Cavanaugh Was Elected

It was an odd school eiection here Monday and a very light vote. Ottmar Eberbach, Nelson J. Kyer and Martin J. 'Cavanaugh were re-elected trustees. The vote was as follows:

Ottmar Eberbach ................................................459

Nelson J. Kyer .....................................................455

Martin J. Cavanaugh ...........................................273

Mrs. Ida Finney ...................................................193

  The caucus ticket with Mrs. Finney's name on was the only printed ticket in the field until some time after 1 o'clock, when a ticket appeared with Mr. Cavanaugh's name on. At that hour only 147 votes had been polled. In all 461 votes were recorded. Typewritten tickets for both Mr. Cavanaugh and Mrs. Finney, some of which had been scratched for Mr. Cavanaugh had appeared before that. After the printed tickets appeared a spurt was made to get the vote in, and considering that there was only about two hours in which to work it came in pretty well at the end. At noon, Mr. Cavanaugh persisted in saying that he was not a candidate. But some of the other members of the board persisted. that he run and the business men generally rallied to his support. A considerable proportion of the vote cast was by ladies, and some of the ladies were bitterly disappointed, having worked hard for Mrs. Finney. Although Mrs. Finney was not elected, she can congratulate herself on possessing some exceedingly warm friends.

          THE PRESIDENT'S REPORT.

Immediately after the counting of the votes the annual school meeting was called to order by Mr. E. F. Mills. Judge V. H. Lane was made chairman and Grove J. Ray secretary. There were only 26 persons present to vote a tax of $39,000.

   President Mills, of the school board read his animal report which was printed in these columns Saturday and which was one of the most interesting reports ever made to the annual meeting. He said that for the first time in many years there was no overdraft for which to provide. Among other things not included in the printed report he said he would like next year to have the annual meeting adjourn to 8 o'clock in the evening and be well advertised, so that a large crowd of people could be out to vote the appropriation. He wanted the people to know more about the schools.

The receipts for the past year were $67,102.42, and the expenditures $64,149,41, allowing them to largely make up last year's overdraft of $3,167.89. Besides this $31,236.80 had been received on the new Perry school account, of which $5,256.80 was on hand. The old school site had been sold for $16,000 and the new one purchased for $10,600. The old buildings on the new site were sold for $933, and $14,303.80 had been realized from the sale of bonds. The sum of $15, 379.91 had been expended on construction.

                  RAISE $39,000 TAX.

   The board asked that 39,000 be raised by tax and with this estimated their receipts for the coming year at $64,000. They estimated their receipts from the mill tax at $10,000, from tuition, $6,300, primary fund $8,200, and from dog tax, fines and interest $500. The expenditures were estimated at $64,000, the larger items of which are teachers' salaries, $42,000; fuel, $3,200; bonds, $3,000; janitors, $3,000; repairs and improvements, $2,500; supplies, $2,500; interest, $1,400; manual training department, $2,000; library, $1,700; clerk's salary, $1,000.

   On motion of J. W. Bennett, the district unanimously voted, through its 20 representatives present, that the sum of $39,000 be levied as the school tax for the ensuing year.

               INCREASE BOND LIMIT.

   The question of amending the old charter was brought up. President Mills, of the school district, stated that the board was authorized last year 1o issue $25,000 bonds for the new school, but the limit of bonds was $30,000 and there was outstanding $16,000, so that the board could only issue $14,000 of 25,000 authorized. They needed to Issue $11,000 more in bonds. He thought the bond limit ought to be raised to $50,000 so that in case of fire the district might be enabled to at once rebuild.

   After some discussion, in which Mr. Finney brought out the fact that the special charter made the bond limit $15,000, and Mr. J. E. Beal explained that the general law made the limit $30,000, which caused Mr. D. A. Hammond to inquire if it would not be folly to amend the old charter if the board could follow such provisions as suited them or the provisions of the general act as seemed best. On motion of Prof. E. C. Goddard, the school board was requested 'to take such steps as were necessary to increase the bond limit to $50,000.

             CHANGE DATE OF ELECTION.

   The proposition to change the date of the school election was then brought up by B. A. Finney. The committee appointed at the school caucuses reported favoring the change by amending the charter. T. F. Hutzel said the election now came every year on Labor Day and suggested that the election be held on the second' Monday in September. Evart H. Scott thought the election should be held before he beginning of the school year and not after. D. A. Hammond favored this idea, so that plans tor the school year could be passed on 'before the school year began. Without a change by the legislature the district could vote to change the date to the second Monday in July. If they wanted a date when all the people were here they might get the legislature to fix a date in May. He said this meeting was scarcely representative of the district and said anything that could be done to get the people out at the school meeting would be of advantage to the district. B. A. Finney approved of a larger attendance, but wanted it held in a school building. Mr. .Scott said the school committees were made up at the beginning of the school year.

   On motion of T. F. Hutzel the matter was referred to the school board with a request that a change in the. date of the annual meeting be secured.

            TO VOTE DOWN TOWN.

    So far in the proceedings the vote had been unanimous, but a snag was struck when Mr. Hutzel said that the school election should be held near the business center of the city. He moved that the next annual meeting be held on the ground floor of the engine house, or such other suitable place in the business section of the city as the board may select.

   Mr. Finney opposed the motion on the ground that the present place for holding the election was satisfactory. The motion being put there were several ayes and several nays, but the chair believed it carried. Mr. Finney said it was a most abominable nuisance going down to the engine house, smelling so of the stables.

   By unanimous consent the question was opened again, and Mr. Hutzel said the second ward polling place belonged to the city and suggested that as a good place for holding the election. He changed his motion to read that the annual meeting be held at some suitable place in the business district.

   Mis. Betsy Lee said: "Of course we don't like to go down there. There are so many saloons."

   Mr. 'Hutzel's motion carried with a light "no" vote.

   The result of the election of trustees was reported and confirmed and the meeting adjourned..