The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-13

unquestionably be for the best interests
of the city to open the schools I have
! the best reasons for believing that there
are sufficient funds to justify the OPEN
ing of the schools.
LAS for the liability Of the school in
spectors, in my opinion, they are just
as liable now as they would be If they
had opened the schools, for they have
already made contracts with the teach
ers. Were in the place Of the school
inspectors, would open the schools at
once. The public welfare justifies such
action. Not to open the schools would
work a deep injustice to the children
and their parents. The assessed valu-
alton of the city property is bound to
realize sufficient funds. 1 have no
doubt that the school board will re-
consider it's action and open the
schools
Assemblyman Kirke asked the cor.
poration attorney if it would be legal
for the common council to make a par
tial appropriation, say large enough to
cover the expenses of the first month.
Assistant Corporation Attorney Phil
lips replied that in his opinion such an
act would not be legal, as the charter
requires the common council to make
on Sept. l. or before, the appropriation
for the entire school year, which be-
gins Sept. 1 and ends on Aug. 81.
Mr.. Lewis remarked at this juncture
that st PauPs public schools were GO
ing to be opened this year as they had
been in past years.
PRESIDENT ABBOTT HEARD.
President Abbott, of the school board.
in response to a request that he ex-
press his views, said:
"If there is any possible way for the
school board and the council to get to-
gether and open the schools we would
be glad. But we can't do it unless the
council appropriates the necessary
money l am as anxious that the
schools should open as any of you gen.
tlemen. l want my children to go to
school as much as you want yours to
do so. / shall be glad If you can offer
a solution to this problem. If you are
obliged to cut down the appropriation
to any considerable extent, why the
school board will have to reduce sal
aries and perhaps close some schools,
such for instance as the mechanic arts
school, or the high school,
Mr.. Lewis said that the comptroller
had informed him that the sum of
$172,000 would be available between the
present time and Jan. 1, 1897. If that
was so, the board would be justified in
opening the schools.
Mr.. Phillips said that there was
enough money to run the schools for
the remainder or the year 1896. 1t was
not a question whether the money was
in the city treasury at the present
time.
Mr.. Lewis wanted to know why the
schools could not start now and run
until Jan. l. 1897 when additional funds
could be provided in the next tax bud
get. In this connection Mr.. Lewis re-
peated his assertion that the school In
spectors had already incurred a per-
sonal liability, as they has entered into
contracts with the teachers.
DR.. Abbott disputed this, by citing
the provision of the charter, which re-
quires the school board to fix the sal
aries of all teachers in June, so as to
enable the board to make up the
budget for the ensuing year. But the
board did not enter into any contract
with the teachers. There could be no
contract until the council had appro-
priated the money with which to main
tain the schools.
Mr. Lewis then wanted to know
whether the school board would trust
to the common council to protect the
liability incurred by operating the
schools for one month.
DIR. Abbott replied that he would be
perfectly willing to do so, and would
call a meeting of the board On Monday
to lay the proposition before the other
members.
Mr. Lewis conferred with his associ-
ates and then offered the following
resolution:
Resolved. That tho board Of school inf