The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-09-22
FOUR MILL TAX NOT LAID
BY THE SPECIAL DISTRICT MEET
ING HELD LAST NIGHT.

ING HELD List NIGHT.
Mayor and Board of Finance to be Re-
quested to Provide Money for Schools
Committee of Five to be Appointed To-
day to Wait Upon Them-Adjourned
Meeting to be Held September 80.
The special district meeting held in
Eoardman Manual Training school, last
evening, was attended by about one
hundred citizens and developed into a
most interesting gathering before an
adjournment was taken. The four mill
tax recommended by the board of edu-
cation was not laid, but on motion of
Alexander I'roup it was voted that
when this meeting adjourn, it be to
September 80 at 8 p. M, and that COM
mittee of five be appointed to present
the vote, laid on the table, to the
quest that provision be made for the
expenses of the school district from
July IA to December 81, 1897, other than
by the laying of a special tax and that
the clerk be instructed to arrange for
holding of said adjourned meeting"
The vote referred to in the above mo-
ton, as having been laid on the table,
was the following: Voted, That tax
of four mills on the dollar be laid upon
the polls and ratable estate of the New
Haven city school district on the grand
list of 1897, payable July l, 1893.
The meeting was called to order by
Benjamin r. English, clerk of the dis
trict. Alderman Edward A. Rourke
was elected moderator. The motion for
the laying of four mill tax was then
offered and Commissioner James I.
Moran of the board of education ex-
plained the need of laying special tax.
He explained that under the new char
ter the fiscal year begins on January 1
instead of on July IA as did the fiscal
year of the school district previous to
the passage of the new charter. The
district tax for last year was laid to
cover the expenses of the district from
July A. 1896, to July IA, 1897. There is
left, therefore, the period from July la,
1897, to January 1, 1898, for which the
district has no money to pay school ex-
penses during that time and conse-
quently special tax is necessary. He
referred to section 107 of the new char
ter, which provides that special dis
trict meeting be held on September %
and said that no money could be bor-
rowed for schools in anticipation of
taxes until after tax was laid.
When Mr.. Moran had finished his ex-
planatory remarks, Anthony Carroll
moved that the resolution be rejected.
He later changed his motion and moved
that the resolution be tabled. A gen
tleman who evidently did not under
stand the motion seconded it, saying
that he seconded Mr.. CAROLS motion
to lay the resolution on the table for
discussion. The motion made by Mr..
Carroll was, however, finally seconded
properly and was carried by vote of
43-23
Mr. Carroll then moved to adjourn,
but his motion was lost by a vote of
37-39. Alexander Troup then took the
floor and asked Mr.. Moran if the new
charter abolished the old school year
for New Haven. Mr.. Moran replied
that 1t did Mr. Troup then said
Where did the district get money to
run the schools of the district from
July IA to September 21. I think this
matter should be referred to the board
of finance. Let them settle it. Where
are the gentlemen who went to Hart
ford so eager for new charter? l fail
to find any of them here tonight.
don't think that they should put the
snarl they have got the city town and
school district into off on someone else
to unravel If, as has been said here
tonight, the powers of the board OF
education to raise money for school ex-
penses expired yesterday, why have
they called this meeting to lay tax:
Let the gentlemen of the city hall who
got the city, town and school district
into this snarl get it out I move that
we refer this whole matter to his honor
the mayor, and the board of finance"
Mr.. Moran-"I don't want the dis.
trict meeting to understand that / am
personally concerned In this matter
did not make the charter
Mr. Troup-"You engineered part Of
it. The Young Mems Republican clut
was there also to help engineer it."
Mr.. Moran-"The school distric
didn't make the charter. Arguments
like that don't answer the question be.
fore us now. I am not here to defend
the charter, Notwithstanding that I was
memDef OIL the committee OIL IlIty
I don't hold myself responsible for the
charter. I did have something to dc
with its drafting, but only in that par
of it which related especially to tn,
schools. So far as the finance provi
sions are concerned and the one pro
viding for the calling of this meetins
know nothing about them. I feel 1
my duty to say to you that this ques
tion Of getting money, for the school.
should be attended to from the stand
point of the schools and not from tht
standpoint of the board of finance. I fee
that I would not do my duty to tn.
public, to the schools and to the chill
dren If did not say to you that the
schools of New Haven cannot be oper
ated legally if this four mill tax is no
laid.
'If any gentleman here can give al
answer to that problem, am ready tc
act with him. The question should bt
discussed from the standpoint of wha1
is necessary for the expenses of the
schools up to December 81. If a gentle
man here can tell where the district o.
New Haven can lawfully get money tt
run the schools, if a tax is not laid here
tonight, I want to hear it and 1 thinl
] may demand it as my right as Gus
- Ip+a L,+