The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-28
BOARD MEMBER GIVES F!suRES
Takes Exception to Recent
State Journal Article,
He Is Not Sure Commission
Plan Would Be Wise.

same time he believes that the school
buildings can be maintained at the
present standard.
Mr. Jones said today: ION July 1.
1911. the bonded Indebtedness amounted
to $500 ,661, while on July l. 1914. 1t
amounted to only $523, 161, a net reduc-
ton of $500. In addition to this. we
had in the sinking fund $23, 1.3S and
with the amount which this fund VIII
receive from the 1914 taxes. We will be
able to take up. warrants for $50, 500 fall
ing due on July 1915, which will re-
duce the bonded Indebtedness to $472.-
661.
I'm the meantime, while the bonded
Indebtedness has been slowly decreas-
ing. we have built and paid for the new
Quinton Heights school and the add.
lions to the Potwin, Monroe and Grant
schools and will have paid for the $50
coo addition to the high school building.
without issuing any bonds.
by continuing the levy Of five-tenths
of one mill annually. we should be able
to pay off the entire bonded indebt-
edness in twenty years and at the same
time maintain our school buildings az
the present standard, thereby not IN
creasing our levy for school purposes TO
exceed the present rate"
Commission Plan.
Mr.. Jones does not attempt to
say whether or not commission form
OF management for school affairs would
be an improvement upon the present
manner of management. In referring
to an article published in last Satur-
days issue Of the State Journal, MI.
Jones said: e
IT will call your attention to the ques-
ton you asked-Is there a way for the
school board to escape this high rate
Of interest? The answer-Yes. a COM
mission form of government. This opens
a large field for thought and is worthy
N0vv1A
a school commissioner be in position
to build UP a more powerful political
machine than the remainder OF your
city commission combined? Would not
a school commissioner result in your
having a professional politician to run
your schools? I will not attempt to
answer these questions but ask you
to look the field over and see if you
can point to a man who is qualified
and one who would be able to keep
your schools out Of politics."
Three Per Cent Interest.
Mr.. Jones took exception to certain
points in the State Journal article
mentioned.
IN the first paragraph he. said,
you state the city receives an inter-
est / per cent higher than that received
by the school board. l wish to call
your attention to the fact that the city
receives per cent on it's daily bal
ances, while the school board receives
per cent.
1.-THE general impression to be gained
by reading the article is that the in
debtedness on account of schools is
increasing rather than diminishing. In
reply to this will call your attention
| to the records which are as follows:
| On August 1, 1911, warrants outstand-
ing stamped not paid for want OF
| funds against the general fund
amounted to $1o.344.s4: against. the
! building fund, S12.277.1S. total warrants
unpaid $22, 62212. These are the war
rants referred to as drawing interest at
rate of 6 per cent. On August l. 1914.
! the warrants outstanding against the
general fund stamped not paid for want
of funds amounted to only $1.311.3S.
This represented the total amount
of warrants outstanding or a net de-
crease of $21 ,31O.79, while in the build
ing fund, on that date. there was a
cash balance OF $z2,S55.3S. net gain
CT $44,166.17 in three years.
! Take Up Warrants.
1t is unfortunate that we have not
sufficient cash on hand at the end OF
each school year Gully By to meet
Element is made, which would obviate
stamping warrants unpaid for want OF
/ funds; however. when the semi
nual settlement is made this year by
the county we will be able to take UP
all of the outstanding warrants
the general fund and may have
/! enough money left to run the schools
until the next remittance is received
from the county treasurer. At any
rate, there will be no warrants out
standing not paid for want of funds a
the end OF the school year. July 81
1915. 1t is manifestly unfair to use
balances other than those obtaining Al
the end of the school year in making
comparisons. From this you will
readily see that the figures used il
the article above referred to are in
correct and entirely misleading.
You will further note you state tina
two years ago a 5-mill levy was mad,
for a sinking fund. Presume you in
tended to say fve one-hundredths o
one mill, which is the correct levy To-
1e12.
You will note you state that we ar,
paying $25,50O annual interest on tn,
bonded Indebtedness of the schools
While this is more nearly correct thar
! the other statements, as a matter o
face we paid only $23,011.09 interes
on this account for the year endes
, July 81. 1914.
Card OF Thanks.
We wish to thank our many friend
for their sympathy and help durinl
sickness and death of our beloved hus
! band ard father. Also for the beau
tiful floral offering, the s.. A. r. an
the ladies of the Christian church 70
the music.
Mrs. C. L. STONE
Adv. and CHILDREN.
Card of Thanks.
Fl In a loving remembrance OF gu
dear husband, father and brother ~
wish to thank kind friends. Moder
Woodmen, also officers and member
OF the National Guards for their kin
, lattention and beautiful floral Offering