The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-02-18
SCHOOLS OF CITY.
STATE CLOSED TO
SAVE FUEL SUPPLY
Gradual Shutdown in Rural
institutions Follows
Plea.
GYMNASIUMS MAY CLOSE
None to Be Penalized on
Account of Action,
McMurray Says.

"A gradual SnuIOOWn Oh rural
schools throughout most of the
state was reported today after an
appeal from Gov. McNutt and Floyd
I. McMurray, Superintendent of
Public instruction, to conserve fuel
supplies for homes and industries.
Some cities reported fuel supplies
were sufficient to permit schools to
remain open unless the unprece-
denied cold wave continues.
All schools with an insufficient
amount of fuel on hand should close
and the vacation should continue
until homes and industries can re
supplied, state officials urged
Hazardous road conditions con-
tributed to the closings. Many school
heads urged that the institutions
close now for the spring vacation
period instead of waiting for the
scheduled date.
Cancel Games, McMurray Asks
Mr. McMurray urged school
officials to cancel basketball games
scheduled for this weekend.
He said A. L. Trester, I. H. S. A.
A. commissioner, concurred in this
decision.
Certainly it would be incon-
siStent to close schools because of a
fuel emergency and burn coal to
warm a gymnasium for school &C
tivity. Scheduled games cancelled
because of fuel shortage may be
played at any later date, mid-week
or otherwise" Mr.. McMurray said.
No Penalties, He Says
The state superintendent also an
nounced that no teacher, pupil or
bus driver will be penalized because
of loss of school time due to the
fuel emergency, insofar as state Of
ficials are concerned.
Mr. McMurray pointed out that
teachers are protected from loss of
wages under terms of their con-
tracts.
In a ruling of the State Accounts
Board today, school bus drivers
were insured from loss of wages by
the emergency. The accounts board
issue the following statement:
Wages Will Be Pai0
when it can be shown that be-
cause of fuel shortage and extreme
weather conditions prevalent in In
diana during January and Febru-
airy, it was deemed necessary to
close schools in the interest of the
health and safety of pupils and en-
ployes, the State Accounts Board in
examination of school corporation
accounts will make no objection to
the payment to teachers and bus
drivers of their regular wages for
time lost"
Mr.. McMurray suggested that
where schools are closed, teachers
devise their own means for covering.
the prescribed work during the time
lost by pupils.
1T is extremely important that
the emergency he met and that the
morale of the entire system be
maintained. With favorable weather
condition, the present emergency
will pass by the end of the week"
he said.
Towns Face Fuel Shortage
Many of the smaller cities in the
state face serious coal shortages.
due partly to the railroad practice
of conflscating shipments. The
roads reason that smaller cities can
more easily create wood fuel sup
ply than larger cities. Because rail-
roads carry the United States mails
they have the prerogative of con-
verting. shipments to their own use.
Many difficulties beSet miners in
Indiana, ranging from frozen wa
ter mains and machinery to in
ability to get to work over ice
Sheeted roads.
Some cities in the northern part
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