The morning call., 1894-03-02
THEIR TACTICS ARE DILATORY.


the death of James Lick and the probating
of his will, which named many requests
for the promotion of art. science and
education.
OF all the legacies and requests con-
tanned in the viii it may be said that the
only real one for the benefit of young men
and women that the philanthropist left
was that for the bnilding of the Lick
Mechanical School of Arts, and this to-day
is being allowed to lnger and become
almost forgotten.
OF the fourteen different funds made
from the estate for the purpose of carrying
out the intentions of the deceased but
three now remain that have not been
exhausted. Among these are the historic
bronze statuary for which 100000 was set
aside and which will be competed in
about a year; the Francis Scott Key
monument at Golden Gate Park, now
completed but tied up in litigation. and
the Lick Mechanical School of Art, toward
the building of which the first spadeful of
earth has not been turned. An insult
able lot some three years ago was pUr-
chased. but nothing has been done.
The beQuest comes under the fourteenth
head of the will, and provides a trust to
found and endow, at cost Of $40, 900. an
institution to be called The California
School OF Mechanical Arts" the object
and purpose of which shall be to educate
males and females in the practical arts Of
life, such as workers in wood, iron, stone
and all kinds of metals and in whatsoever
Industry in which intelligent mech anical
skill can be applied. A provision of the
beQueS. is that the institution shall be
open to all youths born in California
& board of trustees was named who
were required to acquire the site and to
form corporation among themselves to
rear and manage the school, By he pro-
visions of the will when a member died or
was removed another should be appoin ted.
and with several changes made the pres
ent trustees are: Horace Davis (president),
John o. Earl, q. s. Halldie, John Il.
B0alt and Rev. Horatio Stebbins.
1t is now almost nine years since dis
tributiOn was commenced. For long
time since the estate commenced to dis
burse the trustees of the Mechanical Arts
School. appointed by the will, contested
that the interest aecruing from the use of
their money. $4,000. should belong to
their trust from the beginning and form a
part Of the original bequest. which in
Itself, they commended, vas not sufficiently
large 10 eslablish and end0w the school.
The Pioneer Society and the Academy
OF Sciences, reSlduary legatees under the
Will, claimed that he interest on all the
undivided funds belonged TO them until
draw their share as intended.
After long fight in all the tribunals,
the Supreme Court in July last ruled In
their favor and den ed the interest to the
Art School. Under the same decision the
trustees IF the free baths were deprived
of a similar claim.
Since the time of that decision nothing
has been done by the trustees of the Art
School toward getting the building erected
and the school started. The old claim
l. % n 80 a
and maintain it was the excuse for some
time.
Then came the changing of the street
grade around the block owned by the trus-
tees on the high lands at the head of Mis-
sion Bay by the City Supervisors. Here
again was an other stumbling block.
The grade bad been raised several
inches above the lot so as 10 make ii an
undesirable site for the school, unless a
considerable amount of money was ex-
pended in raising the lot to the official
grade.
With these two impedmentS standing
in the way the trustees Fave coniented
themselves with doing nothing and several
meetings have been held and the matter
discussed, but no steps pointing to an III
Innate completion OF the school have been
taken.
At the last meeting held some weeks
ago. plan was discussed to dispose of the
property owned by the trustees and rent
some building in which the school could be
started. On going to the Lick fund trus-
tees it was found that the Mechanical Arts
School fund could not be drawn on for
rental and the matter was dropped.
During the past three weeks President
Horace Davis mas been corresponding with
several parties who own sites that could
be used and which are located in the resi-
dence portion of the city, with view to
calling another meeting and submitting a
new site for the purchase.
In connection with this he has been in
communication with Dir. Cogswell regard
ing the purchase of his school building,
provided lie is successful in his suit for con-
troll of his trust.
In this way the matter rests as rather
vague uncertainty. while the Pioneer
Society and Academy of Sciences grow
rich on the interest of the Mechanical Art
School bequest. This will continue until
such times as the school trustees make up
their minds Just what they will do with
the trust imposed in them.
Speaking of the matter. II. E. Matthews,
secretary of the Lick fund, said: THE
money is all ready for the school trustees
as soon as they will commence work
Until they do The two societies that the
court has ruled are entitled 10 it draw the
interest on the fund.
"The trustees of the Mechanical Art
School must build or buy a place. They
cannot rent, and all the time they are talk
ing about renting they are wasting time"
BY one clause in the will it will be per-
ceived that all young men and young
women born in this State are entitled TO
the advantages of the proposed school.
Therefore he youth of every county in the
State can enjoy these privileges, in fact.
1t would become a State Institution, one
Of the most valuable now and hereafter,
and not only be free from taxation OF all
kinds but might receive aid through legls-
laiion if desirable.
A forcible idea of the amount being
withheld from the youth of the city may
terest' alluded TO by Mr.. Matthews
amounts to no less than 500 day.