Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-06-10
WANT IT CHANGED.
School Board Petitioned Con-
corning the Charter.
QUESTION TO BE VOTED UPON
People to Determine Whether Rock Island
Shall Have IN Increased Number If III.
rectors ss Allowable Under the Genera

A'"~ Wouiu MAKO RADICAL Aitefat1OnS.
Rock Island people will be called
upon to determine at the forthcom.
ing election whether they desire the
abandonment OF the special charte or
under which the public schools are
now operating. Such a move had its
beginning at last evenings Meeting
OF the board of education when a Pc
'ition bearing the required number
OF signatures was presented asking
that the necessary steps be pursued
that the schools might become oper-
alive under the general laws of the
state of Illinois.
The clerk was accordingly author
lied to apprise the mayor Of the de-
sire OF the REPRESENTATIVES of voters
and it devolves upon him to notify
the public that the question will be
one to be voted upon at the COM
ing election of board of education
directors. The Rock Island
schools are Cow governed by spe-
cial charter. The general laws, how
ever. apportion the school board
representation according to the pop
ulation, which entities RocE
Island to about nine members
instead Of five, as is the
case now. A president would
also be elected by the people annu-
ally. But a question came up dur
ing the discussion OF the matter
which no doubt the gentlemen at
taching their signatures to the petit
ton undoubtedly gave little, if any,
consideration, and one which may
prove disastrous to the desired
change. Every year the school
board finds it necessary to borrow
large sums of money for the opsrat-
ing expenses of the school, subject
to anticipation of the annual tax
levy. But the general laws specific
ally prohibit this. Hence if the
people vote to have the change,
which would become effective at the
election succeeding the coming one,
that year the schools might have to
close their doors unless the public
made some liberal donations So
that is the way the matter stands.
Should be Well Considered Before Action.
The proposition to change the sys-
tenn under which the public schools
of Rock Island are operated is one
which should be considered in all its
various phases before adoption
at this time. and it is ques-
ton of grave doubt if the situa-
ton, which is Of so much concern
now on the direct issue, should be
complicated with the discussion of
other matters. However, it is be-
fore the people and they must act
upon it. They should do so intelli-
gently. There havs been hints that
the adoption of the change would in
sure the retention of the retiring
members on the board until next
April when the law becoming opera
tive the entire board would step out.
A legal authority, however, states
that such could not be the case, that
the members elected June 80 would
take seats in the board and those 60
ing out retire unless reelected, and
the board remain intact as thus COM
posed, until the time of the change
in the form of government. The Ak
GUS does not believe, nevertheless,
that the change is one to be adopted at
the coming election, although it may
have its merits. Let it come up
later on when there is more time for
consideration of it. The issue in the
approaching election is clearly de-
fined and established. Let us vote
on that first
Building improvements.
The board is planning an improve
ment-and much desired one, it is
said-in the closet systems at build
ings and Z, which will involve an
outlay of something like 5000. Bids
have been asked and the contract
will in all probability be let the lat
ter part Of the week, the disposition
of the matter having been left in the
hands of committee.
Last evenings meeting was unus-
ually harmonious. Little business
was transacted and no one had much
to say. And by the way. the super
intendent was not in attendance.
In his monthly report Supt. James
E. Ament says that the enrolment
for the year has averaged Sill and
that in making calculations for the
accommodation of children the com
ing term he contends that the board
can count on an increase of not less
than two hundred. There we're 10
ceses Of illness in the schools duripg
May.
Truant Officer Sweeney investi-
gated us cases of truancy and alb
sence during the year Just closed.
Mr.. Sweeney was authorized by the
board to take the school census.
The present corps of janitors was
reappointed on Recommendation OF
Director Kinyon; and the following
bills were allowed:
Peoples Power Co.. .................ss ~
y Il spencer. -.......-.................. IS
dartz Bahnsen. Observation-Disclosures. 81 az
=. ~ OUu .-..-- -
McCaoe bros----- ~
Kramer. bieuer & Co. 81 ~
=. W. SteWart- I IS
Penn Tank Line company q
Cleveland Printing and Publishing CON-
Reel, Dry Goods company. II ~
Pantagraph Printing company ..-... q 10
,.iase q Murpny 81
X Crafnp.o..- -------.------..-.---.-. . IS
L MON t,r1nting company l. I'd