The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1906-12-14

of the board with reference to supple.
Honolulu, Hawaii, Dec. 10. 1906.
To the Superintendent, Department OF
Public Instruction.
Sir: / beg to acknowledge your re-
quest of todays accompanying letter
of Mr.. L. Severance of date December
6, in which Mr.. Severance criticizes my
action in that, as purchasing agent OF
the department and in charge of school
supplies, / have in one instance fur
nlshed for Kaumana school two brooms
and some garden implements out or
general stock instead of buying these
at a local store, and that l have pur-
chased for the same school wheelbar-
row at the price of $225 (. o. b. Homo
lulu.
AS Mr., Severance's antagonistic at
titude is one of long standing, this
criticism will best appear in proper
setting IL quote some passages from
a very. extensive correspondence had
with Mr.. Severance on the subject.
Circular Letter of September rs, 1905.
(Copy.)
10 All OcnOOl A6cheo, AiiHS'P~'o ~
Schools, Teachers and Pupils:
The Department of Public Instruc-
ton finds itself in the position of hav-
ing to equip and supply larger num-
Der of schools than at any previous
period, while at the same time the APP
propriations of money for these pur-
poses are smaller than heretofore.
Particularly the appropriation for IN
dustrial and manual training for the
current biennial period Is exactly hair
the appropriation under that head for
the biennial period ended June 80, 1905.
and the appropriation for stationery
and incidentals is less than half that
for the previous biennial period. The
department believes that considera-
ton of these facts should make II
apparent to all persons having the
furnishing, the care, or the use OF
school supplies that it is urgently nee
essary that The strictest economy be
practised N the distribution and use of
supplies if the schools are not to suffer
detriment from the necessary cutting
off of some kinds of supplies.
1t is requested that principals of
schools will avoid, as far as practi-
cable. frequent acquisitions, as shipping
in small quantities entails increased
cost for packing, carriage and freight.
And they should see to it that no habits
of waste are acquired either by teach
ers or pupils. In making requisition,
principals of schools are requested to
estimate conservat,vely for full years
supply of everything required by them.
These acquisitions should be addressed
to the school agents in the respective
districts.
The department relies on the hearty
cooperation of all in this matter for
the good of the schools.
II.
Circular Letter, November 20, 1908.
(Copy)
To All School Agents:
In order to obtain more prompt pay
ment of claims against the department,
I ask careful attention to the enclosed
regulations of the auditing depart
ment, particularly to the chapter on
bills.
1t will be the duty Of all officers In
curing expense to carefully instruct
persons having claims against the de-
partment as to the proper manner OF
rendering bills, to require that only
proper and reasonable prices are
charged for services rendered or for
goods or materials furnished. to see
that bills are rendered promptly and
that they bear date not later than the
last day of the month in which the
expenditure was incurred, to scrutinize
no raft hnt a IN
amounts, to place on each bill the name
of the school for which the expenditure
was incurred. to certify both original
and duplicate of each bill, and to for
ward the same promptly to this office.
In order to keep within our appropri-
atoms, which are found to be diminish
ing more rapidly than a pro rata ex-
penditure will justify. 1t Is further re-
quested that before mourning expense
on any account. school agents will
make application to the Superintend-
ent and obtain specific authorization
with Instructions as to what appropria-
ton is to be charged.
(Signed.) w. II. BABBITT.
Superintendent of Public Instruction.
III.
EXTRACT from letter OF frinclpdl OF u
Hilo School. November 16, 1905.
Copy
Mr. Severance seems to feel that his
authority to authorize purchases is ex-
tremely limited, and demurs about
buying for me.
".
Reply to Same, November 21, 1905.
(Copy.)
Replying to your letter Of the 10th
instant. am directed to say that. in
view of the Audit Act and the present
condition of our appropriations. 1t does
not appear to the Superintendent to be
practicable to make provision for in
curing expense for the department by
school principals in emergency cases
such as you suggest. There would
certainly be no doubt OF your DISPOSE