The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-08
THEY MAKE A BAD MOVE
Members of the Taxpayers
League Attack the Schools.
Want a Cheese PAIRING Policy
Adopted by the Board.
Object to the Already Niggardly Sal
aries Paid and When the Poor
Teachers Are Sick Ask
That Their Salaries
be Taken Away
From Them.

Last evening at the meeting of the
board of education there was a COM
mittee present from the Shawnee Coun-
ty Taxpayers league which made start
ling charges.
DR.. w. c. Hamilton, Messrs. John
Hovendon and NJ Oswald appeared be-
fore the board by permission. The
three gentlemen stepped into the room
and DR.. Hamilton said by way of open
ing: We are a committee from the
Taxpayers league We had under
stood that you would elect the teachers
and fix salaries tonight, but we find
that you did that some time ago You
know, we represent the taxpayers, and
you are also taxpayers You know that
our taxes are too high. There are
some taxpayers in our league who
think that you are paying too high
salaries to your teachers. They are
higher than they are around in other
places, and We wanted to ask you to
reduce the expenses as much as posi-
pie. And also, we understand that
some of the salaries have been increas-
ed this year. We don't want any of
these SO a day people, you know"
President Priddy-We are not paying
any higher salaries here than they do
in other places of proportionate size
and population. We have lost several
good teachers on account of their re-
ceiving better offers elsewhere. When
a teacher is first employed the salary
is fixed at $40 and each year after that
which is $50.
DR. Hamilton-I think I could name
one teacher in the high school who
was started at a salary of SIS a month
and who had never had any experience
in teaching.
President Priddy emphasizing re-
marks by shaking lead penci)-Well,
that may be an exception. That is
case which we had nothing to do with
1t was done by someone else.
Mr.. John HovendOn-Now, I want to
say one thing I don't think you ought
to pay your teachers while they are
sick. When a man works for the Santa
F'e and gets sick they deduct his wages.
Down in the shops they do.
Mr.. VIM. Macferran-I can show you
500 men in the Santa Fe general Offices
who don't get locked when they are
sick.
Mr. Hovendon-You can, can you?
How long could they be sick without
being locked?
President Priddy-when one of our
teachers is sick a supply is put in
charge of the work, and whatever sal
airy has to be paid TO the supply comes
out of the regular teachers salary.
DR.. Hamilton-Now, another thing.
There has been good deal of loose
business done about these schools. You
have paid for coal which you never
got. It seems to me that this is straight
business. These things are going to
be looked into, and they have been look
ed after some of late.
Mr. Wilson-Dr. Hamilton, if you
know of any case in particular in
which we have paid for coal and
haven't received it, we would be glad
to hear from you, and if it is the jani-
tor who is responsible for it he will lie
discharged.
DR.. Hamilton-You win be furnished
with information later. We intend to
see to this matter
Mr. TIowe-There is not a member of
this board but would thank you, DR..
Hamilton, if you would tell US about
this
DR.. Hamilton-I know none of you
knew it, of course, hut we will give it
to you later.
With the promise that they would
furnish information to the board the
committee left the room
Mr.. Maeferran read the bills and the
city clerks statement. For the high
school, uperintendent and principal
expenses for the month were $572.50.
The sum of $742.50 was ordered paid for
janitor hire. The teachers pay roll
amounted to IS. s9664.
Small bills against the board for ma
telials, etc, were read and allowed. Mr..
he stated was for the hire OF q man
for one hours work in scattering dirt
in a school yard. Mr.. Miller hurriedly
corrected him by stating that it was
for three days and an hour. Mr.. Mac
ferran remarked: Good thing that
committee wasn't here, wasn't Il %
Mr.. J. H Squires. as chairman of the
committee on buildings, reported that
the list of janitors was ready to submit.
With one exception the list was rsti-
fed.
At Washington school the name of
Jerry Williams was placed for the pc