Morning journal and courier., 1893-09-21
LIVELY SCHOOL MEETING.

School-BIds to be Restricted to
Residents OF This City-Attorney
Newton's Eloquent Plea for Equal
Rights for All WOrkmen-The Tax |
Fixed at Three and a Half Mills |
Mr. Graves Makes an Explanation.
The school meeting last evening in War |
ner hall was one of the most entertaining
and at times exciting ever held in this city.
The meeting was largely attended and
much interest was manifested in the pro-
ceedipgs. The labor unions were repre-
sented by large delegation, and succeeded
In having vote passed to the effect that
none but union labor should be employed
In the construction of tbs new manual
training school. Motions were also passed
that the bonds of the collector and treas
urer should $40, 1000 each; that an appro-
priation of $13, 900 for free text books be
made; that an appropriation of $50, 600 be
made for the equipment of the manual
school; that vote of thanks be rendered
Mrs. Lucy Boardman for her additional
gift of $50, 900, and last, but by no means
least, that the acts of the board of educa-
ton In reference to the expenditure of
money in securing the normal school for
this city be approved and the retiring
members of the board were rendered a
vote of thanks for their services in the
board.
Promptly at 7:3O o'clock Clerk BENJAMIN
R. English mounted the stage and read the
call for the meeting. Alderman A. Msxey
Killer of the First ward was nominated
for chairman, unanimously elected, and
the meeting was ready for business. The
minutes of the previous annual and special
meetings were read and approved.
Clerk English then read resolution to
the effect that the bonds of the collector
and treasurer be each fixed at $40 ,0GG and
1t was unanimously passed as were also
resolutions that tax of 81 mills be laid,
that the town be asked to appropriate
$25, 900 for the equipment of the manual
training school. It was also voted to ex-
tend a vote of thanks to Mrs. Lucy Board
man for her munifcent gift of $50, 900 ad-
ditional for the manual training school.
Up to this time the meeting had been of
usual nature, but from now on it became
unusually lively and interesting. MIR. En-
glish read resolution to the effect that
the building of the manual training school
and the high school be commenced as soon
as possible and that no bids for the work
be entertained from anyone not resident
of this city. This resolution was seconded
by F. B. Farnsworth.
Charles E, Graves arose from a chair in
| the rear of the hall and atated that he OBJ
| jected to the passage of the resolution in
80 far as it referred to the building of the
| high school. He stated that an appropris.
| ton of $170, 900 had been made for the
! high school and that 1t would cost $35, 900
| OF this amount for the site. He recon-
mended that the amount be expended for
| the site and that plans be made and the
| probable coat Of the building estimated
l and reported to q subsequent meeting of
the district He suggested that the reso-
| luton be amended by striking out the
| words "and high school," so that the vote
| would refer only to ths manual training
! school.
Isaac N. Ullman inquired as to how
| much money there was available for the
manual training school.
"Perhaps Mr.. Graves or some Other
member Of the board of education can give
the information" replied Chairman Hitler
eff you call on an ex-member of the
board, will tell you" said Mr.. Graves
"Thers is at present $50, 900, Of which $50,
600 is for the site and $25, 200 for tn,
equipment of the same"
| Attorney Newton seconded Mr.. Graves
amendment, and Chairman Hitler wa
about to put the amendment when Charles
E. Gay arose and objected to the clause re-
stricting the bids to New Haven contract
ors on the ground that it was not necessary
to build Chinese wall around the city ant
that If the local builders could not AFFORD
to do the work at prices which outside con
tractors could they ought not to have tn
work.
Notwithstanding Mr.. Graves objectio,
i ana motion aooapda1 bv Mr. Hrovoo xvo
passed almost unanimously.
At this point another bombshell wa
sprung upon the meeting in the shape of
! resolution to the effect that the board Q
education should be ordered to purchas
no good made in prisons. Up to this tim
the representatives of the several labo
unions of the city, all of whom were seate'
together near the center of the hall unde
the leadership of John E. Fitzgerald, lat
candidate for member of the board of edu
cation, had apparently taken but little in
! cue. Instantly Mr.. Fitzgerald arose an
moved that the resolution be amended b
the addition of the words land that non
but union men be employed in the con
struction of the manual training school.
This was objeated to by one of the ger
tlemen present who stated that he was
workman aud not member of the unto
but that this was free country and b
had an equal right with all others to secur
| work on the new building.
Attorney Henry G.. Newton also or
posed the amendment claiming that th
l whole thing was out of order and not |
the call and that no notice had been give
| of any special matter to come before til
meeting. Chairman Hitler, however, rule
the question in order, and Attorney New
, ton continues: "Such rule is not Just nc
f is it right. Suppose a crowd of Italian
should come into this meeting and try I
pass motion to the effect that none BIT
: Italians should be employed on"
"Does the gentleman refer to us as TIA
ians" inquired Mr.. Fitzgerald.
After this interruption Mr.. Newton cor
tinued: The manual training school. Thi
action would have no validity. How muc
\ validity do you suppose such an action b
5 | the Italians would have3 This actio
which you are asked to take will have in.
as much force as though you passed vol
to the effect that none but men standin
FIVE feet nine inches in height and havin
+ black hair should be employed. The vol
| will not stand in any court of justice
the land. Men are supposed in this cour
3 try to have equal rights, and that is til
3 cardinal principle of the government
h.. What would you think of the right OF jul
j
5 one class of mena
The amendment was, however, favore
+ by a number of men, some of whol
q claimed that the bstter class of mechanic
> all belonged to the unions, that the NEE
ing had passed vote restricting the bic
to New Haven contractors, and that tt
J. Builders exchange was but a union who's
a object 1t was to beat men and keep u
>, prices.
The question was then called for and
4 viva vcce vote was taken, after whic
t Chsirman Hitler declared the amendmsr
passed.
II doubt it," called out Postmast,
Sperry.
eyes, but 1t ia an unreasonable doubt
Q | replied Leader Fitzgerald.
r The motion was again put and owe
whelmingly carried in rising vote.
John T. Sloane here asked Clerk Englis
o to note an objection to the validity of tt
. | vote, and his request was complied with.
O. At this point motion to adjourn W,
made and q number of those present left Il
hall, but the end was not yet and the m
ton to adjourn was lost.
MR. GRAVES EXPLAINS.
u One of the interesting features which
> had been supposed would come up at Il
. meeting had not up to this time bee
u sprung. After the motion to adjourn hs
% been lost Attorney 81. E. Benton, chairma
1T of the republican state committee, aro
and called attention to a certain matt
10 which he said had been discussed in IL
~ newspapers and on the streets, and tn
70 was the expenditures by the board of ed
4 - Al. H-I