The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-16
VICTORY FOR The SCHOOLS.


so essential TO the preservation OF the
school property.
Tho BOARD. after careful scrutiny. is
unable. under these circumstances 10 sec
anv margin for retrenchment In general
hut on tho other hand. they feel II an i'm
nerative autv. very earnestly TO call your
attention TO the fact, that the scnooi
property. amounting to over siV"'vv'VVV'
will be permanently injured by the failure
Of the Council 10 allow sumcleh' iu"uS ~
keep the same in good condition.
THE GROWTH INCREASING.
The reports made to your honorable
body. from year TO year, show that "hile
the gross amount needed for the proper
maintenance and growth OF our pubic
schools has steadily increased tne
amounts asked for have been mace hec'9
sary by the increased demand on tne par
of parents for larger accommodations IN
the schools. and that the cost per capita
has been maintained at very low rae
General education Is a great boon 10 the
public. and a great duty which mas peeh
entrusted to the School Board inns outy
they have constantly striven 10 discharge
faithfully, and with the best economy
consistent with the importance ana mag
nitude OF their charge.
Your honorable body has always shown
a Just appreciation OF the great benenls
of the public school system 20 our people
by the promptness and nberality VII"
which you nave in the past. furnished the
funds necessary 10 its support ana en-
cheney The Board appreciates this ac-
ton OF the City Council. and will on us
part. make only such requests as are in
20 inc
schools to meet efficiently. the demands OF
the public.
In conclusion, the Board respectfully
submits. that any further reduction.
would materially iniure the schools, and
cannot be made without closing some Of
the schools. discharging some Of our
teachers. and depriving some OF our fel-
low-citizens Of the benefits OF education
for their children.
Respectfully submitted,
(Sipned) JOS. G. DTCKERSON.
Chairman Finance Committee.
Accompanying the foregoing papers was
the following statement OF the needs or
tho schools submitted to the Council Sep
tember 9Th last:
Office CITY School Board.
Richmond. Va. Sept. 8. 1891
Honorable City Council, City OF Rich
mond: 49,, -,
Gentlemen.-The City School Board OF
tho CITY OF Richmond would respectfully
inform your honorable body that the sum
Of 5000 additional will be neeneu lol
tho nav-roIl account. for the maintenance
OF the public schools for the current YER
1897 with the request that you VIII make
an appropriation to cover the same, In
order that the Board may not be com
PEELED to close the schools, for want or
funds
The board would further state that TINS
deficiency is caused by the action or the
Council in curtai,ng the amount asked
for by the board in the beginning OF the
year.
At the conclusion Of the reading ~ the
exhaustive statistics submitted by the
School Board. Mr.. Otway s. Allen took
the floor. He said he took the ground that
the present Council came in as body
pledged TO live within the income OF the
city. and not to expend dollar beyond
that.
MANY APPLICATIONS.
The School Board he said, mad often
before asked for additional Gppropria-
tions the amount having increased from
$4,000 in 1873 TO $4,000 in 1891 end he was
confident that the income OF the city had
not increased I'm any such proportion.
He called attention 10 the fact that Is
per cent. Of the gross income Of the city
This year had been devoted TO school pur-
poses
Major Allen further pointed out that
all the departments had been forced TO
economic this year. and he thought the
School Board should do likewise. The de-
Dartment. he said. through its representa-
tives. had accepted the appropriation
made for It, and had said il could live
within II.
In conclusion Major Allen said that no
thing In his past conduct would indicate
that he was otherwise than a friend OF
the schools. and he was. he declared. n
friend of education. but he could not vio-
late the pledge he had taken not 10 ex-
pend any money beyond the revenues Of
the city. and he would be forced TO vote
against the appropriation.
Mr. Hardwicke. chairman OF the FL
nance Committee next addressed the
/. Board lie said that the public press had
laid all the responsibility for the shortage
Of funds In the school department on the
Council This. he said. was not the case.
and he went on to give n history Of the
matter; how She Finance Committee had
made every effort to give the schools
what they asked. but had been unable TO
raise more than 10000.
Mr.. Hardwcke then went on 20 show
how the Finance Committee had proposed
as n last resort 10 take the $1,000 set
aside for water r.eters and give Il 10 the
schools
1T was them said Mr.. Iardwicke.
chat q memb, OF the School Board op-
posed my such move, saying that the
Board could live within The 100000 given
them"
WHO SHALL RULE?
Continuing Mr.. Hardwicke said II had
come down TO n question OF who should
rule the finances OF the city, the Council
or the School Board. The Council. he
said. should be master OF the situation,
and the departments should live within
the appropriations made for them.
you can give the money II YOU