The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-20
MINORITY WON POINT
SCHOOL BOARD, FOR ONCE, HEEDs
MIR. BLAcIxLEDGE's REMARKS.
A Routine Meeting, with Little Busi-
ness and of Less Inferest-snpt.
G0ss Gets a Vacation.

The School Board held session last even
ing, consumed some time. but did very lit
tie. President Martindale had his neck
tied up and seemed TO be suffering with
boil. But few of the commissioners opened
their mouths during the entire meeting,
except to vote upon questions put by the
president. The average meeting of the
School Board strikes stranger as very
peculiar affair. The commissioners have
little to say, except the minority, who
awaken occasionally and offer some pro-
test. The majority seldom speaks, not
deigning to notice the arguments of the
minority. Last evening when President
Martindale had motion he wanted put,
he nodded to member of the majority and
received a nod in return and then Sec
ond member of the majority nodded and
Mr. Martfndale announced cit was moved
and seconded" The minority one
small victory last evening. The matter of
approving the final estimates for the Man
ual Training School came up for consider
alton. President Martindale thought they
should be approved without delay, the
contractors could get their money. Mr..
Blackledge thought the matter should be
referred to the attorney of the board, as
there are several claims against the
principal contractors, Pierson & Co., which
have not been settled. Mr.. Martindale re-
piled to Mr. BIackledge at length, in which
he quoted to Mr.. Blackledge the law upon
liens and told how he had personally in
vestigated the question One of the liens
against the. contractors Is held by Cleve-
land firm for fire-proof brick. Mr.. Black
ledge in his remarks said:
Il know very little of this affair, and in
fact, / did not know until a minute ago
the one upon which we paid $4,000 for maxi
ing fire proof and last week insured for
$4,000, but know as a matter of business,
no estimates should be allowed until we
have heard from an attorney regarding
the legality of the claims.
The result of the somewhat leeless dis
cussion was that the matter was referred
to the boards attorney with instruction to
report. at the meeting of the board Mon
Professor Emmerich,. of the Training
School, suggested the dedicatory exercises
Of 9th, the new school be held Nay 9 ana 10
Mr.. Emmerich advised that the building
be thrown open Thursday. evening and
Friday evening, a reception be given to
the friends and parents OF the pupils
President Martindale thought a committee
for the dedication. Mr. Henrickson said
he wanted to know if the committee should
BACK to i the eoh hosr and Il the dedication
was to be a dress parade affair" Mr.
dress parade business at the dedication of
such a building as that of the Manual
Training School. Mr.. -Martindale SAID the
committee should report to the board and
Mr. Hendrickson seemed satisfied. Pro-
fessor Emmerch and commissioners Mar
tindale, Adam, Vonnegut, Roth and Scott
were appointed the committee.
superintendent of Schools Goss made a
report showing that there were fewer
children in school last term than there
were the corresponding term of the pre-
ceding year. This fact, he thought, was
due to the prevalence of contagious dis
eases, but he added that there are more
children now in school than there were
this time a year ago. Superintendent Goss
said truancy is decreasing. Mr.. Goss asked
the board to grant him vacation, as he
wants to visit the schools of other cities.
The board granted him all of next week,
during which time he will visit the schools
of Chicago, st. Louis, Kansas City and
other Western cities.
DR. CASTOR sent letter to the board
saying he had chance to rent the third
floor of the building at Ohio and Delaware
streets which would relieve the. board of
an unnecessary expense. The building was
rented for school purposes and then de-
serted because Dr.hGaston refused to erect
fire-escape. DIR. CASTOR still claims the
board has the building leased, but the
board took it by consent that the accept
ance of the proposition of a suitcase would
eomplicate matters, so the communication
was referred to the committe on finance,
w. A. Omstead's bid for black boards
in the three new school buildings was the
lowest and the board accepted it upon the
recommendation of the finance committee.