The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-12
THE SCHOOL BOARD THINKS MIR.
NEARBY WILL TELL THEM
WHERE THEY'RE AT.
WILKES SAYS HE'S ALL RIGHT.
SOME PEOPLE THINK OTHERWISE,
But THEY DON'T CUT DOWN
HIS MAJORITIES.
UNIQUE DISCUSSION OF HIM.
Board Objects to Paying Money Ont
of Their Funds, if They Have
Any Funds.

City Comptroller McCardy probably
wasn't aware of the fact, but the board
of education considered his case thor
oughly yesterday afternoon. Any
other man would have felt his ears
tingle like a house afire, but the comp
troller is used to that sort of thing
and is happier when he is being hauled
over the Goals. One member Of the
board even went so far as to suggest
mandamus proceedings against the
comptroller to compel him to make
detailed statement of the finances of
the board Of education, which the
board has long sought, but has been
unable to obtain.
The meeting of the board was called
by President Abbott to discuss the res
olution recently passed by the council
appropriating $500 from the rental
and repair fund for the purpose of in
surfing and otherwise preparing school
buildings that are to be used for lodg-
ing purposes during encampment week.
The school inspectors are of the opin-
ion that the board should not be COM
PEELED to furnish the money to do this
work, especially as the appropriation
Cor the year is not sufficient to meet
all the needs of the board But the
city comptroller said the money appro-
priated is not the property of the board
of education, never was, and therefore
the board had no grumble coming. On
the other hand, President Abbott says
the board is charged with the rental and
repair fund in the comptroller's ac-
counts, and that therefore the money
is the property of the board and that
the city council had no right to ap-
propriate or divert any portion Of 1t
for encampment purposes or for any
other use.
in substance President Abbott told
the members Of the board that he dis
approved of the action of the city coun-
ell, and also he was much put out with
the city comptroller for his high and
mighty way of juggling with the funds
of the board and for his refusal to
make a detailed statement of the
boards finances although he had been
urged time and again to do so. Mr.
Abbott was strenuously opposed to
the use of the money appropriated by
the council, because it was a diver
sion of the boards funds. After some
discussion a resolution was adopted
and ordered sent to the council, set
ting forth the facts as viewed by the
members of the board of education
boards funds The resolution was
backed up with a copious quotation
from the city charter, which expressly
forbids the diversion of money from
one fund to another and the use of
money for any purpose other than that
for which it was appropriated. That was
about all the business of the session,
but the most interesting portion of
the proceedings were informal and
were finally interrupted by the with
an appointment and was obliged to
leave. But for this happy coincidence
there's no telling what the board
would have DONE and there is likewise
some doubt as to what might have
happened to Comptroller McCardy this
midsummer day.
The previous discussion and the
adoption of the resolution led up to
discussion of the comptrollers alleged
autocratic dealings with the board of
education. Mr. Scholle, chairman of
the finance committee, was particu-
1arly wrought up over what he termed
the high and-mighty attitude of the
comptroller toward him, the chairman
of the most important committee on
the board.
1--WE have been trying for weeks to
secure from the comptroller a detailed
statement of the finances of the board
of education" said Mr.. Scholle, ''but
the comptroller, if he recognizes US at
all, only sneers at us. Here is state
ment which was given out by the
comptroller's deputy, and so far as 1
can see the board is debtor by balance
of some $23, O00"
Inspector McNair looked at the fig
ures of the sheet referred to and said:
at does appear that we are in
hole for the amount here mentioned"
"Oh, you mean we are shy that
much" said Inspector Wilkes. Inspec-
tor McNair accepted the amendment
and Mr. Scholle resumed:
There ought to be some way to
compel the comptroller to tell us where
we are at, and l am in favor of some
rigorous measure, if any such can be
adopted"
You might try mandamus proceed
ings," slyly put in Mr.. McNair.
Then Inspector Yoerg, who was
quite as anxious as any of the rest to
bring the comptroller to terms, took up
Inspector McNair's suggestion in ear
nest and began to speak to the issue
when he was interrupted by the
laughter of Inspector McNamee, who
warned the board that it would be
like butting heads against a stone
wall to attempt to coerce the comp
troller.
Inspector Scholle resumed the mar
ration of his i'll treatment by the comp
troller, and finally Inspector McNair
asked:
Have you ever been to the comp
troller's office and had any talk with
him about this matter?'
mo, haven't" admitted Inspector
Scholle.
We'll, why don't you go and see him
like man." was the retort why sit
here and complain instead of going
about the business of the board in
straightforward and sensible manner.
I committee fn itcs
mess in a proper fashion 1 dare saw
the cOmntroller will In,