The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-02-06
BOARD HAS A SULTRY TINE
Mr.. Frenzel Kicks Up a Lively Row
Among the School Commissioners.
The Lie. Charges of Dishonesty, Threats and
Other Little Amenities Exchanged with
the Finance Committee.

The white love OF peace did not hover
about the office of the School Board Com
mi~ssioners last evening. but on the con-
trary 1t was one of the stormiest sessions
that that usually quiet and ceremonious
body ever knew. Fierce debate was in
dulged in By men whose demeanor is gen.
orally that of unrufied dignity, and for Q
while it seemed that the meeting would
break up in o disgraceful row.
IL was q mistake to say that the white
love of peace did not hover around. for it
did hover during the first half hour of the
session, but the storm-clouds began TO
gather and the love disappeared down the
back stairway. Trouble of o dark-bay
color began to brew when the finance COM
mlttee was called upon for q report. 1t was
then that Commissioner Vonnegut stated
that the committee had received and
opened bids for taking the school enumer-
alton, but wanted further time for consid-
Grafton.
Mr.. Frenzel then made a few remarks. IL
the bids had been opened. he said. the CON-
mittee ought To report them TO the board.
Commissioner Coffin, of the finance CO m
mittee. explained that the bidders were
uuknOWu u tuo COIuflilLlcoA II tndL
of the gentlemen whom the bidders gave
as reference were also unknown 70 the
committee. The request for further time
was to enable the committee to investigate
and insure itself that the bidders were bona
ide. 1t was not always. he said. the low
est bidder who was the best.
Commissioner ErenZel said he granted
the fact the bids should be investigated.
board and the public should not know of
their character and the amount. The CONT
mIttee was not an individual. but had been
directed by the board and elected by the
people. and certainly wed something to
those agencies. The committee had no
right to keep the bids from the public. and
could gain no good results by such action.
1t wos setting u bad precedent. he said. If he
remembered correctly, heretofore bids for
such purposes had been opened at q meet
ing OF the board. f,
DEFEATED on THE FIRST ROUND.
COMMISSIONS Conner held that the last
assertion was not correct, and President
Baker interrupted long enough 10 say that
he had once upon a time been Q member of
the finance committee. and from what he
remembered 1T had not been the custom to
open bids in open meeting Of the board.
Commissioner FrenZel commended that he
was right. however, and that it was due to
the public that the bids on taking the
school enumeration should not De in
definitely withheld. If the committee in
sisted on holding the bids back. not only
from the public but from the School Board.
1t would be subjected eighty to the most
severe criticism.
"Probably the commissioners over there
would be able to decide on the character
of bids and the capability of the bidders
without investigation" exclaimed Com
missioner Coffin, sarcastically, referring to
Mr.: Frenzel. -
eff you would give up the secret which
you gnard SO carefully it Is very likely that
could" responded Mr.. Frenzel. Other
remarks of thisf fiery. untamed sort passed
between the gentlemen, and Mr.. Frenzel
moved that the bids be made known. Com
missioner Conner objected strenuousIy,
and moved to lay FrenzePs motion on the
table.
The effort to suppress these bids and
keep them from the public gaze" eaid Com
missioner Frenzcl, lis being made by the
finance committee alone. No possible harm
could come from making the bids known,
but their suppression sets q bad precedent
and leaves the committed open TO criticism
that. DO matter how severe, Is perfectly
just"
prevailed, Messrs. FrenZel and Calvin vot-
ing against 1t. and the report of the COM
mlttee was received as read.
CAUSE oil THE o ROW.
The buildings and grounds committee
was next called. and Chairman Scott read
q report recommending the purchase of
three lots ut the corner of Market and CAL
lfornia streets for $4,000 upon which to
erect o school building to take the place
of buildings Nos. 8 and ID, which it is in
tended to consolidate. Mr.. Scott laughed,
as ne read the report, and said he guessed
the board had heard OF the matter before.
He then went on TO say that the committee
had investigated the question thor
0nQnlV- ann han G0m4 10 tn4
conclusion that the lots named was
the most desirable ground upon
which to locate the building: that
the committee bad negotiated the matter
through an outside person, and had got an
option. which expired In a day or two. on
the property for SO. 600: that the owners of
the property did not know for what pur-
pose it was to be used, and the committee
aware of the fact that the School Board
wanted it and had to have it the owners
would at once advance the price.
wouid ask that the repou BIO
adopted Ssrcba ssd tns authority %4aapd T as o0c It
The property on which buildingsNos. 5 and
Is are now located. Commissions Scott
said, could, in the estimation of the COM
mittee. be sold for about three-fourths the
price asked for the three lots named. 1t
would. no doubt. impress the mombers, he
said. that ST.. 100 wae a big price. but the
Investment Company. which owned two of
the lOts, winch they nciu at S9,OUU, had
shown to the committee conclusively that
1t realized 9L2 per cent. on an investment
of $4,000 in the property.
The reading of the report. and the SUBJ
sequent explanation, called forth from Mr..
Frenzel a perfect whirlwind of ~eloquence.
The attempt to rush this matter through
in one night, in the same way that tie re-
port of the finance committee was done.
was the straw that broke the cancels back
with him.
II do think this is O most contemplate
piece of business" said he, vehemently.
1T Is a repetition of what has already
been attempted here tonight. 1t is a
thing deserving of the severest rebuke.
Here we have member who have brought
up q proposition, or a recommendation. in
are attempting to whip it through in q sln-
gle night. 1t isl moi just-itis contemplate.
1t is not honest"
"Mef" exclaimed Mr.. Scott. with rising
anger.
HIS HARGE
BE careful, Mr.. Frenzcl." admonished
President Baker. sootbingly.
Il am responsible for every word / say
continued Commissioners Frenzel "I re-
peat that this attempt to rush an lmpor-
tant matter through in ono night is not
treating the other members of the board as
they should be treated. Common decency
would demand that sou give the rest OF
the commissioner an opportunity to in
i yeafiQate the euifahilifv If fhis purchase