The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-09
SHNE THIS SCHOOL,
Continued. From FIRST Page,

whereas, This meeting Is composed Of
business men and women. and is fair rep
iesentatlon of our substantial citizens gath
eTed Tor considering our school question.
RESOLVED. That we use every legitimate eff
| Tort to cause the adoption OF new city
| charter. that will suitably provide for the
| maintenance ef0np schoals on an economical
Resolved. that We realize Isss' the financial
| dinicuities contributing the school board and
appreciate their efforts to operate the school
! can only carry out the wishes of the people
] py leaving theasystem practically as 1t now
esixts. without consolidating the Humboldt
and Cleveland branch high schools with the
| central high school, continuing the Mechanic
Arts school in 1tts present quarters. shorten
| ing the school Year to nine months, or even
| less, In order 80 make the annual expenses
come within theta as provided by our city
charter.
| Resolved. That the effort to save 50 200
| by the consolidation of these three schools
| is not true economy, when by so doing the
Mechanic ArtsIhigh school, which has cost
the city about $4,000, is practically destroyed
| or at least crippled in its efficiency by
large percentage
| Resolved That in our opinion the Central
| high school building is now practically filed
! WIN pupils, and this number cannot be
increased d. from $780, its present number. to
! about 1,400, and maintain its efficiency in any
reasonable degree. Moving this machinery
1 into the basement of the Central high school
! is useless expense. and on account of the
|
| Mechanic Arts feature from fourishipg or be-
| ing popular with the students.
RESOLVED, That the great prosperity OF the
| Mechanic Arts high school during the past
year is evidence of it's growing popularity
with the people, and indicates that it is
the foundation of ST. Paufs greatest and
most useful school.
Resolved. That committee of five be ap-
| pointed by the chairman of this meeting to
! present these resolutions to the school board
! at the earliest practical opportunity and re-
| 10 cir thnir vote nOD sol Of
ing the Humboldt, the Cleveland and the
| Mechanic Arts high schools with the Central
| high school, and that the respective schools
| continue to operate substantially their
present basis.
Resolved That an additional committee of
| five be appointed by the chairman of this
4 meeting to urge upon the city council the
passage of an ordinance whereby a new
charter may be prepared and voted upon at
| the next municipal election, as provided by
| law.
A motion to adopt the resolutions
was made and seconded by half a
| dozen voices.
E. S. CHITTENDEN OBJECTED.
r. S. Chittenden did not favor the
adoption of the resolution and spoke
as follows:
! Those resolutions name quite a number OF
| different subjects. 1 don't think it would
be right or judicious for this meeting to
pass them in a body. l think it ought to be
| taken section by section. The question of the
! retention of the Mechanic Arts school is one
| subject, and the question OF. the consoEda-
| ton with the Central high school, C-eve-
| land and Humboldt is another subject. Per-
| sonally, in support of this motion, l think
that our school, board could we'll be left to
handle this subject. They undoubtedly will
do what they deem for the best interest Of
| this city. | think it is very unfortunate
indeed that this discussion has arisen and
| become so extensive The less publicity We
have, and the less discussion we have, will
| be better for the city of st. Paul. The
idea has gone forth throughout the state
| that st. Paul is in a bad way and cannot
support its schools, and people are wanting
| to know what is going to become of US.
A great wrong is done the city, which is in
| better condition financially than it has been
| in five years before 1t resul from our char
ter, which has given us this economy, and that
| is another subject which should not be con-
sidered here. l object to these resolutions
| as whole, and move an amendment that
| they be considered section by section.
NJ j. PRENDERGAsT HEARD.
M J. Prendergast seconded the
amendment Of Mr.. Chittenden and
said: rs
We ought to vote on. these things sep
| arately, or we will obtain no result. Follow
| ing Mr. Chittenden's idea, think Mr.. Chair
| man and ladies and gentlemen, that we are
| arrogating to ourselves here a little more
! than our rights. We certainly have a right
| to express cur opinion. of the school board.
| but we have no right to dictate to it how
L
| with the school board may be whether the
interest of The 2O,G90 pupils in the city ought
to be subservient to the few. or the seven
| per cent which attend the high school, or
| the two per cent which attend the Manual
| high school shall have the greater portion
! of the fund and rob from the common schools.
So far as the city Of st; Paul is concerned,
| 1t would be far better fer us if that were
| the choice, to give up all our high schools
| and manual training schools, rather than
have it go forth that, are Obliged to abridge
min he to
| these two schools.
TO GET RID OF DANGER
Samuel L. Sewell took the opposition
| by saying:
1 am almost amused at the selicitude that
has been shown here tonight of the effect this
| agitation will have on the city. If. under
an iron clad charter, we come out and say
| that we have to abridge our school year. every
| person in sympathy with our school sys-
| tenn and the line Of which has been carried
| out will also be in sympathy with the &C
| ton of this meeting and the agitation which
| has later been aroused until get to the
| point of voting on charter which will do
| away with the dangers which now threaten
| great institution.
FAVORS FORCING IT.
James Morrow was strongly in favor
| of forcing the city council to pass the
| ordinance for charter commission.
| He said:
|
education should do. we should do all we
| possibly can to help and assist them in
everything they undertake. They have not
| the money to carry out the work they have
| before them. We should strive by every
! means within our power to help them secure
| the necessary amount. Let us go in force
| to the common council and help to persuade
them to get this charter before the common
| people, It is not for the lack of funds we
are suffering. We all understand and know
| that during the past two or three years a
| of tall had ah0yIt he
trenchment of expenses. The property owners
| all over the state have been complaining that
| the appraisal of the property was too high,
and the assessor, by the direct will Of our
| people here was requested to make a re-as-
| sessment of our property. What want
| to do is to go to our own legislature, the
| common council, our aldermen, and say to
| them that we want them to petition our
! Judges and haveia new charter as soon as
| possible When I'VE get that charter we
| can place the limit to a certain amount
| that cannot be overreaehed, but will be placed
! high enough SO that there will be sufficient
! funds raised to support our schools. Don't
| do anything that will retard the education
| of our children. III would rather see every
| other luxury cut off and even necessities that
| we have in our city, than to see one particle
| of our educational, system done away with.
AMENDMENT WAS LOST.
| On the vote to discuss the resolutions
| section by section as urged by Mr..
| Chittenden the chair announced the
| amendment lost. The chair then read
! the preamble again and it was adopted
| without any dissenting votes. HI. w.
| Phillips asked for information as to
] authority fol. the statement made in
| the first and second preamble. He
| was informed that the resolution
| passed by the school board and the
| statements Of Inspector Scholle, formed
basis for the same.
Mr. Chittenden wanted the matter