The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-05-13
MONEY ASKED
FOR SCHOOLS.
Petition Made In Behalf Of
Summer Fairgrounds.
COMMON COUNCIL WILL ACT.
Opinion Held by ManJ Members That City
Cannot Afford 10 Give Mensy
for The Purpose

One or the important matters to come
before the common council this evening
will be the petition OF the school commit
tee asking for an appropriation OF $1,000
for establishing and maintaining vaca-
ton schools and Fairgrounds during the
summer of 1901.
That the petition will be granted is not
generally surmised, not. however. on the
ground or any objection to vacation
schools and Fairgrounds, but because
there is no money available for such a
purpose.
To tho argument that money can be
saved from some other appropriation. the
answer is made that any money that can
be saved should 20 to the fund for con-
tingencies. as IL rs all needed.
AT the last meeting OF the common
council, on Monday. April %, this same
petition came up, and motion was made
asking for it's indefinite postponement.At
the request OF Councilman Sisson, how
ever, the petition was laid on the table
until this evening.
Councilman Sisson. who is the chair
man OF the committee on harbor. has
since the time the petition was laid on
the table. been doing some careful figur-
ing. and he is OF the opinion that he can
secure the greater part OF the amount
asked for from the harbor appropriation,
and still carry out all needed work.
MAY MEET OPPOSITION.
Just how the common council will look
upon this proposition is, of course. some
thing that cannot be stated definitely,
but according 10 the statements OF sew
eral members of the city government,
made this morning. IL will not receive
enough sanction TO put II through
None of these gentlemen, however, have
the least word TO say against vacation
schools and Fairgrounds, and, in fact
most of them say that they consider
them good things. They cannot, however,
from a business standpoint. see the nd
visibility OF taking money from the har-
bor or any other appropriation, for the
purpose.
Some, indeed. 20 as far as .Is say TINT
there is no need for such petition,
claiming that the school committee has
sufficient money at fits command to en-
able the vacation school and Fairgrounds
to be opened. and increase their number
by some assistance from persons inter-
ested in the plan.
The main argument against the petition
Is, according TO these members OF the
city government, that any money that
may be left over from appropriations al
ready made should be used for contin-
gencies. particularly as there are al
ways ungent and in fact, necessary
calls for money during the year
GOOD WORK ACCOMPLISHED.
Last summer there was one vacation
school in operation, and t.iis was located
i'm the Charles street school house, and
this gave accommodation for the chill
dren from the North End, including Ran
dali square.
There were two Fairgrounds. one at the
Atwells avenue primary schoolhouse,
and the other at the Willard avenue pri-
mary school house, and thus the south
ern and western parts OF tho city were
cared for.
The results attained were very salts
factory indeed, SO good indeed. that now
it is desired TO increase the efficiency of
the work and hence the petition TO the
city council on the part of the school
committee.
This school and the two Fairgrounds
have always been maintained by private
subscriptions, and last summer The
school committee was asked for the first
time 20 take them under its supervision,
and this was done.
The entire expense last year was s1526 a
and this was divided as follows: Charles
street vacation school SlOS46S: Atwell's
avenue playground Ss5S.55; willard ave-
nue. playground, $lSS.o6.
WANT ADDITIONAL SCHOOLS.
The school committee now desires to
have two vacation schools instead of one,
and while the plan has not been definite
ly decided upon. the additional would be.
n money can be procured, established
either in the Atwclls avenue school
house on i'm the Oneyvile district
If the school should 20 % Atwolls avo-
nue. the playground feature there wolid
be given up. and a playground would be
established i'm tho annexed district, and
n the school goes 10 Olneyville the pay
ground will remain at Atwells avenue.
IL IS generally conceded that these va
cation schools aud Fairgrounds are
great boon for the parents Of the poorer
children, for the little ones are kept pff
the street and are carefully looked after.
AS stated above. the only trouble Is
that the city has no money TO eXpend for
such purpose. although IL is good one.
and cannot very well soc It's way 10 use
any money that should be kept over.