The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-02
School Committee Makes a Fresh
Start in Its Endeavor to Get an
Appropriation for New Text
Books
MAYORS VETO TABLED
AND NEW ORDER ADOPTED
City Solicitor Riggs Opinion on
the Veto Received and Read to
the Committee-Superinten-
dent Reports on the Number of
Pupils in High Schools

The matter of purchasing text books
in arithmetic for use in the public
schools goes back to it's initial stage.
At the October meeting of the school
meeting last night the mayors veto
of the order to purchase arithmetics
was laid on the table and an order
was adopted, on motion of DR.. Duggan
THAT the Mayor and City Council be
asked for an additional appropriation
not to exceed $4,000, to be used for the
purchase of text books in arithmetic
| Several members of the committee
took occasion to state that they be-
lieved Mayor O'Connell took the proper
stand in vetoing the order, when he
found that there was not sufficient
money in the appropriation. The City
| Council was never asked for a special
appropriation to purchase arithmetics
although there was not sufficient
money in the treasury. The committee
was practically unanimous in the
opinion that a request for money to
purchase the books would be in better
| form than to attempt to override the
veto. DR.. John T. McGillicuddy was
the only member present who voted
( against the order.
The opinion of City Solicitor Arthur
| P. Rugg sets forth pretty clearly the
province of the mayor in connection
| with all matters pertaining to admin
! 1strative and financial matters of city
! business. The fact that the Legisla-
ture which framed statute law rela-
tive to the power of school boards, also
| framed the city charter and that sec
lions of the latter are all in the nature
Of notifications of the powers and
duties of school committees under ex-
| lstlng laws, was another matter
brought out with considerable dis
| tinctneSs.
Members of the board inclined to the
opinion that the opinion clashed in
certain details, and Mr.. Ekstrom
raised the point that the opinion
| seemed to imply that the veto power
as related to the school committee was
not the same as exercised over the
City Council
The recommendation Of the commit
tee on high schools that Mrs. Helen
D. Burgess be employed as a sub
! Stttute instructor in drawing three
days each week for two months from
Sept. 5, and that her salary be at the
rate of $500 per year, gave rise to a
lot of discussion. 1t was claimed by
DIR. Duggan and others that the I'M
written law of the committee against
employing married women as teachers
should not be transgressed. DR.. Hodge,
for the committee on drawing and
manual training, said that it had been
impossible to secure an experienced
teacher, and that Mrs. Burgess had
been employed temporarily. She has
been at work since Sept. 5.
Dr. Duggan and others thought they
could find teacher. After consider
able discussion, DR.. Duggan moved
that the recommendation be laid on
the table, and the motion was carried
II to T. At the close of the meeting
Mr.. Ekstrom moved that the matter
be taken up and amended so as to
provide for the employment of Mrs
Burgess four days each week for two
months from Sept 5, on condition that
the committee on drawing and manual
training must find another teacher
within the time specified The motion
was carried.
When the matter of passing on the
mayors veto was taken up, questions
were asked as to the condition of the
appropriation for books and supplies.
Clerk Beals replied that there was
$9399. 10 in the account Sept. l, but pur-
chases since that time have practical
ly exhausted the account
Mr. Beals then read the following
opinion of the city solicitor relative to
rights of the committee in spending
| money
To the School Committee of the City
| VI WOCTeSleT,
Worcester, Mass.
Gentlemen:
You have requested the opinion Of
the City Solicitor upon two questions
First; Has the School Committee by
any officer or subcommittee the right
to make a contract which shall bind
the city for the purchase of books OIL
supplies or for any other purpose, wher
no sum has been appropriated for suct
purchase or for such purpose, or wheT
the sum or sums appropriated by the
City Council for the purpose of sup
plies has been exhausted by appropria.
ton by the School Committee?" Sec.
ond, What are the respective right.
and limitations of the School Commit
tee with reference to the expenditure
of money not specifically appropriated
by the City Council for school pur-
poses"
The determination of the authority
of the school committee rests primarily
upon the provisions of the City Char
ter, which create the school committee
These are contained in several of the
sections.
Section of the Charter provides
| 'The general management and control