The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-28
SCHOOL BOARD MIDDLE
JOINT SESSION OF INDIANAPOLIS
AFFAIRS COMMITTEES.
Dunn Bill Read and Defended by Its
acknowledgements in Behalf
of Both Measures.

At a joint meeting of the Senate and
House committee on affairs of the city of
Indianapolis, held in Room 103 Statehouse,
after the adjournment OF both branches.
yesterday afternoon, there was a long n
animated discussion Of legislation in the
interest of the public school system of this
city. Senator New introduced a bill pre-
pared by j. T. Dunn. modelled on the Cleve-
land law, in the Senate. and Representative
Elliott introduced it in the House. Mr.. Dunn
was before the committee to discuss his
bill, while Charles w. Smith. John P. Fren-
eel and Austin II. Brown, of the CONNER
cial Club committee, talked in support of
the bill prepared by them for the solution
of the financial straits in which the schools
are involved. Brief talks were also made
by Justus c.. Adams, president of the
Board of Trade, A. Q. Baker and Allen NJ.
Fletcher. After Senator New, chairman
of the Senate committee, stated the pur-
poses of the meeting Mr.. Dunn read his
bill section by section, making a running
The first section of the bill es-
tablishes a school district in all cities of
over 100,0 Ok inhabitants, and declares that
the boundaries of such district shall be the
city boundaries, and be known as a school
district of the first grade. The next two
sections provide that:
The school government in districts of the
first grade shall be vested in II board of
school commissioners, which shall consist
of a school council and a school director.
The Board of School Commissioners shall
have and exercise the powers now con-
ferred by law on boards of school commits
sioners in cities Of thirty thousand 3 10000
or more Inhabitants, also the powers now
conferred by law on boards of school COM
miSSiOnerS in cities or 100 0b inhabitants
and as herein provided.
The legislative power and authority shall
be vested in the school council. which
shall consist of eight members. each OF
whom snail serve for a term OF four years,
and two of whom shall be appointed an
nually by the mayor of the city.
Section 4 provides that the Council shall
organize annually in June by electing one
OF their number president and electing a
clerk, who shall not be one of their num-
Der, who is to receive a salary of $1,000 Il
year. This section also provides the treas
urer of the county shall be treasurer of the
board and make monthly reports of re-
ceipts and expenditures.
The subsequent section says: Every leg
islative act of the Council shall be by res
olution. Every resolution involving an
expenditure of money or the approval of
a contract for the payment of money or
the purchase, sale, lease or transfer of
property. or levying any tax, shall, before
by the clerk to the school director for ap-
prevail" 1t is provided that If the director
refuse to approve the action of the Coun-
vote of six of the eight members of the
Council.
APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS.
By Section 6 power is vested in the coun-
ell to make rules for the appointment of
all teachers and employees, prescribe their
duties and fix their compensation. A COM
mittee composed of the president director
and superintendent of scfool is to select
textbooks. provide rules for the library
and select books for it. Other sections of
the bill provide:
The school council shall, at their meeting
on the third Friday in June, 1898. elect a SUI
perintendent of schools. who shall serve for
a term OF three years. and a librarian who
shall serve for a term of three years, and
until their successors are elected and quail
for equal terms. The superintendent of
schools shall have the sole power 10 ap-
point and discharge all assistants and
to be employed. and shall report to the
school council in writing annually. and Oft
ener if required, as TO all matters under
the school council to attend any or all Of
its meetings. The librarian shall have the
sole power TO appoint and discharge all as
sistants In the library. including the jani-
tors employed therein, and shall report
annually as to all matters under his SUI
pervision. All other employees of the Board
OF Scl0Ol commissioners snail De appointed
or employed, and discharged by the school
director.
The school director shall be elected by
the qualified electors of the district. and,
except as otherwise provided in this act,
all powers heretofore vested in and per-
formed by the Board of School Commits
SionerS in such districts, shall be vested in
and performed by him..
The first election of such director shall
be held at the time of the municipal cleo
ton, on the second Thursday of October,
1907 anA hianDiailx- tharanftar Ia 10 70 ha
paid $500 per year.
BY several sections following the city
controller is made auditor of the School
Board and provisions are made for his au-
diting the accounts o. the board. He Is re-
quired to issue warrants for the payment
of moneys drawn on the county treasurer,
ex officIo treasurer OF the board. Section y
provides that public advertisements for bids
shall be made when il is proposed TO ex-
pend more than $500.
Provisions to meet the financial necessi-
ties of the schools follow: The board Is
empowered to issue bonds to pay $500. 600 of
It's debt and 5000 Manual Training School
bonds. IT Is authorized to levy q scent tax
on the 800 for building purposes.
ARGUMENTS ON THE BILL.
Mr.. Dunn contrasted his bill with that
of the Commercial Club. He SAID that each
provides for the ~refunding of the 800, coo
debt, but when it came to a question of
funds for buildings and grounds instead of
borrowing $50, 900 a year for five years and
establishing d sinking fund to meet it, his
bill provided for a levy of 5 cents on the
500. The city is now paying off about SIS,
900 a year, he said. which he regarded as
filling the requirements of a sinking fund.
Charles w. Smith inquired what power the
board would have to borrow money under
his bill. Mr.. Dunn said the same pow
erS were given the board as now existed
under old laws. Mr.. Smith asked him what
provision there was for the new board to
assume the debts and Liabilities of the old.
Mr.. Dunn seemed to think the old laws
would cover this point. but said III not il
would be possible for the lawyers on the
committee to suggest such amendments
as should be made.
Austin III. Brown, chairman of one OF
the subcommittee that had acted for the
Commercial Club, said that he would sug-
geSt that the subject OF reorganization oil
the schools and the betterment of the de-
plorabie financial conditions existing should
be covered by separate bills. Whether the
schools were reorganiZed or not, ne said
something must be done in a financial way.
Charles w Smith, Tor a number OF years
a member of the School Board and later at
torney for the board. spoke of the work
that had been done by the committee Of
which he was chairman. He described the
different funds OF the school Board. going
over particularly the same ground he Gov
cred at the meeting of the Commercial
Club directors last Friday and reported in
the Journal OF last Saturday. He explained
that there was no legislation necessary as
10 the Gregg fund, the library fund oil
the Manual Training School fund. as they
were In Il condition TO care for themselves.
The trouble that had to be. remedieC
was the debt for cur