Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-05-11
CITY Government MEETING CALLS
FORTH LIVELY DISCUSSION over
PETITION FOR SCHOOL APPR0P'N


weekly meeting of the city council was
held Monday evening, Mayor Lamb pre-
siding and Aldermen Noyes and Berry
present. A petition asking the council
tor an appropriation of $1,000 for the
equipment and maintenance Of manual
training in the public schools Of the city
was received. Said petition was signed
by the members of the Current Events
Club and many others. About IA citizens,
about one-half of whom were ladies, ap-
peared in favor Of the matter. j. NJ. l..
Bates, chairman of the school committee,
was the first speaker and gave reasons
for making the request. The mayor out
lined the attitude of the council, that IN
asmuch as there was an increase in the
State and county tax it was deemed ad-
visable to allow the matter to remain
dormant for another year. The petition
was signed by about It's representative
citizens Mrs. F. S. Maxcy stated that
the petition was started Friday and met
with a ready response, only two refusing
to sign. The fact was brought out that
the $1,000 raised several years ago for
this purpose had been invested in build
ing designed for this purpose.
Questions and Answers
A question was asked by Hon. G. w.
Heselton as to the $1,000 being sufficient
for the purpose. Chairman Bates and
Supt. Chase replied that it would cover
the equipment and for one term. Supt.
Chase explained the State would pay
$500 per teacher. He further stated that
the probable yearly expense would not
exceed $1,000 per year and called the at
tention of the council to the fact that
the total appropriation for schools asked
for was $500 less than for the preceding
year.
Mrs Laura E. Richards told some
thing Of it's workings in Massachusetts,
especially for the girls and was heart
lily in favor of the project. Mrs. F. S.
Maxcy told of the working in Port
land. Among the other speakers favor
ing the project were Henry Richards.
Mrs. Charles H. Gray, DR.. a. B. Lib
by, Hon. G. w. Heselton.
Reference to Friction
The latter gentleman stated that he
was one of the two who refused to sign
and that it was solely for the reason
that he, at the time. considered the
amount inadequate, but that since the
matter had been explained fully he
was heartily in favor Of it. He made
a strong plea and referred to the
friction between the council and the
school committee and appealed to the
council for some action that would re-
move that friction. The question of the
salary Of the superintendent and the
right of the committee to raise the
salary. Having paid this raise of sal
airy for four months and now refuse it
or hold it up you are remiss in your
duties" Henry Richards followed with
a strong plea for harmony, placing the
blame for the present friction partly
upon tho council and partly upon the
committee. Hon. o. B. Clason, whose
interest in education is excelled by no
other. He complimented Major Berry
and all the departments of the city.
saying that he had been converted in
favor Of commission government, the
one flaw being the present friction be-
tween the council and school commit
tee and pleaded for harmony.
Mayors Statement
Mayor Lamb stated that with the
exception of the appropriation asked
for for manual training, all requests
for appropriations by the school de-
partment had been granted. The mayor
read the following statement of his
position
Gentlemen of the City Council:
LAS the schools under our charter is
one of the departments specifically as
signed to the mayors care, l have given
some time to looking up the subject I'M
der controversy with the school commit
tee. l thought l would present to you
and also to the public the facts as l find
them. To start at the beginning, the
present superintendent was elected some
time in the summer of 1912, after the APP
preparations for that year had been made
up. Instead of combining themselves to
the amount raised for the superinten-
dents salary, the committee. on their
own responsibility. increased the salary
one hundred dollars per year. making an
overdraft the first year. The next year
his salary was again raised, the council
furnishing the necessary amount.
Last year his salary was again in
creased by the committee after the APP
preparation for the year had been made
and the claim was advanced by the COM
mittee that they were not limited by the
amount of the appropriation, but could
fix his salary at any figure they saw fit.
This might have been so were it not for
two reasons: First. our city ordinance
strictly prohibits the head of any de-
partment from exceeding the amount OF
his appropriation: second. the secretary
of the joint committee must notify the
treasurer of the various towns, so that
the proper appropriation can be made;
this was not done-in any event the in
crease would not have been effective I'M
til this year. They claim it is a reversal
of our own acts, as he was paid four
months salary in the fall at the in
crease. This, as you know. was made
possible from the fact that the superin-
tendent himself raised the amount Of
his monthly bill. which he had no right
or authority to do, and the increase es-
capped notice in the council until the
books were closed January LIST, and an
overdraft was again found in that de-
partment. when we at once notified the
auditor to make out all vouchers for the
original amount. Under our ordinances
the overdraft can be collected by the city
from the head Of the department and it