The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-06
TWO IN ONE.
School Propositions in Topeka
Won't Be Divided.
New High School and Ward
Schools or Nothing.
THE BOARD DISAGREES
Apparently a Wide Diversity Of
Opinion on Situation.
DR.. Embree Says City Can't
Sustain What It Has.

The board of education met last night.
1t was not a quiet session. The trouble
only amounted TO a tempest in a teapot
but even that was too much of a jar
on the sedate nerves of the members
and too much OF a travesty on the usual
peaceful tenure of board meetings so the
session adjourned rather early before
there could be any blood shed.
The dispute was over the bond propo-
sition for new school buildings. The
discussion was regarding the manner in
Which the bond proposition should be
submitted The majority favored sub
hitting the proposition In a lump sum
for S131 500 and other members favored
cutting it up and allowing the voters to
ballot on each separate school buildine
In the list.
At a previous meeting the board de-
cided TO submit the proposition for an
/ additional high school building, two
grade school buildings in the First ward,
one grade building in the Second ward
and an addition to the POtwin school
and to have the high school and grade
school propositions separate.
At last nights meeting w. H Wilson
started the trouble by a motion to re-
consider the former action of the board.
After some Squabbling the motion car
rieds by vote of seven to three. The
members voting to reconsider We're
Priddy, Wilson, Wilder, Bonebrake,
Rodgers, Keith and Mallory. Thoss
voting not to reconsider were Ezmbree,
Barber and Roudebush.
Wilson then offered a resolution to
the effect that a proposition be submit
ed to the people asking for bonds to the
amount of S131 800 for new school build
/ ings. This started the trouble. There
was some opposition by those who
thought that the people should have q
chance to vote on the high school and
the ward school separately.
Such a proposition would introduce
sectional feeling" said MI Wilder.
We had better have it a city matter,
not q ward matter"
We are not debating to the people
what they shall have said E. E.
ROudebush.
We are the persons who know what
is needed, said A. A. Rodgers.
DR.. A. S. Enbree said: L believe
the uniting Of the two propositions un-
fair 1t gives the people no choice.
/ Citizens should not vote by cOmpul-
/ sion. I can not see how we can main
! tain another high school I'll not vote
/ for it. Our present high school cost
( US SIS, SO last month, not counting
/ the salary of the principal. lou pro
/ pose an increase while we are now un-
bic to maintain our present schools
We can not cut the teachers salaries
I Teachers are paid more, east and west
than in Topeka. We have a deficit
/ now. Let the people have a chance t.
/ show their opinions"
Il believe in progress said Mr.
! Wilder. 1T is suicide for the city tC
say we have reached the limit. I doubt
if the voters are in as good a position
1 to decide what schools we need as the
! members of the board. do not be
/ ieVe in trespassing on providence but
/ I believe in the saying that providence
sometimes helps those who help them
selves.
When we had 80 teachers we were
\ confronted with the same conditions
as now" said AIr. Wilson. Our teach
Ing force is now 40 and we have beer
able to meet the expense.
z. L. Roudebush opposed the resolu-
ton. In his remarks he said. Il an
not fighting the new high school"
You have opposed it from the
start" said Rodgers.
Mr.. ROudebuSh then attempted tt
explain his position in opposition tt
the high school. The resolution was
adopted by the same vote as the mo-
ton TO reconsider.
When the board was called to order
there We're but four members present
Priddy, Rodgers. Wilder and Mallory
/ Small matters like a minority instead
/ of a quorum make no difference tC
/ the board and the meeting began
4 Later. one by one, the members from
the rural districts drifted in.
DR.. S. S. E1mbree, chairman of the
/ teachers committee, moved that the
old schedule for the payment of prin-
]
be put into force and the four mem
/ bers, including three reporters and the
4 clerk managed to vote it through This
means that a few principals who were
allowed an increased salary on account
of the crowded condition of theiI
school buildings by the use of base
ment rooms viii be returned to the
former salary according to the adopted
: schedule.
Would this be legal with only four
members PRESENT." asked Priddy from
/ North Topeka.
The member from the North side had
no business asking such pointed ques-
tons. and he was sat down upon
Then began the usual farce of the re-
! port of the finance committee. P L
Bonebrake, the chairman. began reading
the bills as usual AS fast as he read
one bill he went to the next. sonethine
after this manner: "Mr Kempton sac
for work" (no one knew what kind OF
work.; II. Y. Dodge, approved by Mr.
( Stewart" (The amount was not giver
and what the bill was for was a nlys-
/ tery) The reading continued with the
board holding clandestine conversation
and no one knowing or caring what the
/ bills were for.
Just for an innovation Mr.. Bonebra Ike
asked what the schools wanted of q
scheme to unearth a plot had been dis
/ covered until he found that gasoline is
used to run the engine in the heating
and yentilatlng plant at Sumner school
Then Priddy and Wilson had a
/ squabble over oil Whether it was hair,
/ floor or lubricating oil was not known.
Then Edward Wilder announced that
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