The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-28
THE SCHOOL BOARD.
Sale OF Bonds Stirs Up a Lively
Discussion.
JAPANESE AT NIGHT SCHOOL
Objected to as PupiIs-Mr. Furth Has q
New Deal on Hand, but Another
Bidder Comes.

The school board last evening discussed
the vexed question of the 5000, 900 bonds
which were sold year ago but not de-
IVered, and are now almost sold again by
JACOB turth, when another fnancier is
desirous of bidding. The subject of ad-
uniting japanese pupils TO the night
school also had to be de!icately handled.
All the members were present, Mr.. Mac
Dougall presiding. The following report
from the committee on education on the
petition OF two teachers for increased
salaries was read and adopted:
Section Is of article OF the rules and regula-
lions for the government of city schools is as
follows:
"Ihe salaries of all teachers shall be in &C.
cordance with schedules that may be prescribed
by the board. No schedule shall be changed
except at the commencement OF a school year"
This is not an old, desd rule of the board, but
a new one presented and adopted during the
past summer, and appearing here in print for
the hrst time in the report of 1891. This being
so, ana the present school year being half out,
we cannot recommend violation, repeal or
amendment of the rule at this Tina The re-
quest for increased pay from two of the teachers,
referred to us at the last meeting, is returned
without approval for reasons indicated in the
foregoing.
Then came up the bond question. John
Farson, of Farson, Leach & Co., of New
York, asked whether the bonds were sold,
saying that, if they were not, he was
ready to make proposition. Mr.. Spen-
Ger said they were already sold. Mr..
Prosch stated that Jacob Furth had Just
told him he was negotiating for their sale
to w. X. Ballard at the terms of the
original contract. and considered the sale
closed unless there was some question as
to their legality. Mr.. Ballard told him he
had received telegram from parties in
the East saying they would take them if
they were straight.
These are the twenty-year bonds which
were sold year ago to Mr.. Furth as
agent for New York firm which after
wards refused to carry out its contract,
the terms being 5 percent interest and
$500 premium. Mr.. Furth then said
that he would not let the board be the
loser by the failure to carry out the con-
tract
An animated discussion followed, Mr..
MacDougall maintaining that the original
deal with Mr.. Furth was off, and that they
were at liberty to receive new bids on the
bonds. He held that Mr.. Furth had been
given reasonable time to complete the
purchase and had not done so. the result
being that the taxpayers had had to pay
10 per cent. interest on scrip for year in
stead of 5 per cent. interest on the bonds.
He wished to receive Mr.. Parsons pro-
position.
The other members expressed desire to
give Mr.. Furth further time to complete
his sale to Mr.. Ballard. They urged that
in law and fact the bonds were sold, hav-
N lei fn ha ntv fro
for delivery to Mr. Furth whenever he paid
for them, and Mr.. Prosch said he had told
that gentleman he had the first call for
reasonable time. In reply to a question
put by Mr.. Farson, Mr.. Spencer said tn at
there was no question but that Mr.. Furth's
principals could have been held to their
contract but the board preferred to avoid
long and protracted lawsuit.
Mr.. Mac DougaIl insisted that Mr.. Furth
had refused to receive the bonds, having
told him. Mr.. Hughes and Mr. Prosch that
he would not take them, though they had
been printed according to his orders. Mr..
MacDougall then wanted to know who was
to pay the extra 8 per cent interest for one
year, and Mr.. Spencer replied that he did
not know of any other offer having been
received since Mr.. Furth failed to take
know whether the expired coupons were
to be cut off before the bonds were deliv-
cred. Mr.. Prosch replied that they must
be delivered Immediately, and, if Mr..
Furth failed to hand over the expired
coupons, they would have right of action
against him. Mr.. MacDougall entered
protest against handing them over under
such conditions.
-
the adoption of a resolution to defer action
for ten days in order TO give Mr. Furth
time to close his negotiations.
A letter from Senator Squire, inquiring
as to the proposed purchase of block IL,
Eastern addition, was laid over till the
question of sites is considered.
Mr.. Spencer stated the result of inquiries
he had made as to sites suitable for
High school, and named several which
could be had at reasonable figures. 1t was
decided TO consider the matter on Mon
day.
The contract for putting a skylight in
the Central school building was let to
Flynn & Rockmark for $S25.
Mr.. Prosch reported that Miss Purdy,
teacher of the night school, had found her
five japanese pupils untidy and unclean
IN tnelr uresS ana HSUlts, anu tney naQ
unpronounceable names, and had to be
distinguished by numbers. She had COM
planned 10 Mr.. Peet, the principal and he
had unceremoniously bounced th EN- with
out consulting Superintendent Barnard.
Mr.. Prosch suggested that some gentler
method might be tried for eliminating
that element.
Mr.. Spencer said they could make rules
as to personal cleanliness 10 govern the
japanese, but could not exclude them.
There were Japanese classes IN day schools
in various Coast towns. and they were
popular with the other pupils. There was
one Japanese who was leader among his
people and he waxed sarcastic about the
land of the free in discussing the matter.
MI Bnrwell did not see how they could ne
excluded where tree education was offered.
vrbyIa not in tanning the