St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-12
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
Reputation of an Alleged Fraudulent Con-
tract-Issuance of Bonds Election OF
New Members.


to the effect that the secretary advertise for
bids for furnishing the new school buildings
with furniture At the meeting OF the board
last evening the board was considerably
surprised to find Messrs. A.H.Andrews q Co.
of Chicago present with their
attorney, Mr.. G. NJ. Bell, claiming that this
board had already awarded the contract to
Messrs. Andrews q Co., that is to say, An
drews presented a contract dated May q,
1884, signed by the proper officers of the
board and countersigned by the comptroller,
containing the following provision: ''To
make and deliver to the said board of educa-
ton in the city of St. Paul during the years
1854 and 1855, set up and fastened to the
floor in their respective buildings all goods
known as the A. Ii. Andrews 81 Co. patent
school desks' This was grand surprise to
the old mem bers of the board, who declared
that the board never authorized contract to
be made to furnish such supplies for two
wears, and quite an animated discussion fol-
lowed.
Mr.. G. n. Bell who appeared as the at
tornev of Andrews 81 Co., and the agent of
the company, were both heard. The agent
simply argued that they had the contract
Of the board for two years, and declared his
belief that the board had too much honor to
decline to fulfill the obligations Of its con-
tract Mr.. Bell read the contract, and argued
that the board was bound by its obligation,
and especially by the signature of John Roche
the comptroller. He laid great stress upon
the fact that there could be no dispute as to
the signatures being genuine, and, as the
agent did, sought to put the board on its
honor, intimating that Andrews IL Co. did
not propose TO resort to legal measures to
enforce the contract.
Mr. Gilbert said he was willing to give A.
II. Andrews
ANEW CONTRACT,
provided they should throw away the con-
tract and bid like other parties. If, however,
Andrews 81 Co. should insist upon the en-
forcement of this contract he should do what
he could to prevent them from being
awarded anything in the future.
DR.. Murphy called on Mr. Athy to state his
views as to whether such a contract was
made for two years, and Mr.. Athy stated
that he did not know of any contract for two
years having been made.
Mr.. Gilbert declared he was perfectly
willing that A. II. Andrews 81 Co. should go
into court with that contract If they wished
TO. He asked no favor.
DIR. Schiffmann denied that the contract
was made for two years. The board never
lets contracts for that period. 1t is prepos-
ferrous and absurd. The board never author
lied such a contract.
Mr.. G. N. Bell argued that there was the
contract, and claimed that the board could
not plead ignorance of the terms of it and it
would be disgraceful to undertake
to. He declared that he would
allow the board to repudiate the contract If
it desired to, and he wanted to see what the
board would do. He would not help the
board out of its difficulty.
Mr.. Gilbert declared that that was pre-
cisely what he proposed to do. He proposed
TO repudiate that pretended contract. He
did not want to gointo the question of fraud.
Nobody could bind him to.a contract that he
never agreed to. The more the matter was
talked Of the more he disliked it. 1t did not
have very pleasant appearance. If An
drews & Co. desired to come in and bid he
would be willing to overlook this pretended
contract and allow them TO do so.
DIR. Murphy said that if Messrs. Andrews
& Co. would come in and bid for the furni-
ture now he would not allow this pretended
contract to stand against them, but II they
insist upon this contract he would
VOTE AGAINST THEM
till next January.
Mr.. Gilbert would like to have A. II. An
drews il Co. produce some evidence that that
firm had nothing to do with the fraud in the
contract.
All the old members who were In the
board when the pretended contract was
made declared that the board did not make
contract for two years.
An effort was made to lay the matter on
the table but IL failed.
Inspector Willis Argued that the contract
was legal one and that the board was
bound by the contract, and was proceeding
to argue at great length the legal and moral
obligations of the board to live up TO the
contract, when Mr.. Miner raised a point of
order and wanted to know what there was
before the board. The president stated that
the question was the motion to reconsider
the motion made at the last meeting to ad-
vertise for bids, and suggested to
Mr., Willis to keep to the question
MIR. Willis informed the chair that
he knew wheh he was speaking 10 the ques-
ton aud he did not want any instructions
from the chair. lie then proceeded with his
remarks. When he stopped DR.. Murphy
moved to adjourn, but no one seconded the
motion. Finally the motion to reconsider
was carried.
Mr. Bell said that he hoped it would be
settled then and there.
DR.. Murphy-I should think you would.
You have come here prepared and desire to
hurry through this fraudulent business. l
could tell sOme interesting things about this
business If was so disposed
Mr. Gilbert replied to Mr.. Willis and said
that he (Willis) had given the board good
deal of law, but that his opinion of the law
was just as good as Mr.. Willis and that Mr.
Willis opinion was just as good as his, and
Mr.. Willis thanked Mr.. Gilbert.
On vote being taken on tue motion to
advertise for bids, the ayes were Murphy,
Miner, Wampler, Giesen, Gilbert. Curtis and
Schtlmau. The noes were Willis and Athey,
inspectors Berlaudi and Eurivht were ex.
cused. This repudiates the contract, and
leaves Andrews IL Co. 10 their legal rights.
ISSUING BONDS.
A resolution was offered directipc the
proper officers TO prepare bonds OF the board
OF education in the amount OF $50, 600 to
aid in the erection Of public school buildings
in 81. Paul. The bonds are to be issued In
the denominations Of $1,000 each, to bear
date of May ., 1855, payable on the ID day
of May, 1915, being thirty years, with inter
est at . per cent per snnum, PAYABLE semi
annually in New York. The bonds are to
be negotiated by the finance committee of
the board. Two amendments
were offered. one by Mr.. Gilbert and
one by Mr.. Willis, making changes rs 10
who should execute the bonds and providing
that they should De issued only as wanted.
After talking over the matter for awhile the
resolution aud the amendments were re-
ferrcd TO the finance committee and the at
torney to report ~ the next meeting.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The designations Of James II. Drake.
Dennis SULLIVAN and II. J. Horn were re-
received, accepted aud placed on file, after
which the board elected F. A. Fogg in place
Of Mr.. Hamilton. W. q. Robertson in place