The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-05
RHEUMATISM /
SCHOOL BOARD MEETS.
Re-Electsl superintendent Davidson
May Criminally Prosecute J. w.
WiIev


The Topeka board of education met
last evening in regular monthly session.
There was full house, the first time
in many months that all the members
have been present.
S. c. Miller arose and said: ST move
you, Mr.. President, that we elect a sup
erintendent. 1 move that the present
superintendent be reelected. %
The motion was seconded and on sug-
gestion of William F'acferran the unan-
imous vote of the. board was cast for
William NJ. Davidson 1t was then de-
cided that the salary should be kept
the same, which is 81, 250 per year.
superintendent Davidson made his
monthly report to the board. He said
that the enrolment in the city schools
was very large. Concerning this he
said: 1--WE have now over 5000 in the
public schools. / never saw the schools
in better working order than at present.
The work is well up and there seems to
be harmony"
Concerning the Euclid school case in
which the board ordered an investiga-
tfOn of Principal Elizabeth Tharpe's
method of keeping children in who ask
ed to be excused on necessary errands,
Mr. Davidson said: Il think we have
that arranged all right now. 1 called
meeting of the principals and we dis
cussed it. 1 think the obstacle has been
overcome and that only those scholars
who wanted to abuse the privilege of
being excused, will suffer-
One of the teachers at Sumner school
petitioned the board for permission to
use one of the rooms in the Sumner
school building for a four weeks sum-
mer school. When the vote was called
on it Messrs. Macferran and Howe vo-
ted against it. Last year about this
time the board engaged in a spirited
discussion of this question which re-
suited in a majority for letting the
teachers have the use of the school
rooms free of charge for summer school.
But the minority is still extant and it
manifeStS itself OCcaSiOnally,
The city schools will close Thursday
noon of this week and reopen the fol-
lowing Monday. This was ordered by
the board. The reason for this is that
the Northeastern Teachers association
meets in Leavenworth this week, Thurs
day, Friday and Saturday. For those
teachers who wish to leave in the
morning of Thursday and visit the
Leavenworth schools, the board will al
low them to dismiss school Wednesday
afternoon. This dismissal of the schools
for this meeting has been done for sew
eraI years, and the board thought it
well to follow the precedent.
Edward Wilder, chairman of the spec
ial committee on bond issuance, report
ed that he had examined the statistics
furnished by w. j. Stagg and that he
found them very thorough. He intro
duced a resolution allowing the commit
tee the power of arranging for the is
suance of refunding bonds at per cent
for such outlying school districts as had
been taken in entirely by the city, or
that would make a suitable settlement
This was adopted. Mr.. Wilder suggest
ed that it would be a good plan to in
stitute criminal proceedings against J.
w. Wiley who drew from the school
treasury of district No. SO the sum of
81, 900 and has not since given a clear
account of it's disbursement. Mr.. Wild
er said: Sometimes people won't give
up anything when urged. But when
criminal proceedings are instituted it
opens their mouth
City Treasurer Chas. S. Elliott SUBJ
mitted his monthly report to the board,
which is as follows:
Deposits in banks $34, $780,
Fiscal agency .................. .6S