The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-27
School Inspectors Say More Money Is
Needed or Schools Must Close.
Bill Now Buried in Committee Should Be Looked
After-How the School Board
Feels.

Unless the legislature comes to the
relief of the school board the high
schools and manual training school
may not be open next year. That was
the plain statement of opinion Of the
members of the board of education at
the meeting held yesterday afternoon.
MIR. SchOlle, who is chairman Of the
legislative committee Of the board. re-
lated in plain terms that the measure
introduced in the senate to authorize
an increased tax levy of one and one
half mills for schools purposes was
tied UP in the school committee Of that
body and there was little likelihood
Of it's passage because Of the indif-
ference manifested by the general pub
lie and the opposition shown by the
chamber of commerce. When Mr..
SchOlle finished his report the other
members of the board declared that
they had been modern Patrick Henrys
in petltiOning, demonstrating and sup
plicating at the foot of the throne Of
public opinion and the city council
long enough, and they would not go
a step further to secure funds for the
adequate maintenance of the schools.
They one and all agreed, however, that
the kindergarten and the graded
schools would be cared for first, and
then if there should be anything left
the high schools and the manual train
ing schools might have a short ses-
sion at the opening of the year
When Mr.. Scholle's report was call
ed for, he said: THE members of the
legislature feel that unless some ur-
ONT i1 al
nothing will be done to authorize the
one and one-half mills increase in the
tax levy, which has been asked for the
proper maintenance of our public
schools. The bill is now in the hands
Of the committee on schools in the SEN
ate, and the majority of the members
OF that committee are opposed to
recommending the bill for passage. be-
cause of the resolutions passed recently
by the chamber of commerce. Unless
that measure is passed the public might
as well understand NOW as AT any other
time that we shall have to close the
high schools next year.
The, report provoked animated dis
cussion. President Abbott said the
board had done everything in its power
TO snow the public and the city au-
thorlties that 1t would be impossible
to- conduct the. schools next year on
the money voted for that purpose "If
the council and the public generally is
Sc indifferent, I propose that you let
them run the schools next year and see
what they can do.'' he said.
Mr. Wilkes declared that he would
not close any of the schools. Keep
them all open as long as we can. and
then close when the money gives out"
was his opinion. 1t was pointed ont
that the schools must be kept open for
a certain period during the year, and
that Mr.. Wilkes plan would not do.
Then Mr.. McNair said:
Il think Mr.. Scholle has gone far
enough. He has done all that he can,
and l. think further that the board
might as well let the matter drop right
here. | shall stand by the kinder
gartens and the graded schools. and
when the money runs low then close
the nigh schools and the manual train
ing schools"
But we will have only $685., 900 for
the entire year and we will be obliged
to close the high schools and probably
the kindergartens," said Mr.. Schol!e.
There was an interval of silence and
then Mr. McNair, rubbing his glasses
ref1ectively, said well, we have done
Ou1 QUly III tlF1S matter. we told
the council what was needed, and now
let that body bear the responsibility"
Mr.. McNamee declared that as this
school board had been known as an
extravagant Democratic body, he, for
one, was willing to let a Republican
city administration extricate the
schools as best they could
Tut! Dick said President Abbott,
this is no place to talk politics." Then
Mr.. Scholle broke In with the announce
n?ent that the chamber of commerce
committee was to meet again to con-
slider the matter once more. ''Woulf
it not be we'll for US to meet with then
and try the force of argument ono
mere" he suggested. Further, this
board should now, at this meeting.
pass a resolution declaring that we
will close the high schools next year
If this increase is not given U.s.
This board cannot do it, was
President AbbOtt's comment. 1T will