The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-12
SCHOOL BOARD
ORDERS DEBTS
TO Be SETTLED
OVerlOoks the Lack of
Money.
A FINANCIAL H0CUS-P0CUS
CREDITORS MUST RECKON WITH
THE AUDITOR.
The Queer Board Has Allowed Bills
for Fifty Thousand Dollars
While It Is Practically
Bankrupt.
A FINANCIAL HOCUS-POCUS
CREDITORS MUST RECKON WITH
THE AUDITOR.

The Board of Education, at an ad-
journed meeting held last night, decided
to pay its debts.
The conclusion was not reached, how
ever, without much discussion and many
misgivings. Some of the members of the
board thought that the procedure was I'M
wise, inasmuch as the aforesaid debts
were but dimly outlined in the report of
the finance committee and were therefore
imperfectly understood. Director Head
made the most pronounced kick:
81 understand" said he, that there is
possibility that the bondsmen of the
members of this board will be held re-
sponsible for the extravagances which
have marked the last two years The
Grand Jury is Investigating the bills of
the Board of Education and it is unwise
at this time. to act upon the accounts.
In the past, members of the School Board
have acted as though they were ac-
countable to no one for their official acts.
They have carried things with a high
hand. Bills have been held back for many
months, of which the board knew moth
ing. Here tonight the finance commit
giving list of hundreds of debts which
II is alleged that the Board of Education
Is responsible for. 1 don't know when
these debts were contracted, whether the
supplies We're purchased this year or last
year There is magnificent tumble OF
big bills and little, bills; L ven
NNAS NtAN eNSsSA t'oAA liidI llCNCL
was before in the history OF
San Francisco such a remarkable finan-
cial report handed in to any public board
We are asked to vote to pass a thou.
sand bills at once of which we know
absolutely nothing. I have heard that
some of the accounts represented in tho
list were, indeed, contracted last year and
the courts have held repeatedly that the
bills of one year shall not be paid out
Of the appropriation for another year
While l was member of the supply
committee of this board I never had a
word to say about the supplies purchased
The chairman ignored the other members
of the committee 1t has become a habit
for the chairpen of the supply commit
tee and the buildings and grounds com
mittee to buy thousands of dollars
worth of material without consulting the
board at ali. The system is wrong and
| shall vote against the resolution TO pay
all of this mass Of bills in a bunch"
President harrington stated that the
City and County Auditor would refuse &c
pay any more bills than the law permits
under the onetwelfth act. DR.. Raglan in
sisted that the bills should all be paid.
The money was due the merchants OF
this city. Carew held the same view.
When the final vote was taken on the
board. aggregating $40, 653, there were four
votes against the measure, viz, those of
President harrington, Head, Hammond
and Derham II was declared carried,
however, by seven votes.
Included in the list of debts presented
TO the board last night were items for
school furniture aggregating over $1,000
and another item of 81 $50 for a school
lot in Noe Valley district. 1t is under
stood that there will be a shortage of
$50 900 to $4,000 in the funds available Tor
paying these bills.
Miss E. Crookham was transferred from
the Monroe Primary 10 a class In Han.
cock School. A new class was formed In
the Fremont School. Miss n. Gambitz
was transferred from Webster Primary to
Fremont School. Miss Roberts of the I'M
assigned class was given class In john
SWEET Grammar School.