The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-06
MR.. ROCDEBUSH EXPLAINS
Gives His Side of the School Board
Controversy.
Topeka, Kans., Aug. 6. 1908.

Controversy.
Topeka, Kans., Aug. 6. 1908.
To the Editor of the State Journal:
L would respectfully ask for space IN
your paper to answer the article in last
nights Journal headed, Wilson to
Stay in" You refer to me as opposed
to the new High school and many other
things L wish to state few facts, and
the readers may judge for themselves
whether 1 am right or wrong.
1 made a fight against the school
board doing things illegal, and nearly
every vote l have cast against the ma
jority of the school board has been on
that ground. The first thing l fought
was putting up a $1,000 forfeit on the
purchase of the Martin property, as we
had no money in the building
fund and l do not think any law for
buying options
In section 6262 of the general statutes
the law says. land that the sum paid
for teachers wages repairs, incidental
expenses and maintenance in any one
school year shall not exceed the total
estimate and levy made for that purpose
as herein directed. and that the funds
raised as herein provided shall not be
used or appropriated for any other pur-
pose than that certain purpose as herein
provided; and that said school board
shall not create any obligations not pro
vided for as herein directed; nor shall
any bonds of any school district be is
sued or other obligations be given for
the purpose of funding any Indebted
ness growing out of the support or re-
pairs for which the board is herein re-
quired to make provision; and any
member of the school board who shall
be a party to creating any Indebtedness
or the payment of teachers wages, re-
pairs, incidental expenses and the main
tenance for one school year beyond the
amount provided in the annual levy, or
shall issue or cause to be issued bonds
or other obligation of any district for
| the funding of any such indebtedness,
shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor,
and shall upon conviction be punished
| by removal from office, and by fine OF
not less than one hundred dollars nor
more than five hundred dollars, ana
shall be personally liable for damages
| in any action, which it shall be the duty
of the city attorney of such city OF the
first class to prosecute, brought in the
name of such school district, for the
amount of such deficiency of indebted
ness so created, which money when so
collected shall be used to liquidate such
deficiency of Indebtedness; provided
ated in any school board of any
/ city of the first class under the
operation of this section may be filled
until the next election thereafter by APP
pointment by the mayor of such city,
subject to the confirmation of the city
council as other appointments by the
mayor are affirmed"
l insisted upon voting bonds for the
high school site and for the building
I
reporters quoted me as being opposed
to the manual training school, but
after the bonds carried l voted to pay
for the lots, which was then legal.
mittee how much we were in debt. but
could get no satisfaction until 1 went
to the city treasurer about December 1,
1902. At that time the banks were
carrying $4,000 in warrants drawing 6
per cent. interest $4,000 being the
amount overdrawn in the building fund.
l was in favor of submitting the
bonds at the last election in two prop
ositions, one for the high school and
one for the grade schools, so as to get
a fair expression of the wishes of the
people For this / was quoted as fight
ing the manual training school.
l voted against the heating plant in
! Potwin school building because it was
not included in the bonds voted, and
| therefore there was no money to pay
for it, which made it illegal; and more
than that, L claim the price was ex-
orbitant- Mr.. Wilson insisted upon
taking action at once, when other bid
ders were anxious to bid if we would
give them time to get here. The
amount for the heating and plumbing
for this building is $4,975. 1 have in
formation from another town in Kan
sas where the same firm put in their
heating and plumbing outfit in an
first bid was $3.50. which was rejected
as being too high, and after getting
competition they dropped $1,000. So we
are to pay $4,000 more for our heating
plant in an eight-room building. put in
by the same firm.
1 voted for the school site in North
Topeka and for the school site on the
east side and for the contract for the
addition to the Potwin school building
all off which came within the amount of
the bonds voted. 1 voted against let
ting the contract for the east side build
ing, because the amount of the bonds
voted was $12.S00, while the contract
was let for about 81 900 above the
amount of the bonds, and this does not
include any heating. plumbing or fur
nishing or the finishing of the upper
floor. i this same plan is carried out,
it is likely we will pay 100000 for the
new high school building, instead of the
$6S,0O0 bonds voted for that purpose
AS to the election Monday evening. L
would say that there was no fight on
Mr. Mallory personally. but as the ma
jOrity of the new board expressed them
selves as in favor of doing business ac-
cording to the school laws. and Mr..
Wilson, chairman of the building COM
mittee, was Objectionable and Mr.. Nal
lory seemed to favor his reelection. it
was thought best to elect another presi-
dent. Mr. Keith suggested Judge Gar
yer and said he would vote for him
lory be made chairman of the teachers
| committee. which was satisfactory to
those of US who wished a change But,
at the meeting, as Mr.. Keith and Mr.
Nicholson. both of whom had expressed
themselves in favor of Judge Carver,
voted for Mr.. Mallory, and Mr.. Gar
yer did rot vote for himself, we got
licked We had arranged to recommend
chairman of the building committee,
and it was not myself.
am in favor of everything that is for
the advancement of the public schools
of Topeka that can be had witheut vio-