The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-25
OVER 1900 NEW PUPILS
MIR. G0SS EXPLAINS NEED OF S115, 900
TO CARRY OUT COMPULSORY LAW.
Erection of Additional buildings
Contemplated in the Mensure-Reg-
uIar Tax Rate Too Low.

David K. Goss, superintendent of schools
of this city. was the author of the COM
pulsOry education law, for the purpose Of
carrying out which the School Board finance
committee has asked the board to appropri-
ate $4,000. He was asked yesterday to tell
how the authorities would enforce the law.
1T will take soma time" said he, ito get
our machinery perfected that is, the par
entail home for caring for incorrigibles
and chronic truants. We have one truant
officer for the city. 1t VIA be his business
to get after the boys under twelve years
who are on the streets or in the stores and
factories and see that they go to school.
In this work shall have the advantage
Of the knowledge of the charity organiza-
tions.'
How many more pupils do you estimate
that it will bring into the schools?" was
asked
1T is the purest guess work, but a. low
estimate would make it 1900
And how much will it take to furnish
free books and clothing to these?"
1T will not take anything from the city.
That is a county expense under the law.
The salary. of the truant officer is also
county expense"
"Then why this estimated expense Of
$115, OO0?'
with 1900 more pupils coming in and
the schools already crowded, it will require
at least two new buildings. We have just
completed a new building at a cost of 1884,,
600, with S. 900 more for the ground. Double
that and then allow $1,000 for the additional
teachers and a reasonablc amount for a
parental home and you wa have the esti-
mate consumed"
You intend to use the money for new
buildings, then?
Certainly. Why not? 1 drew the bill,
and there is no doubt of the power of the
board under it to use the money for new
the construction of new buildings is in line
with it's provisions. No, l have not con-
suited legal authority upon the subject"
The section of the law authorizing the
levy of 10 cents is a follows: For the pur-
pose of defraying the increased expenditure
necessary for the carrying out of the pur-
poses of this act, trustees of school town
ships, boards of school trustees or commits
sioners of cities and towns and boards of
schools commissioners are hereby empow-
cred to levy, in addition to any and all
sums heretofore provided by law, any
amount of special school revenue not ex-
ceding 10 cents on the hundred dollars of
taxable property; such taxes TO be levied
and collected as all other special school
revenue"
the levy permitted by the city charter.
which limits the amount for school pur-
with cents additional for the Manual
Training School, was sufficient to run the
schools of the city.
THE Indianapolis schools have never
collected money enough to run them prop
erly," said he. after all is said and done
this is the cause of the heavy debt the
board is now carrying. Other cities can
levy total of 50 cents, while this city can
levy % cents for the ordinary school pur-
poses 5 cents for the Manual Training
School and cents for library purposes.
Last winter / took sixty representative
cities in the State and in them the levy
ran from "a cents at Greencastle to IS cents
at Monticello, the average being 5712, or
more than double that OF Indianapolis So
have the same story of accommodations of
debt. We are simply in the position of the
man who finds his daily expenses half again
as large as his daily income.