Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-03-17

ly greater sums have been spent by {
out contracts, without any authorize
the knowledge of the members of the
This condition of affairs, which Isl
responsible for the action of a school
board member recently in introducing
resolution calling for the transaction
of business in accordance with the rules
hereafter has been coming to light ever
since last fall. when it was discovered
that an authorization for the expendi-
ture of $500 on the repair of school,
No SO had been interpreted so as to
result in the expenditure of SlT,292lo,
according to a report made by Mr.. Hit.
EXAMPLE PROVIDED
BY SCHOOL NO. 80.
School No. 30 is the school operated
in connection with the indianapolis Or
phans' home The orphans home is
privately conducted institution, but the
city maintains a school for the children
and supplies teachers. The city, how
ever. does not own the ground on which
the school is situated. Acting on legal
advice, the board once decided not to
make any extensive improvements TO
the school building, preferring TO make
improvements on property actually
owned BY the school city. Mrs. Hit IS
one Of the directors Of the orphans
home.
Previously to the time Mr. Hit be-
came business director of the schools
an attempt was made to secure the re-
modelling of this school building at a
heavy outlay. It failed After Mr.. Hit
became business director the project was
taken up again and Mrs. Hit is directly
quoted by another member of the or
lihans' home board as having remarked
that "novv that Mr. Hit is with the
school board we can get something from
IT."
Whether the remark was made OF not
is immatArial in the light Of develop
ments.
The minutes of the school board show
an authorization Of the expenditure OF
$500 The report Of the business d.
rector shows that S14,792.15 more than
was authorized has been expended on this
lob alone. and there are some interest
ing details concerning some Of these
expenditures that will make another story
Of importance to the people Of Indian
apolis who foot the bills.
ILLEGAL SUM SPENT
ON SCHOOL NO. 4.
The second largest amount spent in
violation of the rules Of the board was
spent at school No. 4. The cost of this
improvement amounted to S15.34019, Mr..
Hits report says. This is s12,940.1s in
excess of the $4,000 limit. There are
two buildings at school No. 4. One of
them is a very old building and the
other is newer. The appraisers Of the
school board recommended that no more
work be done on the old building. De-
spite this fact, Mr.. Hit caused extern
tive improvements to be made there.
Board members say this was done with
out their knowledge and consent, and the
board minutes do not show any author
ization for it..
At school No. % a total Of s979464 was
spent without the issuance Of a contract
Mr. Hit admits. This amount is
S7,294.64 in excess Of the $500 limit. The
following other excessive expenditures
were made on grade schools without the
issuance Of a contract:
School No. &c, S6,13619 school No. 3d.
S4.59s09; school No. 80, $2,97418.
Improvements were made at every
school building in the city, according to
Mr.. Hits report. Contracts actually
were let for improvements on eight grade
school buildings, the report shows. In
two cases these contracts were for
amounts less than amounts spent on some
Of the buildings without the fornality of
contracts.
EIGHT CONTRACTS
LISTED IN REPORT.
Contracts, according to the report, were
let as follows: School No 10, s35 67e;
school No. II, S33. 16s; school No 10,
s44,910; school No. "A, $35,90250; school
No. 16, s2,970; school No. %. $50 $40;
school No. 80, S24,396; school No. fl.
$1,000
On Jan. 70, 1920. Mr.. Hit. at the
orders of the school board, submitted
report of expenditures made in the
improvement of school buildings This
report, according to best information OBJ
tainable. was unique in that never be-
fore have the school boards of this city
required such a document.
With the filing of this report, the
fact that work amounting to thousands
Of dollars was being done and had been
done in direct violation of the rules Of
the school board as to contracts and
authorization, was brought to public
attention.
Mr.. Hits report covering the last
six months Of 1919 shows that improve
ments OF more than $500 were made
81 each of six school buildings with
out the formality of the contract re-
quired in the rules of the board
There is no record on the minutes
OF the board to show that the rule re-
Continued on Page Seven)