The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-03

poses. The Legislature of 1891 increased
this limit 10 % cents, but sttll the amount
received is inadequate. If we could stop
the citys growth and the consequent ne
cessity for new buildings, the present rev.
enueS are ample, because our records snow
that during the past five years we have
expended for buildings and grounds mot
including. the Manual Training School or
Public Library about $3.50, coo. while in the
same time our floating Indebtedness has
only increased about $4,000. In other
words, our increased indebtedness lg5 On during
the past five years and Sl2o,0OO from our
income has been expended Tor puildlngS
and grounds made necessary by increase
Mr.. Scott then gave figures showing the
average cost of educating pupils per
capita in Washington, Albany. Omaha, De-
cities of the country of about the same
size as indianapolis is $3.50, against $ZS.94
in Indianapolis. Providence, X. l. win
smaller school attendance mas revenue
almost double the per capita cost being
$56.A. Only two cities, Albany and Roch-
6oth places a. fb sn9 Schools 4 rank low anu
This year it will be Impossible to erect
any buildings. though seyerai are sadly
needed through lack of FUNDS our an
nual increase in school enrolment Tor the
last five years has averaged ol2, requiring
sixteen additional schooiroOInS each year,
or equal to two eight-room DuIuHlgs, cost
ing about $50 COO and it is reasonable to
expect about a similar increase Ior the
next five years. >.
would either be necessary to borrow Sos9OO
or 500 coo a year or get permission 10 make
scent levy Mr. sSott si1q ne course l as
he was averse to increasing the indebted
ness and believes means should De adoPteo
to wipe out that now existing.
WILL COST A BIG SUM.
''In these statements and estimates" he
said. mo account has been taken of the
increased expenditure made necessary by
the enactment of the compulsory education
law, but as the bill provides for levy not
exceeding 10 cents on the 800, ] have as
sumed that this matter could take care Of
itself though should the enrolment of
pupils be increased 3,000 as is estimated,
the cost of the necessary grounds and
buildings to accommodate them would be
over 5000 0O0 while the expense of operat-
ing the new school buildings would approx
innate $4,000 per annum ,.,,,,.
THE schools of any city are largely what
the public demands Should 1t become EVIL
dent that the people of lndlanaponS are
not disposed to incur any additional eX-
pense and desire the Curriculum narrowed
and the salaries of our already lnsuncleht-
" paid teachers reduced so as TO NJ Our
present income it can be done; put II , tney
desire that the Hoosier capital shall keep
abreast of it's sister cities ana maintain the
high reputation it now enjoys III S eu9ca1
tional circles, some way must pe ueNISeo
to furnish the means. 80,
"Our public schools now do a great Geal
to advertise the city. Hundreus ol la df me-
educational facilities, thereby addlng po I
to our population and wealth. peleNe tIe
people of Indianapolis are Willlhg 70 Pay a q
Slightly Increased tax rate if satisfied tnat
the money will be honestly ana wisely eX-
pended and it is their right ana uuly "
see that il is Elect men in whom you nave
confidence for school commissioners, s I've
them your hearty support ana e IcouI 81 81
ment, and with united emory lhula hut
will. as heretofore, keep in the van puC
hear in mind that we must advance OF We
will inevitably retrograde With you the
matter rests. -,4;o,, of tho
conditions existing and what the comnlu l
ty may expect to encounter II .le nv l'[ or
is enforced and the educatlolIal ~ 1,it6
the CITY goes forward was received with
hearty applause.
OTHER SHORT TALKS.
Short talks were given by Misses Ne
braska Cropsey and Sarah Mcfarland, both
of whom have long been identified with the
public schools of Indianapolis.
David K. Goss superintendent of schools
contrasted the low school levy In lndlan-
apolis with that of sixty other towns ana
cities of the State, running from "a cents on
the 500 in Greencastle to So cents in Month
cello New Castle and Peru, the average Tor
the cities outside of Indianapolis being
s.5753 on the $780, more than double that OF
this city. He said that people OF other
cities were wont to wonder in years gone
bv how Indianapolis could erect school
buildings pay higher salaries and MAINTAIN
the schools ten months in the year on
20 or % cent levy. II was explained by the
figures presented by President Scott snow
ing that debt of $3.50 900 has been created.
He said that there was one reason why the
levy in a large city might be smaller thal
in small towns, the factor being that the
ner caDita of wealth is greater, but there
is nothing to justify condition Where tne
lew IS only Is or 20 cents as against 90
cents in small towns. ,.,a
He predicted that the compulsory educa-
tion law would not eradicate all the eVls
existing as the offspring OF IGNORANCE put
afforts Of educators He said that there
was a grave problem to face when the waits
and ga mins who have been unmanaSeaDle
are forced into the schools by the new Jaw
and it must be faced. Heretofore Wheh Iney
were encountered teachers have expelled
thpno This can no longer be done They
must have the advantages given tneIH ny
tho new law The school commissioners
cannot build the truancy school Tor I'M
proving the waits and making them tract
able so that they may be received INTO the
other schools at present, and teachers ana
nnbIic alike must prepare to have them
come into the existing schoolS. .,4
The discussion was closed by president
Day. He held it to be the PLAIN quty OF
the citizens of Indianapolis 10 see dndI tue
law is enforced Thoroughly ana eulcl ey
and ia see that all children are cared Tor.
s.5rbe taxpaver must put his hand deeper
into his pocket if we enforce TINS laW;
said he Il would prefer that what niue
I nav toward the taxes of the state should
be expended in making eoou ctlzens t Iit!I
in buying bloodhounds TO put III operdllo,ll
the criminal law or in buying hangman