The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-15
erendent upon. small wages for sup

uSEctiuCHt upon. sinai wages Tor sup
pert.
President Abbott, of the school board.
said that the board was heartily in
favor Of free text books If the system
could be adopted. The board had saved
about $1,000 out of the teachers salary
fund, In the hope of securing fund
SUFFICIENT to inaugurate the system in
the grade schools. DR.. Abbott believed
that the children ought to have free
text books as well as free tuition
Comptroller McCardy called the COM
mittee's attention to the fact that the
excess of nearly $40, 900 in the expendi-
ture of money for fuel and supplies,
more than offset the saving in the
teachers salary fund. The matter of
free text books could only be considered
at the time when the tax estimate is
made up in December, for the ensuing
year. For that reason, Mr.. McCardy
thought that the school board ought
10 submit It's budget at the same time.
Mr.. Lewis took occasion to remark
at this point that 1t was to be regretted
that two departments of the city gov
eminent could not get together and
agree upon their figures so as not to
contradict each other every time they
met and confuse those obliged to listen
to their statements
Comptroller McCardy then arose and
quoted from his bible-the Bell charter
the provision providing that the fiscal
year of all departments shall begin
Jan. l. Mr.. McCardy added that the
proper time to consider the subject of
free text books was in December, when
the tax estimate is prepared, and that
he would see that it was considered at
that time.
This matter disposed of, the commit.
tee proceeded to discuss the budget.
taking up first the item of teachers
salaries" The amount proposed by
the ordinance for this purpose was
$3.50, 600.
Mayor Doran explained that he did
not recommend the reduction of teach,
er's salaries for fear of impairing the
efficiency Of the schools. -
DR.. Abbott called attention to the re-
duction of the item Salaries Of all
Others" which includes janitors, en-
gineers, mechanics and laborers. by
the sum of nearly $4,000, and said:
Such reduction would greatly i'm
pair the efficiency Of the schools We
would prefer to give up the night
school rather than the janitors,
mechanics, engineers, etc.
Aid. Bigelow then moved that the
sum of $355,000 be allowed for teachers
salaries.
Mr.. Lewis, in discussing the motion,
favored the retention Of the night
OOA1OOA0S
was as competent to judge of their
value as were the school inspectors
DR.. Abbott repeated his assertion
that the board would prefer to dispense
with the night schools than cut down
the janitors, engineers and other en-
ployes AS 1t was understood that the
board could have only $455, 900 the mem
bers preferred to have the teachers
salary fund reduced to $355,0OO and the
fund for supplies reduced, rather than
cut down the janitors and engineers.
School Inspectors Yoerg and McNair
both expressed themselves as in favor
of abolishing the Mechanic Arts school.
ten-minute recess was taken at
this time, during which the school in
spectors and members of the joint
committee got their heads together
over the budget.
Upon reassembling, Aid. Bigelow
moved that the teachers salary fund
be fixed at 1856, 000 instead of $3.50, 900,
as named in the ordinance.
Mr.. Lewis wanted to know how the
school board stood on the night school
question, as 1t appeared that the night
school teachers were to be dropped.
To ascertain this, the secretary of the
school board called the roll and 1t re-
suited in vote of five to one against
retaining the night schools, Inspector
McNair casting the affirmative vote
Aid. BigelOW's motion was then put
to a vote. 1t resulted in a tie, Aids.
Bigelow, Kenny, Allard and Markham
voting in the affirmative and Assem-
blymen Arosin, Lewis, Thompson and
Reardon voting no. as they were
strongly opposed to dispensing with
the night schools.
The committee then adjourned until
10 a. m. today, when it is proposed to
ascertain whether there Is not an in
surance fund of $1,000 to the credit Of
the school department in the city -reas-
ury. If there Is, the council can re-
peal the ordinance setting 1t aside for
any specific purpose and give it to
the school board, and so increase the
proposed appropriation Of $555, 900 to
$462, 900.