The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-12
TOEXPERT THE BOOKS
School Board Decides to Hum
or the Suspicious.
TROUBLE WITH The JANiTORS.
Protest Against a New Appointee-
New Candidates TOR Posffious-That
sidewalk Question.

The new school bard took steps las.
night 70 inquire into the exact status %
the finances % the district. so "a to sat
ISIS. fha people VINO have been cIamor1n-
for an exporting q the books. A COM
rnlttee was appointed 70 ind out the cost
OF such an undertaking ana report 70 the
hoard az the next meeting. The board also
listened 70 several protests. went through
another hatch Of sppica fions for tire posi-
tons OF ian.tor and stenographer. made
several changes in the monthly pay roll Of
teachers and generally cleaned up the bust
ness on the table. A. A. Guernsey. the
new clerk, officiated for the FIRST time and
gave good satisfaction
one or two corrections were made in the
minutes of the previous meeting. the most
important one being the portion that re-
ferred TO the appointment OF c. A Spriggs
a janit0r OF the Central school. The min.
utes showed that he appeared In person
before the hoard. and also made mention
OF his having been Endorsed by the Su-
prerne Mass battery OF the 4. +. A. also
the local canton. Wells said Spriggs was
not present at the meeting and had the
minutes changed. Mrs. Thomas said she
did not see why any mention OF the in
dorsement should be made on the minutes
a. all.
ChTlberg took the initiative in the book
exporting matter by introducing the fol-
lowing resolution:
whereas, Charges Of extravaganza and
even fraud in the expenditure OF the funds
of school district No. / have been made
privately and publicly; and
Whereas. II is but right that the tax
PAYERS OF the said district should know If
such charges have been based upon fact.
Whereas. The only manner in which iC-
formation can he gained Is by a thorough
exporting OF the books. accounts and
vouchers OF said district. therefore. he X
Resolved. That a committee be appoint
ed to ascertain the cost OF such inyestiga-
ton and report as soon as practicable to
the board"
President Churchill appointed Chilbera
and Wells a committee TO investigate the
matter
A petition, signed by 1Ss citizens OF Ere
mont. asking that Joseph III. Carter, the
deposed janitor Of the r. f. Day school
at Fremont, he reInstatei. for the reason
that he was the best tanitor ever oonnect-
ed with the school. and was let out for no
reason whatever. was presented. Ralph
Simon appeared before the board in the in
terest of Carter and the petitioners and
stated that Shuester. the man appointed aG
the previous meeting of the board, got
his appointment by unfair means and mis-
representations Simon produced an affda-
petition. stating that ne (Shuester) told
him that Carter intended Tesigning the
position No action was taken on Carriers
petition for reinstatement.
The Washington Telephone and Electric
Company. through its secretary. j. L.
Damon, made the board the same offer as
IL made the fire department last week, 10
put sets of Blake instruments in all the
schools and furnish the wire for $50
each. the district TO own the system out
right. The proposition was discussed quite
freely. pro and con. and the matter re-
ferred TO the committee on buildings and
grounds for consideration.
Secretary Guernsey stated that he had
received bids from the Post-Intellgencer.
Gail. Times Spirit oe Seventy-Six. Re
publican and several other papers for pub
fishing the yearly report OF the secretary.
and that the bid OF the Post-Intelligencer
was the lowest. No action was taken.
a communication from the board OF pub
lie works calling attention to the unsafe
condition OF the sidewalk on Annie street.
on Queen Anne hill. was read. Attorney
White said the law provides that the city
must pay for all these improvements, and
recommended that nothing be done.
Petitions for the position Of janltor. most
OF them fon the new school building being
erected on Queen Anne hill, were re-
ceiyed: Albert johnson. r. y. Huse, ".
c. Beatty and Thomas Hood. Another
large petition. recommending Miss Belle
Humes for the position or stenographer 10
the superintendent, was read, but with
the ones for janitor were filed. A protest
from number OF parents in the vicinity
OF Cascade school against sending their
children away up TO the Columbia school
was also placed on file.
4 communication was received from
William Caldwell asking that committee
from the board consult with him on the
contract between the Oregon Improve
ment Company and the school board.
which the company claims the board went
back or, and thus save the probable trou-
bic OF a lawsuit. The board decided to
answer IL by saying that 1t did not make
any contract with the company but as a
matter Of accommodation would appoint
Mr.. King a committee OF one TO confer
with Mr.. Caldwell in regard to the mat
ter.
In making out the pay rolls several
teachers, who had been laid off by either
fire in their respective buildings or scar
latina. had been locked. Mr.. Wells did
not believe this the right thing to do. and
thought they should he allowed their sal
aries. which was unanimously agreed TO
by the board.
It was decided 10 allow one week vsca-
ton for the holidays. This really means
two weeks for the children. "a state
teachers institute has been called by State
Superintendent Layhue for the week pre-
ceding Christmas