of expenditure than do, but this matter Is p-opo- sition that it seems to me is one that will meet the approval of the most conservative member. The normal school board is composed of men of the highest integrity and character. Dur ing the past year they have saved to the territory the sum Of s1 ,05O, being reduction of salaries of teachers and OLACl lACldCnbdl CApCuo1S. 1Hcy. EOW- ever, recognize the fact that in the matter of room and accommodation Of pupils that they cannot be parsi- monious, therefore they have adopted the plans for a building which will give ample accommodation, and have thus far expended every penny of money coming into their hands judiciously. Of course, no one would be better pleased than myself if thie house would appropriate sum sufficient to com plete the building, in fact. doubt very little but that every member who has visited the institution is in favor of raising the amount to a larger sum than that which have asked for. The amount of money expended by the board for the past year out of the money realized from the levy of 1893 will amount when the contract is paid for work done up to February 18th of thie year to in round figures S8,000 This amount completes the first story of the stone work, and an inspection of the work shows that there is or has been nothing rotten in the construction of the building thus far It is expectCd that the result of the levy of 1894 will put into the treasury ae.out $7 GOO, which will be available within few months and enable the work of con struction to proceed. This amount will not be sufficient to put the building into any kind of shape that will ccommodate the increasing attendance ;at the present rate of increase, the present building will soon be overcroWded, in fact the principal of the school and board of ! trustees would be fully justified if they q enied further aGmittance of pupils at the present time.
 The bill that we have now under consideration proposes to levy tax of 3-5 ni mill On the dollar for the years 1895 and 1396. The assessed valuation of taxable property is one million Iol- lars less this year than in 1893, taking as basis ot calculation the result of the levy Of '92 and '93. ii is apparent at once that the proposition to levy tax Of 3-5 of a lnin at this time will not realize when the question of deiin- i quences are taken into consideration, i to sum not exceeding $10,000 per annum for the next two years, sum ! that will hardly be sufficient to get 8 roof on the building and one room finished, with one or two more rooms the school could get along until the finances Of the territory inn mproved. Now gentlemen of the assem- biy, we do not come here 10 rob the treasury, we are interested alike with yoa in being care ful where our money goes. Maricopa county pays about one third of the en- tire tax of the territory. Surely if we are willing to assume such large pro- portion of the expense in the building up of the institution you who represent the other portion of the tax should, 1t
 seems to me, have no objection.
 Architect Heinlein estimates the cost of the entire building when finished and furnished to be s46,0O0. I have
 heard it remarked that t would cost $1O0,00O. All l can say in that respect is that such 8 remark is ma licious and calculated to misIead. and
 is entirely without any other founda-
 tion.
 1 have also noticed 8 paper in this territory which seems to be opposed to Maricopa county in every particular, makes statement that the teachers of our public schools are taken from other places. All can say in reply to this Is that the open letter of Professor
 Storment in the Tempe News of Feb ruary Il completely meets the objec- ton.
 I have heard it intimated that some of the board oi trustees of the normal school nave said that the building would cost more than the estimate. 1 can hardly believe this, as it would be inconsistent with their action. They have realized the necessity of the
 building and have considered it wise to provide for its erection. therefore they could not consistently say any such thing and do not give any credence to the thought.
 Now it has also been said that Mari.