Omaha daily bee., 1892-12-20
NEWS FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS
Member Wells Drops in at the Meeting Of
the Board Of Education.
SOMETHING OF A SENSATION RESULTS
lie Charges President waite with Having
Removed n Report on the school Book
oucstion-Refcrred the Matter
to "a Committee.

Hon. Lucius Wells has pleasant way of
turning up at meetings of the school board
just often enough to stir up muss with the
other members and keep them in blissful
state of uncertainty as to what is about to
happen Last evening, after missing several
meetings he was present, and the hearts of
his fellows were filed with vague unrest
and longing to know how the democratic
minority would distinguish itself at this
time. The longing was soon gratiiicd.
Mr.. Wells stated that a bin had been al
lowed by the board at previous meeting
which was all wrong. Bids were advertised
for putting in a new heating apparatus at
the Avenue b school house last May, and the
advertisement was answered by two local
firms, Shugart & Co., whose bid was $195,
and P G. Dcvol whose bid was $40 In
spite of the fact that the statutes provide
that contracts shall be let to the lowest bld-
der the board awarded the contract 10 Shu-
CART. He then offered a resolution, the SUB
stance of which was that Shugart y Co. be
requested to pay to the board s:}25, that
being the amount in excess of the lowest bid.
Bridcnsteiu at once arose and was going to
say that DcVol had admitted on the DAY
when the contract was awarded that his bid
had not met the requirements of the adVer-
tiscmcnt, when Stacy called him down bN
moving that the matter be laid over until
the next regular meeting in order that the
majority might post itself up so as to be on
a par with the minority. Wells seconded the
motion, which YVES unanimously carried
Two or three matters OF minor Importance
were then considered. such us ordering the
secretary to pay on the teachers next Erl-
day instead of Saturday, referring the re
quests of Misses BowltCr and Baldwin and
Mrs. Moore for moro heat in their recitation
rooms, and receiving the report of the super
ntendent, when Wells again arose, dipped
his spoon in the teapot, stirred vigorously II
few times, and then there WAS storm.
One on the President.
He called attention to the fact that the
report which he as president of the board,
had made at the close of last year, rendered
with reference to the school books, was still
missing, after repeated requests made by
him to President Waite that it be returned,
and then asked Waite if he had found it yet.
! Waite replied that he had not
Then, Mr.. President said Wells, 81 de
mand, in the name of the taxpayers, that 1t
! be returned at once to the secretary, who Is
the only custodian. 1t has been six months
since that report was picked up from that
table by YOU, and it has not yet been re-
turned. 1t is the only record of the school
| book transaction we have. ] move the adop-
| tion of this resolution
The resolution contained tine statement OF
Mr.. Wells as above given, and requested
| President Waite return it to the secretary.
II will second that" said Field, IF you
will add the clause. If he has the report il
| his possession "
II hardly think that clause is necessary
! ''rcpied Wells. 'lf he hasn't the report II
| his possession he can't return it, of course
But he took it from the table, and 50 he l:
| responsible for its return"
But you can't prove that / ever had it,,
said Waite, as he lay back in his char ant
| glared at Wells.
This was just what Wells had wanted, TO
quick as Il flash he ierlied a paper from hi
pocket and commenced to read. 1t was III
affidavit from Ed E. Wright, who was sccro
tary of the board last year, and in IL Nrlgh
stated that the report had been removed
from the table by Waite before he had ha'
time to record it, He had requested Wait
several times to return it, and Waite nlWay
agreed to until one time he became nettle
and said he wouldn't return it until he go
ready.
IL wantthat returned.' thundere d Wells
$50 that if the miserable wretch who las
spring maligncd two of the best citizen
Council Bluffs has ever had. ever tries
injure my character, the records may ShoN
the facts"
"Oh, we'll gentlemen said the president
"tnis is all buncombe; there is Il copy OF Tn
report or record
There is no report on record" repiic
Wells. "Eou took il ay,before it was el
tered upon the record
what if it isn't on record?h said Waite
we can get the booksellers statement an
you can make out another report, and if it
all right I'll certify to it again
After considerable talk and back tai
which was not very dignitied but rather ii
tcrcsting to the spectators, the question wa
referred to a special committee with inSLru'
tions to report at the next regular meetin!