Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-08-22
SCHOOL BOARD NETTING.
The RepOrt of the Special Committee
on the mCOntraef.s

4Hb D0hLA VI DEAG1A ' AoAlOA1 AA4De .
their hall last night; the following mem
bsrs were present: DR.. Msury, chairman
and Messrs. Holbrook, Gavin, DR.. Elliot
DR.. Mitchell, Bruce, Wilkinson, Mansford
Phelon, Taylor, johnson, DR.. Bateman
W. u. Mitchell, and Merrill.
The first business in order was q lonl
discussion about q superintendent for thl
Poplar street school, in which DR.. Taylor
made sundFy explanations of differences
between him, as chairman of the commit
tee on teachers and school books, and the
superintendent of the public schools. TIT
superintendent was rising to make his eX,
PLANTATION of those differences wher
the Board decided by vote to proceed with
the regular business.
On motion to suspend the rules to heal
the report Of the special Investigating
Committee, the Board voted for suspen,
sion, nine to four.
DR.. Msury made the report, which states
that the contract entered into with Messrs
Juniper & Willie for the completion of the
third story for $500, is fair enough, and
that Mr.. Mansford failed to sustain the
charges made ct the previous meeting,
that the contract was -extrsYagsnt, and
that he failed to make good his statement
that he could get the work done at 535OG.
This offer Y was inside by MI. Reed.
He Reed merely stated that he thought
the work, not including plumbing
and gas fitting and brick work
might be done FOR $500; but he
was not prepared TO enter on a. contract
without further study of the plans and
specifications.
Dr.. Taylor said that the original offer
of Mr.. Reed was for S5275, which is 1925
less tina the contract entered into with
Messrs. Juniper q Willie. He called for
an explanation of that discrepancy.
DR.. MsuTy said that the contractors
were bound 10 finish the work according
to the directions OF the architects.
The evidence that was taken by the
committee, by the light of which they
were enabled TO arrive at their conclusion,
became a topic for debate as to whether 1t
should be read or not read. The evidence
was read by q person that was employed
by the committee TO do their writing. It
includes the testimony of Mr.. Msnsford,
Mr.. Reed, Mr., Wiggan, and some docu-
ments Of 3 purely professional character,
the WhOls Of which makes q pretty lengthy
paper.
The report of the committee was re-
ceiyed, adopted and ordered printed. The
following is the
REPORT OF III COMMITTEE OF INvEsTGA-
TON.
MEMPHIS, TENN, August q, 1871.
Gentlemea of The Board Of Education:
The undersigned having been appointed
to investigate the matters embraced in the
majority and minority reports, which
were presented or Monday the l4th inst,
by the Building Committee, beg leave to
the following:
Msssrs, Fenner and Wiggin, of the
Building Committee, having reported
that they had entered into a contract
with Messrs. Juniper & Wylie to complete
the third story OF the building now in
process of erection OF the corner of Mar
and Third streets Tor the sum of $500.
Mr.. Msnsford, Of the same Committee,
presented q minority report to which tbs
charges we're made:
First-That he had been treated with
discoUrtesy by the other members Of the
and that he had not seen or
been made acquainted with the contract
above referred to until it wa placed be-
fore him by me of the contractors for his
signature.
Second-Thst said contract was an IN
reasonable one, the amount agreed upon
.Or doing the work being largely u eX-
Of what Was proper.
Third-Thst he held in his possession
bid of a reliable builder to do the
work involved in said contract for the
,um of $500, and that be regarded the
Board of Education a. guilty of squan-
5000 shouldit recognise this con-
ract.
After carefully weighing the evidence
idduced, your committee are of the
in regard to the first charge, /
hat while no facts have been presented
which could justify the belief that n
was intended by the members
# the committee signing the majority re-
bort, we are Of tbs opinion that courtesy
equired that every member of the COM
nittee should be formally consulted in so
important q mRtter as the making of q
ontrset, and that the gentleman signing
he minority report hiss very justly
lsimed this as a right.
In reference to the second charge, we
re OF opinion hat il has not been sus-
After patient and impartial con-
liberation Of the facts, we believe that the
ontrsc5 for the completion of this build
1g for the sum Ofsixty-fve hundred dol
8rs IS 8 fair and reasonable one, and that
his, made in accordance with the rates
which the rest Of the work hiss been
Ontraetsd for, this contract is, further
lore, In accordance with the estimates
by Messrs. Juniper & Wylie,
ohm Reid q other W~ell-knOwn build
rs, for the same work, when the original
Jntrsct was let.
In regard to the third charge the facts
ppesr to he that Mr.. John Reid, the
nilder referred TO, did not, strictly
Desking, put in a bid at all, for the COM
lotion Of this building; but ne simply
ated 70 the gentleman presenting the
-inOrity report that be would do the
ork necessary for its completion for
500. Mr.. Reid Rtirms before this COM
.ittee that be was awsre that q cOntrsct
I'd already been signed between Messrs. l
gnner d Wiggin on the one hand
Juniper q Wylie On the other, at
Ie time he gave this estimate; that al
he was willing to undertake this
ork for the amount specified, he had no
,pectation Of getting the contract, and
at DO made the estimate merely for the
formation Of the gentleman who con-
ltsd him. !
The attention Of the Board Is especially :
He'd to this fact, which hes been eliciLed. !
wit: that the Bo-cslled bid OF $500 to !
mplete this building, did not include /.
Q Items Of brick-work and plumbing, .
hich items we know are estimated in the !
to be worth, respectively, eleven Z
inbred and seventy, and ak hundred !
d seventy-dve dollars. :
The attention of the Board is still fur :
OF invited to the fac that the work =
lich Mr.. MsnsfcTd stated Mr., Reid pre-. =
sed TO do for $500, MIR. Reid, himself, :
to be worth S577l, in May last, y
len he put In g bid for the same with !
sssrs. Jones & Baldwin, architects. Y
Ia view Of these facts your committee is :
the opinion that tho third charge has =
t been sustained. =
Accompanying this report Is a large
lount OF testimony taken in the shape
depositiOns, all Of which is respectfully
omitted. .
r.. B. MAURY, MD, chm, 2
Committee V. +. ELLIOT, y
W. s. BRUCE. =
concur in the above report In every :
- 1900 Ext I IL - II