St. Paul daily globe., 1890-12-06
Foley, Educational Inspector,
Wants a Supepintend-
.ent to Weigh Coal,
But Other Members on the
Board Are Not Of the Same
Opinion.
The Mayor to Have a Tighter
Grip on Expenses Of the
Public Schools.
Eastern Capitalists Buy Up
Extensive Blocks of st.
Paul Property.

There was special meeting of the
educational board last evening. Only
six members-a quorum-responded to
the call, Messrs. Croonquist, Foley,
Nettleton. Merrill, Keogh and Rodger.
Neither the president or the vice presi-
dent being in attendance. after consid-
cradle dallying around Inspector
Croonquist summoned up sufficient
courage to call the meeting to order,
when he was promptly voted to the
chair. None of the standing commit
tees had any reports to make, and the
first thing touched upon was a reSOlu-
ton proposed by Inspector Foley.
Resolved, That the board OF education of
the city of ST.. Paul instruct the committee
on fuel and janitors to engage competent
person to superintend the weighing of coal
at salary not to exceed SIS per month.
Mr.. Foley wanted this resolution
adopted right way, but Mr.. Croonquist
questioned the advisability of such a
course. 1t should first be referred to
the committee on fuel and janitOrs.
MIR. Foley-If you don't decide upon
this now you might as well drop it alto
gether, for man appointed to weigh
coal in January would be practically
useless.
Mr.. Croonquist-This means an ex-
penditure of 5000.
MIR. Foley-Oh. no! We will only re-
quire the man for three months.
MIR. MerrilI-ThiS resolution should
go to the committee OH fuel and jani-
tors. move that it be so referred, with
power to act.
Mr.. Foley-I accept that amendment.
Mr.. Croonquist-But question very
much whether you can delegate that
power to any committee. You had bet
ter wait until the next meeting.
Mr.. Foley 1t will be too late then.
Mr.. Merrill-There is no doubt that a
superintendent should be employed to
see that we get proper weight for coal
supplied. We are simply at the mercy
of the coal dealer.
Mr.. Rodger questioned the advisable
ity of employing such man. What
were they going to gain? The man
would have to see the coal weighed and
delivered, and how was he going to do
that? 1t was impossible for one man.
and that being so, they would accom-
plish nothing by the outlay.
A vote was taken upon the reference
to the committee. Yeas-Croonquist,
Foley, Merrill. Nays - Nettleton,
Keogh and Rodgers. The motion was
consequently lost.
Mr.. Merrill had adopted resolution
requiring all resolutions changing the
charter of the board to be referred to
the legislative committee. Mr.. Merrill
followed this up with resolution pro-
posing an alteration in the charter,
which is that all resolutions involving
the expenditure of money shall, before
they take effect, be presented to the
mayor Of the city. If he approves the
same, he shall sign them; if not, he
will give his objections by letter, and
the proposed expenditure will be frus-
trated, unless passed over the veto
by a tWo-thirds vote of the mem-
berS of the board. Mr.. Rodgers
resolution recommending change in
the charter, creating an advisory board,
was also referred to the executive COM
mittee.
Mr.. Rodger proposed an increase of
salaries of Engineer d. w. Pond, of
Franklin school, S75 to 500 per month,
and Engineer Webber, of Humboldt
school, s67 to S75, but the matter was
turned over to the committee on fuel
and janitors. Mr.. Roger urged the in
crease because these men were receiv-
ing less salary than was being paid
other engineers. For instance, the
engineer of the Eigh sch oil received SO
per month, with rooms, fuel and light;
engineer of Madison, 500 per month.
two assistants; engineer of Jefferson
school. $75, with rooms. fuel and light;
engineer of Lincoln, S75, with rooms,
fuel and light.