The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-28
SCHOOL BOARDS SYSTEM
OF BUYING HEAT PLANTS
BRANDED GROSS ROBBERY
Taxpayers BiIked by Ban on
Competitive Bids, Com
mission Charges.
ACCUSATIONS HURLED
Warning Against Further
Payment of Fancy Prices
Is Sounded.

Gross robbery OF taxpayers OF In
dianapolis through the use in schools
of the G. g. Shipp ventilating and
heating system was charged today
by the State tax board.
No more school construction in
the city will be approved by the tax
board unless the specifications call
for more than one heating system,
so that competitive bidding may be
obtained, the board dictated.
Solemn warning was served on
the Indianapolis school board that
exorbitant and fancy prices for
heating systems would not be toll
Grated.
The tax board, to a man, con-
CURED in this and opened a heavy
barrage on eXorbitant costs.
What has become of $4,000 ap-
propriated from the tax levy to con-
Struct the addition to School 47?"
was the question hurled by Will
Hough, Of the tax board.
Tax Board Not Satisfied
Emphatic declarations that the
tax board was not satisfied with
the manner in which the school
board is constructing buildings were
made by every member of the tax
board.
The charges were hurled when the
question came up Of authorizing q
100000 bond issue for a new build
ing for School 80 and additions TO
Schools At, 43 and &c. The balance
Of the funds was to be used for pur-
chase of sites for elementary schools.
Efforts of Martin Hugg, attorney
for the school board, and Charles
w. Kern and Theodore E. Vonnegut,
members of the board, to stem the
tide Of excoriation by members of
the tax board and defend their
conduct we're Of no avail.
The attack was opened by Philip
Zoercher, tax commissioner, who
charged that the school board
doesn't use the money appropriated
from the levy and by bond issue
where it is needed, but uses the
funds wherever it so desires.
Warning Is Sounded
From now on" he declared,
money raised by tax levy for
certain purpose must be used for
that specified purpose and none
other, and the same rule applies
to money raised by bond issue.
II am not going to vote for an
other bond issue until the school
board prepares the specifications
for two heating systems, so that
competitive bids may be obtained
and that the lowest price possible
obtained.
II am not fighting Sllipp but
want to see competition in the bid
ding"
Vonnegut here tried to interpose,
but zoercher continued: "ThiS
board suggested that specifications
for the Shortridge High School call
for more than one heating system.
But you didn't do it.
Written for Shipp, Charge
1.-THE specifications we're so writ
ten that only the Shipp system
could be used"
j. H. Hilkene, superintendent Of
school buildings and grounds, in
terposed to say that the law pro-
vided that the direct heating sys-
tenn be used.
I'VE had the same fight in 1924
and took the specifications to the
State board Of accounts to see
whether they we're closed specihca-
tions, but the board approved
All but two of the city high
schools, Washington and Crispus
Attucks, have the Shipp system, it
was revealed.
"Other cities in the State obtain
two sets of plans, one providing for
the Shipp system and the other for
other systems, and the architects
prepare them at no extra COST"
Zoercher declared.
Pretty liberal architects" Hill
kene interposed.
Hot Retort Given
mo, they're square architects"
Zoercher retorted.
This scrap is caused by COM
petitors. We found the other
systems are not economical Hugg
told the board.
The tax board declared that Hugg
was mistaken.
Red-faced, Vonnegut interposed
with, Are you, the board, the
ultimate judges as to the systems
to be used in Indianapolis schools?"
He was quieted by John Brown,
chairman, who, banging his fist on
the table, declared:
Where we find that the same
system is being installed over the
State as substantially less cost than
in Indianapolis, we say that the
plans would better be changed, so
that they will provide for open COM
petitive bidding.
This will be done or we won't
allow another school building to
go up.
ITS gross robbery OF the tax