The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-08
HOW THEY STAND
Topeka Board Of Education Is
Far Behind.
Over Fifty Thousand Dollars
Against General Fund.
.NOMORE FOR TEACHERS
-
Members Would Raise Pay If
They Could.
Too Far Behind to Make the
Advance Now.

tee presented an auxiliary report on
Monday night at the regular meeting,
showing that there are outstanding
warrants amounting to $52,31O.07.
marked mot paid for want of funds
against the general school fund of the
city. Warrants of the same kind ag-
gregating a total of $29,124O3 are
marked up against the general building
fund. and $4,7OO against the interest
and sinking fund. This makes a total
of 6,134.1O, being held in the shape
of warrants. by people who are draw
ing upon them an interest of per
cent.
The Merchants National bank holds
the bulk of these warrants. 1t has
thirty-eight of the general building
fund and fifteen of the general fund.
The remainder are scattered in twoss
and threes among the Central National
bank, the Citizens State bank, the
State Savings bank, Topeka lodge No.
40, I. o. o. F, and private parties. The
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Hospital
association holds the entire $4,000
worth of interest and sinking fund war
rants.
There was $4,000 on hand Monday
in the general fund. Last night bills
aggregating over $4,000 We're allow
ed. That practically wiped up the
money on hand. It is the theory of the
city treasurer that it would be better
to pay up the bills now as they come
in with money that is on hand rather
than pay up the old ones, and issue
new unpaid for want of funds" war
rants for the new debts. The city
treasurer says that it would simply
make a whole lot Of extra work and
that nothing would be accomplished
by it.
At a recent meeting of the board of
education a report was called for from
the finance committee on this subject.
The report came all right last night,
but nothing accompanied it by which
the solution may be arrived at. The
committee did recommend and the
board adopted a plan by which a war.
rant must be issued for every cent of
interest paid on these outstanding
warrants. That sinplifies the book
keeping, but it does not point out
way in which the big debts are to be
liquidated and the immense amount OF
annual interest avoided The matter
went through the usual threshing last
night Nothing was done with it. ex-
cept that the reports of the committee
was placed on file
'ia Women appear.
Five members of the Topeka Fede-
ration OF Clubs appeared before the
board last night to talk in the interest
of raising the salaries of grade teach
ers The ladies were Mrs. Lee Monroe,
Mrs j NJ Mcfarland. Mrs. Margaret
Hill McCarter, Mrs. Charles Wood and
Mrs. Clement Smith.
Mrs. Wood and Mrs. McCarter spoke
in behalf of the teachers. They pre-
scented a petition or communication
adopted at a recent meeting of the
fedora ton. in which that organization
as a whole expressed itself in favor
of raising the salaries of the grade
teachers.
The different members of the board
expressed themselves as favoring the
Increase of the salaries, but all of
them spent time and energy in ex-
planning to the visiting ladies that the
board is now in debt, that the assess
ment money does not come in until
June and that until all of the new
years obligations are met, and it is
found out Just exactly how much
money can be spent. that it will be i'm
possible to say anything at this time
concerning the much desired increase
in salaries.
to defend himself from what he
thought was an unjust attack made
upon him al the meeting of the fed
Grafton when the matter was discussed
recently. sI was informed by a mem
Der Of the federation" he said. chat
7 had said that the places of teachers
in Topeka could be filled for $40 per
month. I did not say that. We have
splendid corps Of teachers. Some
eff the teachers. however. NEEDLE too
much in the boards business. I I'M
6erstand that some of the members
Of the federation have said that when
the time comes for my reelection they
Will defeat me- I cannot think that
it is because have not tried to get
the sa laries increased. because I have
not earned the munif1cent salary this
board has paid me for fifteen years.
I am in favor of raising the salaries.
If we can do so. [ believe that the
minimum ir the high school and max
mum in the grades should be SIS"
Mrs. Mcfarland stated that nothing
had Teen said in the meeting about
Mr. Wilson, ara that his name had
not been mentioned. Mrs. Lee Mon
roe said the same thing. Mrs Monroe
said that they had come out of SYM
pathy for the teachers, many of whom
are mem bers Of the women's clubs
action on your part" said Mrs. Nc
Carter. Eve simply thought We were
welcome to come here, even though
we were not invited"
It fell to the lot OF Mr.. Roudebush
and Mr.. Zimmerman to say the nice
things. and both did themselves
proud They informed the ladies
that they hoped they would come fire.
auently and offer suggestions Mr.
Zjnme rnnan took occasion to tell the
ladies' just why it could not be deternl-
incl at this time whether a raise
could be given the teachers.
commencement Date.
Mr.. Whitteuore announced that the
high school commencement viii take
place on Friday, June I. About IS pu-
pils will graduate. The exercises win
be held in the Auditorium. Mr. Whit
temore was Instructed to obtain a good
speaker for the occasion.
Quite a little rumpus occurred over
paying S25 for the use Of the Auditor
ium for that evening. The commence
ment exercises are free, no charge be-
ing made. Then. too. It is purely a CITY
affair in which every one is Interested
All Of the members Of the board felt
that the city council ought to grant the
board the use Of the hail free. A COM
mittee, headed by Sam Zimmerman.
win move upon the city council at its
next meeting and see if # cannot get
the privilege free
County sllnerintendent Carter rzin be