The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-12
THEY ARGUE FOR
APPROPR |AT|ONS
Mr.. Ray Says he Must Have
Money or Send Chill
dren Home.
Mr.. GO0OWlN'S REASONS
THE PER CAPITA COST IN OTHER
STATES IS GIVEN AS
THE BASIS.
Mr.. GO0OWlN'S REASONS
HOW TO WORK THE APPROPRIATIONS
They Should be Considered Together. lhr
Legislature Will Grant no increase X
cept Where il is Shown TO be
Absolutely Necessary.

Absolutely Necessary.
The News and Observers editorial in
yesterdays paper upon the big Increase
in the appropriations for the lnstitn-
ton for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind 1t
Raleigh, and for the Deaf and Dumb
School at Morganton was all the talk Of
the day among legislators and others.
As soon as the House opened. Mr.
Holman introduced a resolution re-
questing the Senate not to pass any an
preparation bill until all could De con-
sidered together. and it passed III
jiffy. Ii he had moved to cut down al
appropriations to the basis of the last
two years, and refuse all extras, 1t
would have passed in five minutes by
the clock.
The stopping of these bills is q sure
sign that all appropriations are, TO be
closely scanned and that not a dollar
is to be appropriated that is not actual
" necessary to provide for the necessi-
ties tho Injuries, mind YOU of the sew
eral institutions.
PROF RAYS VIEWS.
/ asked Prof John e. Ray Cor an
interview about his institution and he
said:
I'VE had an average attendance last
year of about $50 The total enroll
ment was 32S. There are now $40 pre-
sent. We spent the $4,000 appropriat-
ed and we are now in debt $1,000 for
actual running expenses. We have 20
more children now than year ago and
we have been able to add only one addi-
tional teacher. Glasses range from %
to A. though there are some classes
containing only l. to 10. We have APP
plications now for 40 or 80 children
Every pupil ought to have individual in
struction. We have no pupils except
those who are blind or seni-blind. We
have only three or four over twenty
one years of age We need more teach
ers."
rs it your idea / asked, IF you get
an additional appropriation to increase
the salaries of teachers!
THAT viii depend on the Board Of
Trustees. Some ought to be increased.
The salaries at the institution are small
er than in any State in the Union
What is the cost per capita for
pupilsY ] asked.
They cannot be properly taught, fed
and cared for at sum less than $500
per annum. 1t has cost US nearly that
sum during the past year as you will
see if you will include the debt in tn"
total cost. Speaking of the matter, Mr..
Ray said | desire to call your attention.
to an extract from my report as foi-
lows:
In this connection it is interesting
and instructive TO know what similar
institutions in other States receive for
their support. Virginia expended last
year little more than $4,000 per cap
tia for her deaf and blind children, but
large majority of the pupils were deaf;
Alabama appropriates $4,000 per capita
for her blind pupils Texas spends
$4,000 per capita; Kentucky, S247.44:
Colorado, $4,000, and a majority Of the
pupils are deaf; Maryland has $4,000
already, and viii ask the prospective
Legislature to increase this amount;
New York expended S344.11 per capita
for her deaf children last year; and
Pennsylvania gives its school for the
Blind $4,000 per capita. One can very
readily see, then, that the suggestion
made above is very reasonable one.
1.-The condition of our finances for the
past two years has made IL. necessary
to allow the repairs of the buildings TO
go largely und0ne. 1t is therefore ne
cessary for quite extensive repairs 10 be
made. | would think that 1T least ST.
10000 will be needed for this purpose
next summer.
Another matter claims our attention.
The lighting of the two departments
now costs us nearly 100000 per an
num- With the increased number of
buildings to light it is but fair to as
sumo that our lighting expenses will be
very much increased. There is nrovi-
sion for an electric light plant N cur
new heating plants, and | am satisfied
that it would cost us much less to do
orr own lighting, if we had our own
plant. Shall we not establish one. since
it will cost us not more than $4,000!
1.-The erection of the auditorium
leaves the old chapel building to be
torn down, or utilized in some way. |
would suggest that the basement be
filed with clay and tamped, and then
cross walls built so as to support the
old ones, and that modern Ioof be
put upon the building.
This would furnish us much need
ed dining-room down stairs, and music
room up stairs. And the cost Of the
change would be but S2.50000.
THE tin roofs upon the old buildings
at both departments must be renewed.
They have been upon the buildings for
years and have been mended and patch
ed until repairing ceases to be prdcri-
cable. The roof timbers are in many
places rotten. 1t becomes necessary
therefore. to. put on entirely new r0ofs.
And while this is being done, it woud
be wiser TO put on modern roofs with
slate covering, which will last n lifetime.
and protect the walls which are already
much injured by exposure TO the
weather. And while this Improvement
is making, it would be little more ex-