The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-08

mills raising. $685. oo
Building fund
L mill raising. $1,000
Interest fund
.S5 mill raising ........ 22,800
Sinking fund
AS mill raising. 26,500
Playground fund
20 mill raising. 1880. IL, 400
Total. mills raising. 49,. $402. 700
HoIman's Report.
The annual report on the expenses
of running the Topeka school plant
was made by NJ. c. Holman, clerk of
cussion when it was discovered that
the high school was costing SIS more
per pupil for the school year. The
extra cost in the high school was eX-
planned by Superintendent Wilson on
the ground of an increase in the
length of the school day making more
teachers necessary and by the expendi-
ture of nearly $4,000 in equipment.
Another item in the increase in ex-
penses is the annual growth of each
teachers salary s45 a year.
The majority of the grade schools.
according to Mr.. Holmans report
showed a marked decrease in eXpendi-
lures, with the exception of Monroe,
Lafayette, Clay, Buchanan, Quinton
Heights, Quincy, !Sumner and Nan
Buren, schools. Potwin school shows
the lowest expense per pupil.
Interest on Warrants.
The report also shows that the
board has paid $2,504 in interest to
Topeka banks on warrants outstand-
ing against the general fund. AT pres
ent the board is paying interest on
outstanding warrants against the gen.
eral fund to the amount of $3,25l.71,
while it has $30,23S to ITS credit in the
building fund. Because of state law
the board cannot borrow from one
fund temporarily to help another. The
board is paying per cent interest on
the outstanding warrants while it is
getting only per cent from the banks
for its deposits. L. NJ. Penwell. chair
man Of tbs finance committee, an
nounced that strenuous effort would
be made this winter to secure 2 law
ma king it possible for the school board
to handle it's funds more Sxpediently,
and without paying several thousand
dollars TO the banks annually for in
tereSt.
The opening minutes of the board
meeting were given over to hearing
the complaints of representatives of
the Building and Trades Council, and
the local painters union. Both rep
resentatives asked that more Of the
work being done on the school plant
be given to union labor. A. B. Lewis,
representing the painters union, and
b w. Kraft of the Building and
Trades Council. charged that the jan
itors did work which should have been
performed by skilled mechanics. They
asserted that among the janitors are
former union painters, plasterers and
painters who are sent from building
to building to do repair work.
I'VE are not asking for ali the
for the mechanical jobs. We 1on't
want the janitors to encroach on our
trades.
Griggs Replies.
P. W. Griggs, chairman of the
| building committee, answered shortly
the representative that union labor
was given its full dues as to labor or
| the school plant and more work on the
school buildings than the amount OF
! its taxes paid justified.
"It makes no difference as to the
amount of taxes We pay" Lewis re-
| torted. THE laboring man pays the
taxes indirectly anyway" A brie1
argument participated in by the whole
board followed which was ended by
| Griggs's statement that 'he was moi
| opposed to unionism."
Penwell said that it would be nexi
to impossible to send out for a union
| man every time they wanted a chail
| or two painted. He asked the two
/ spokesman if the union would handle
/ such small jobs. Both were certain
| that they would.
After the labor representatives, had
/ departed the board authorized the
tearing out of two cloak rooms in the
! Quincy school to make room fer ar
additional class room No specifica
lions as to the employment of union
i labor were made.
The board Will hold second meet
/ log within two weeks to prepare a
communication to the labor unions OF
/ Topeka. AT the meeting the coal con
/ tracts will be awarded.
! Claims Against County.
Following this action the finance
committee read a statement showing
the county to be the debtor of the
school system to the amount of s.3-
! 1913 for money. collected as penalties
on back taxes between 1898 and 1915
The finance committee was authorized
I to press this claim without suit IL nos
sihle, but with court action if neces-
sary. County Attorney w. E. Atchi-
son has stated. it is understood, tina,
the county will not pay the claim
without a judgment.
Mr.. Wilson announced that the re-
cent resignation of J. T. Rosson OF
] Garfield school paved the way for