The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-12-31
Lively Committee Meeting, at
Which Sharp Things Were Said
FINANCES WERE DISCUSSED
Subject Of School CummlssIan Also Re-
esIYsd Attention as Did Resolution
ConsernIhg Child Labor In The State

Al the meeting OF the scnOoi DOdrd lHFl
evening the hard feeling between that
body and the common council occasioned
by the attitude OF the latter towards GER
tain unpaid bills of the former was ma
terially Increased.
About s2s. 900 in unpaid school bills was
held up by the city auditor some little
time ago and In tho subsequent cen
troversy the council exploited some un-
pleasant opinions as to the conduct OF
affairs on the school committee
Last evening the committeeman. notably
John w. Hogan OF the Third ward, in
dulged in similar repartee relative to the
conduct OF the council
This expression OF strained rela tions
WAS displayed on the reading OF the hnan-
cial report OF the executive committee.
A So. 900 deficit stares the committee in its
face at the end OF the fiscal year unless
the council comes TO aid 1t with a sSsOo0
appropriation. The report was received
with deep interest.
A second important communication was
one bearing upon the school commission
question. The executive committee last
evening presented "A resolution favoring
the appointment OF school commission
by the people instead OF by the city
council, the latter plan being generally
sustained.
THE MEETING
The meeting was called To order az $40.
the usual preliminary business being
transacted by Secretary Rose.
For the committee on accounts. ". G.
H. Grant reported 7s bills. amounting 10
ssSsS rs. as duly audited. or these bills
AT least $40 worth we're from old accounts
The bills were ordered paid.
President Rueckert then presented TO
the committee long report from the
executive committee on the financial
standing OF the school department. Tho
most salient feature OF the report were
as follows:
THE executive committee deems II
necessary at this time 10 present to YOU
u statement OF the financial condition OF
the school department, and to call your
attention 10 the needs and requirements
OF the public schools for the remainder
OF the present school year. The amount
a ppropristed from the tax levy was $685.
900: thus far expended s3Oe 22s p: balance
Of appropriation on hand, 1855. .773. 70:
estimate or receipts that will yet come TO
the school department from the state. poll
taxes. dog licenses. etc. sTs on, thus max
ing a total 10 our credit of t4es.T .TTS7a
After tho adoption OF number OF
economies suggested by the superinten-
dent and recommended by the executive
We shall require for the
salaries OF teachers from this time until
July ], 1905. and for the salaries of the
of schools the secretary,
the truant officer, tho purchasing agent.
tho superintendent Of school property,
clerks. janitors. labor pay rolls and oven
ing schools 1891 .2yO as. for books supplies
and miscellaneous expenses s7t.bq3 thus
making our needed expenditures sis2-
ss3 9s.
A LARGE DEFICIT.
This will leave deficiency Of sss. .oeois
This does not take into account the
salaries OF teachers for tho month of
September. 1903. nor tho bills for supplies
and repairs incurred after July |, 1905.
which are all large items In amount and
are left 10 he paid as heretofore. out OF
the appropriation for the next year.
Without some reduction I'm the expen-
dturcs and n sacrificing OF some things
that would be desirable the total deficit
or Oct. I. 1905. would approximate $4,000"
Here was noted the fact that by propos-
cd savings I'm the expenditures the school
department plans to bring the deficit at
the close OF the year To the sum al
ready estimated OF tss. .Oeo1a
Then follows resume OF tho depart
ntnt y WORK 10 dltnlnlSn expenses. COnfin-
Ling the report noted:
The school committee offered TO make
the expenses OF the schools meet the ap-
OF the city council by a suf-
ncisnt reduction In the rate OF salaries
paid teachers. without shortening the
school year. III the city council would re-
quest them TO do so. That request has
never yet been made by the city council.
Under the present circumstances with
"a ssA H.. II. H.. ~
close Of the school year. and when it is
clear that both the public and the city |
council desire and expect that the schools !
will he kept open during the entire school |
period. all that the school committee can |
40 Is 20 point out the prospect % the
to the city council and 10 ask /
that body 10 make a sufficient further ap-
for the purpose OF carrying on !
the school work. We. therefore. recon- /
mend the passage OF the accompanying |
resolution:
Resolved. That the committee on rela- |
tions 10 the city council be. and ~ IL here /
by directed 70 transmit a copy OF the re-
rort accompanying this resolution 10 the I
,ity council. and 20 request that body TO /
make an additional appropriation of sSs
20 10 for the support ~ the public schools |
Tor the fiscal year ending Sept 70. 1875
RESOLUTION ENDORSED.
on the completion ~ the reading of the
iocument. John w Hogan rose and dellv.
red n bitter TRADE against the council.
heartily endorsing the resolution or tho
Executive committee. The resolution was
passed
\ second lengthy communication was
hen read 20 tho committee. bearing upon
he school commission question. Its most
pregnant passages were the following:
The present financial condition OF
he school department seems TO be pri-
larily due 10 the contentious between
he city council and the school commit
Pc. Until 1895 the council appointed tho
,nitors engineers and other workmen
IN the schools The school
ommittee DESTROYS ~ having this power.
pplicd 10 the general sssemhy for in
reased authority. An act was ia ssed
CT 2. 1926 placing in the hands ~ the
.hoo committee larger patronage and
lore political power. such as arises from
,c appointment ~ isnitors. engineers
'c. which has produced friction between I
~ two bodies Naturally the city