The Saint Paul globe., 1904-03-15
SCHOOL INSPECTORS
TO BUY SUPPLIES
Charter Commission Agrees
With Board Except as to
Free Text Books.

At the conference last evening between
| the educational committee of the charter
commission and the board of school in
| speetors an understanding was reached
| as to several disputed questions.
The educational committee-W. b.
Webster, F. M Catlin, H. C. McNair and
e. G. Ives-agreed to recommend that
the power to purchase school supplies
and fuel should be taken from the city
purchasing committee and given to the
school inspectors. This change, the in
spectors agreed, would save considerable
money.
1t was also agreed that, If legally pos
sible, the charter will follow the state
law of 1901, which permits the school
board to levy a 3mill tax in addition to
the amount fixed by the present charter.
This additional levy has been made here
tofore, but the proposed charter changes
would settle the question of legality.
School Inspectors Holman, Rogers and
Fischer were assisted in the lengthy argu-
ment by Supt Smith. Assistant Super.
intendent Bond and Superintendent of Re-
pairs Gerlach.
Discuss Free Text Books
Practically all the commissioners favor
ed free text books. Supt Smith met the.
arguments advanced. Mr.. Ives started
the question by asking:
what would be the first cost of the
introduction of free text books in the st.
Paul grade schools?v
About $4,000, if the children should
donate their books answered Supt
Smith. 1T would require about $4,000
a year to maintain the SYSTEM
Would you advise the adoption of the.
system? ~, continued Mr.. Ives.
i would not answered the superin-.
tendent. In my opinion, free text books
take the educational system too far from
the homes. 1t fails to teach the children
the necessity Of careful handling of books.
AT present estimate that it costs a
parent an average of 500 for books to
send pupil through the grades, and be-
l1eve it is worth fully that much to the
pupil
If Prof. Smiths figures are correct, ,"
said Mr.. McNair, '.it would cost less to
install Tree text books than the pupils
now pay for school books each year.
But you would have lot of property
that would be yalueless to dispose Of"
answered the professor sa
Probably we would not care to dis
pose of thenn,o was the answer.
The question Of the total cost of the
necessary books, comparing a bulk pur-
chase by the board with that of
the individual purchases by the scholars,
brought out the admission that the board,
could buy more cheapiy Mr.. Ives thought
oioo IAict tiS duOptlOn lTG0 text DOCKS
would result in less frequent changes of
books. eig.ss.-.s~
Aboiishing High Schools.
Would it not be possible for the board
to reduce expenses by abolishing the
Cleveland and the Humboldt high
schools ~ asked Mr.. Catlin.
1T can't be .done," asserted Mr. Nc.
Nair. who was at one time g member Of
the school board.
"H that is to be, done, let me resign
before it is KNOWN said Inspector Hol-
man.
Questions brought out the fact that the
manual training work in the grade schools
and the high schools costs about SIG, 900
a year, including the salaries of the
teachers. - Inspector Holman admitted,
when questioned, that the schools would
be in good condition In few years, II
the inspectors are allowed to raise the
full amount permitted by the law. Addi-
tional funds were not absolutely de-
manded, although many of the school
buildings were out of repair; it would
soon be necessary to replace antiquated
heating systems with steam plants at a
cost Of $125,000; the plumbing, ETC., must
be improved; therefore the schools could
not get on with a smaller revenue than
is now allowed unless the salaries of the
teachers were reduced.
"But gentlemen Mr.. Holman con-
cluded, "give US the power to buy our
own supplies In the open market from
the lowest bidders, and we will save con-
siderable money. l can assure you that
we will not make a contract for lumber
with hardware firm
"Nor buy sewing machines from a print
er," interjected Supt. Smith.