The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-29
Commissioners TayIor's Amendment to
the Rules VIII Probably BE Adopt
ed by the School Board.
ANNUAL BUDGET CONSIDERED
EXPENSES OF THE SCHOOLS HAVE
INCREASED LARGELY.
Board Cannot Enter Into Agreement
with N Union-Part of Bond Issue
Canceled-Other News.

Three hundred and twenty indianapolis
school teachers will receive higher salaries
the coming year than have ever been paid
in this city for work in the grades below
the sixth grade. An amendment to the
rules of the Board of School Commission
ers was introduced last night at the reg
ular meeting of the board by w. N. Taylor
calling for the maximum salaries of teach
ers i'm the grades below the sixth to be
increased from 1915 to $780, There is little
doubt that the amendment will be adopted
at the next meeting, members of the board
said last night
The increase will affect go of the teach
ers in the first, second, third, fourth and
fifth grades, whose salaries have never be-
fore exceeded $575, however proficient they
have become. 1t is estimated that the $50
increase will increase the annual pay roll
about $1,000.
The board has also increased the salaries
of all teachers of departmental work in the
sixth, seventh and eighth grades from $500
and S625 to $3.50 a year. The scale has been
$780, sos and $3.50 This increase will not
affect many teachers.
THE board is able to increase the sala-
ries of the teachers in the first, second,
third. fourth and fifth grades at this time
because we had a cash balance of si2S,OO0
this year. said Charles w. Moores. For
some time we have wanted to make this in
crease, but the boards financial condition
up to this time has not permitted it to
be DONE
THE BOARDS BUDGET.
The budget for the entire maintenance of
the schools for the coming year adopted
last night. The expenses of the schools
this year will amount to $1.126,0S2, or $271, 4S1
more than last year. The 1902 budget
amounted to $S54,6O1 The expenses of the
Indianapolis schools are becoming greater
every year and in 1903 O4 there will be 100
more pupils than in 19O2-O3
The question how to raise money for
eight new buildings under construction and
to be built during the next eighteen months,
which will cost, ii Is estimated, SO5,OO, was
taken up by the school commissioners last
night, but not decided. Under special act
of the last Legislature the school board
has the authority to borrow $4,000 and to
increase the school tax levy CENTS on the
800. The questions discussed were whether
the board should borrow $4,000 and not in
crease the tax levy, or increase the tax levy
and not borrow $450, 900, or whether il would
not be best to both borrow $4,000 and in
crease the tax levy. The matter will have
TO be determined upon within the next
month The school tax levy is hfty-one
the board is authorized to make would in
crease the school tax levy to fifty-seven
cents. If the tax is increasedsit will be put
on the tax duplicate next spring.
NO AGREEMENT WITH UNION.
If the school commissioners enter into
an agreement with firemens union in re-
gard to wages and hours they will violate
their oaths of office. according to opin-
ion Of Albert Baker, attorney for the
School Board. Firemens Union, No. 70,
recently asked the school commissioners to
sign a contract with it by which all the
firemen employed by the board are to work
on an eight hour-day schedule and to re-
ceve % cents an hour. The board referred
the matter to Attorney Baker and he rem
dered an opinion on the matter yesterday.
The opinion was received by the board last
night. The opinion is, in part, follows:
Il have no doubt that your board cannot
legally make such contract as this, and
am of opinion that such a performance on
your part could be entoined- The board
has no power to delegate, this paper
proposes to delegate, matters by law de-
volving upon the board for decision, or to
some one else or to some other body. /
have no doubt that the board could not,
in the absence of a statement, make, as
this paper attempts TO make, membership
in union necessary qualification for APP
pointment in the service of the board. You
as officers of the board on assuming office
which reads that he will not be influenced
during his term of office by a consideration
of politics or religion anything except
that of merit and fitness in the appointment
of officers and in the engagement of en-
ployes.' This oath would be violated if
your board should prefer the obligation un-
dertaken by signing the contract rendered
by this union"
BILLS ALLOWED.
Bills for furnishing and apparatus
amounting to $l3,54 were allowed. The
board will at once advertise for the pur-
chase of forty-five teachers tables, forty
five teachers desks, 100 teachers chairs,
1900 folding chairs, 400 dozen ink wells,
ESQ stationary desks and 200 adjustable
desks. The board will advertise for bids
for the construction of a foundation for
the addition to the Shortridge High School.
The foundation will cost in the neighbour
hood of $1,000, ii is thought.
Ray r. Knox, secretary of the Gordon
Anti-Cigarette and Tobacco Club. was
given the privilege to use the school yard
at School No. Is, Maryland and New Jer-
sey streets. to make money with which
to save the boys from the awful cigarette