The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-04-23
SCHOOL BOARD
IS ACCUSED OF
JUGGLING FUNDS
EstimatOrs Complain to Off
Gals That TOO Many Things
Are Covered Up"
SOUTHEASTERN HIGH
PASSES COMMITTEE
Appropriations for Southwest.
ern, and Addition to Cass
Technical Held Up

Estimators Gordon and Nichols OF
! the school fund committee, questioned
members and employees OF the Board
OF Education, Wednesday afternoon.
regarding the alleged practice OF Jug.
! Cling and shifting school funds In
such manner that the aldermen and
estimators are not properly informed
| on the appropriations asked School
| Inspector Samuel c. Mumford and Su.
| pervisor A. T.. Stewart admitted that
uneXpended balances were transferred
! from one fund 10 another. as is the
| practice in other departments Super
/ visor Stewart could not make clear TO
/ Estimator Gordon why the board. ar.
ter securing an appropriation more
than covering the cost OF certain
work, came in and asked FOR add.
tional funds 10 complete the work. The
estimator cited specific instances
| where it was obvious the board had
| done this
The trouble is" said Gordon, the
school board is not honest with us re.
garding its appropriations. Too many
things are covered up. | am not crit.
cising Supervisor Stewart or the indi,
vidual members OF the board, but
think IL is mighty poor deal from a
business standpoint"
Estimator Nichols had q number OF
questions TO ask about the method FOL
lowed by the board " occurring school
sites He deGa& That tn. board
paid $4,000 for a site, 300 by az feet
on Cadillac-ave., whereas a site ais
Fly 317, directly adjoining, could have
been purchased for 81 800, Also, Il
was alleged that an eXorbitant price
had been paid for block at Dunbar
| and Harper-aves.
Il understand that Mr.. Goetz, own
| er of the Cadillac-ave property, re
ceived only $500. although the
voucher in the controllers office calls
for $4,000" said Mr.. Nichols How
Is this explained"
School Inspector Mumford angrily
inquired why Estimator Nichols didn't
| file a protest when the deal was on.
81 learned of ii too late, replied
the chairman OF the school fund com
mittee
| The property was purchased
through a real estate agency in the
employ OF the school board.
The item OF 100000 for the pur
chase OF available school sites was
held up by the committee and vii
likely be disallewed
The school board ought to acquire
all its property by condemnation, theT
| there will be no criticism OF the
! price," said Controller George Engel
The committee approved the $500,
| 600 appropriation for the proposed
| southeastern high school, but the
southwestern item was held up fol
| further consideration, as was the add
tion TO the Cass Technical High
school.
The members of the police fund
! committee allowed all the increases
in Commissioner Gillespie's budget ap
proved by the common council One
hundred and fifty-seven new men al
81 900 a year each were allowed. The
committee did cut out two detectives
on duty in the prosecuting attorney
office. Representative OF film ex
changes opposed the $4,000 appropria
ton for censorship bureau. and the
committee took this item under ad
visement
The proposal 10 increase the wages
OF the garbage wagon drivers from
$3.50 10 SO per day was held up by
the committee on garbage. The schoo
| OF design was passed. but the city
| plan and Improvement request was
cut out from $4,000 to $4,000.