The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-07
SCHOOL BOARDS DOINGS.
Proceedings of the Board at It's
Monthly Meeting Last Night.

EIOCS6U1uSS OF the 6OHrO at LIS
Monthly Meeting Last Night.
The Topeka board of education met
last evening in regular session in it's
rooms in the high school building. A
full attendance was present. William
Macferran, chairman of the finance
committee, submitted the report of City
Treasurer Chas.' S. Elliott. 1t was as
follows:
Deposits in banks SIS, ,172. 90
4IfaTeat giTt ap6o and i,;i,;,e f,, 3s2 q
GENERAL FUND.
Received from tuition. 1900
Received from bank interest
from Jan. '94, to June 81. 391.03
Received from bank interest
November, 397 .............. 47.O6
Total .-............ $33, 734 81
Warrants paid ................$ SIG, 339. 50
The salaries for teachers and en-
ployes were reported by Mr.. Macferran
Salaries for city school teachers, 81, ,525.45
Salaries for superintendent clerk,
stenographer and JanitOrs.... 1880
Total ... . 81, ,962. .95
w. c. Stagg submitted a letter to the
board in which he asked that his claim
for $50 be either allowed or rejected.
Three years ago William Macferran
asked Mr.. Stagg for figures which he
had prepared about school district No
%, part of which is within the school
prepared a detailed statement of the
district, having spent several days in
completing it and his figures were those
of an expert. He had made the report
for the school district commissioners
but had kept a copy. He therefore gave
Mr.. Macferran the copy. The under
standing was that if the figures would
be of use to the board in making eStl-
mates of the district he should receive
$25. That was three years ago. Last
night Mr. Stagg appeared before the
Z.
Il want you either to allow this or re-
fuse it. L did the work in good faith,
and the fact that it was copy makes
it none the less a business transaction.
I ask you to allow this bill if the fig
ures have been of any use to you"
Mr.. Macferran, have the figures been
of any use to us?" asked President
Mr. Macferran shook his head. The
board ordered that if at any time the
figures should be used, that Mr.. Stagg
should be paid $25. MI. Staggs will prob
ably bring suit before the statute of
limitations has arrived.
Elias Shul was allowed to say "a few
words and he said: I want to ask of
you to observe a Lincoln day. There is
a national movement on foot for the
purpose. 1t is to be observed February
u. I would be glad to see Kansas, and
especially Shawnee county observe this
Mr.. Macferran: "I move that the
matter be referred to the committee on
Bv order of the board the city schools
will close for the Christmas holidays on
Friday afternoon, December "A and re-
open Monday, January 3. Friday VIII
be devoted to rhetorical exercises in all
the schools.
The board of education owns three
vacant lots on North Kansas avenue
which were purchased of the Curtis
estate. They are numbered 900, 911,
913 North Kansas avenue. Last even
ing the board granted a lease for five
RTr~ For a a
store. He is to have the north lot
with the privilege Of using the two
south of him. At the end OF three
years if the board sees fit the lease can
be terminated. At any time the board
may sell the two south lots. The prop
erty used to have on it an old school
building. The board will probably sell
the property as it is of no use now ex-
cept as an investment. Mr.. Kent will
have to pay $6 a month for the use of
the lot.
The Central National bank case in
which a difference arose over time de-
posits, has been settled. The bank
sent a draft for back interest to June,
1897 The board ordered the interest
to January first paid.
State superintendent VIM. Stryker
appeared before the board to confer
in regard to the bonds which the state
holds against Topeka for payment. In
1889 during the boom days, Topeka
took in parts of school districts %, SO.
As and 81 The bonded Indebtedness
I
We're to draw 6 per cent interest. Some
of the bonds are past due, and others
which by date were not yet due are now
legally due on account of defaulted in
terest The indebtedness now con-
fronting the city on these bonds is
something like s25,OOO
Mr. Stryker said: of course we have
to do just as required by law 1 do
not want to be hard in the matter.
These bonds are all due now and must
be paid. We hold the city of
Topeka responsible for them. Our at
torneys advise us of this. The only
thing we can do if the matter is not set
tied is to proceed against the city by
law. The districts out there are good
for the amount, we think AS to a
compromise, we are unable to do so, as
the law is very plain. The principle
and interest are fixed by law and we
cannot shave it,
The board recently employed Mr. A
A. GODDARD to look into the case. Last
evening he made partial report. He
said: L find Topeka technically is not
liable for these bonds. In a way we
are morally liable for part of the in
debtedness. But according to the law
on this point it shows clearly that the
city cannot be held legally At the
next meeting 1 will be able to make a
fuller report
The city can have these bonds and in
terest taken up by filing a bond for the
whole amount with four per cent inter-
est,