The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-23
school Board Majority Compelled, by
Mr.. Hendrfckson's and BIackIedge's
Arguments, to Stay Its Hand.
TOO MUCH FOR MR.. Russo
COULD NOT SWALLOW THE Attest
MOVE AND DESERTED.
Board Refuses 10 Obey Mr.. Martini
dale and Approve Work which the
Architect VIII Not ndorse

held for Many months. The discussions at
times became extremely personal. One
member was told that he lied, another
member said another made him weary, and
there were hints regarding the motives of
other members. President Martindale in
ferred that the action of the minority was
humiliating, and the minority answered
back. The question of approving the nal
estimates on the new Manual Training
School building was what stirred up all
the strife. The Manual Training School
committee and the supervising architect
have never made ae written re-
port upon the building, and the
board has no statement that the
work has been lone according to specifica-
tons. President Martindale, assisted by
members Roth and Adam, attempted to
railroad the final estimates through with
out any report. The minority, under Com
missioner Blackledge, resisted the at
tempted passage of the estimates. So Wig
orous a stand did they take that they pre-
vented their adoption. commissioners APP
pei and Russo joined with the minority in
the voting. After the meeting had adj
journed there were several wordy wars,
but no serious difficulty resulted.
At the last session of the board the
question of final estimates arose. Mem
bers of the minority then won a victory
by delaying the adoption until a report
could be obtained from Charles. A. Dryer,
attorney of the board, as to whether the
claims held by subcontractors and work.
men against j. c. Pierson & CO., the prin-
cipal contractors, would exempt the board
from litigation If the final estimates of
Pierson & Co. were accepted. Mr..
Dryer last evening reported that the
h0ar d WAS cafe araiuct c1ofrc ~, u1lnvipu
the final estimates. IL the building has been
erected according to contract. He said I'M
der the laws of the State the board could
not be held liable for minor claims.
At the conclusion of the reading of the
report of Mr.. Dryer Mr.. Scott arose and
asked, slnilingly, IL the committee on the
building had ever made any report show
ing the building had been completed ac-
cordlng to specifications. He said he
thought II would be we'll for the board to
hear something from the committee which
has had the building In charge, as well as a
word from the supervising architect. Mr..
Biackledge then presented a motion in
writing. proposing that all action on the
final estimates be postponed until a re-
port could be heard. In sustaining his mo-
ton he said II was proposed to accept tho
work and approve the estimates without
one word OF approval from the Manual
Training School committee or one word
from the supervising architect to show
that the work has been completed accord
Ing TO contract. MIR. Roth said when the
architect approved estimates 1t was his ap-
prevail of the work, and he said IL was a
great wrong to the contractors and to the
workingmen to defer action and keep their
money from them. Mr.. Blackledge re-
sponded by saying that he was not in favor
OF conducting business upon any, sentiment
tai basis. IL the building was completed
properly let the committee report upon the
same, and then 1t would be proper for the
board 10 approve the estimates. Mr.. Hen
Erickson arose and created quite a Juror
by saying:
but a few members of this board have
known anything about the construction of
the Manual Training School building. Most
OF us have been kept in the dark and there
seems a disposition to keep us there longer.
what l want to know and what this board
should demand, is has that building been
constructed according to Specifications? l
was down there Friday and l must say
l was disappointed in it. 1t is not what I
feet building. / observed some things and
l don't think it complete and it does seem to
me this board should have some report be-
Tore we allow hnal estimates and virtually
accept the work"
Er. Russo surpassed Mr.. Hendrickson in
the way of a sensation by saying he
thought the committee should make a re-
port. President Martindale looked at Mr..
Russo in much the same manner as a.
fond parent looks at his child when the
latter declares his independence of the
parental roof. Mr.. Martindale called Mr..
Appel to the chair and took a position
a spirited manner.
Il called Mr.. Appel to the chair because
argument from the floor. / say emphatical-
~ that the final estimates are not in the
have been. / say emphatically that the
committee on the Manual Training School
building will not make a report tonight
know anything about the building it is
a humiliating confession. 1t is as much
sHur pps, Train; as th scho OF a cn member Of the he
your ignorance is a pretense it is dishonor-
able. anyway it is humiliating. 1t is
men would try to transact business upon
PARTISAN and personal grounds. If you
fail to adopt the final estimate upon this
building you make contractors trouble and
expense. You put the School Board to an
expense. | am ashamed of you if you
do it," Mr.. Martindale said more, and
all the while he spoke was very much in
earnest. He was first fushel and then he
he be'l had P Pnish as ms he e toos the eh gIew and M naa
forced to recognize Mr.. Blackledge, who
ut is no more humiliating for a member
of this board to know nothing of the Man
ual School building that it was for the
manual school committee to call in an
marks have been lengthy and labored and
not at all convincing. The mmi
which has taken all the glory of erecting
the Manual School building should not
refuse 10 produce the facts"
".Whas facts" interrupted Mr.. Martin
dale.
The Facts whether tina building has been
CONSTRUCTED according to specifications re-
torted AIR. Blackledge.
Don't you know that it has, incurred
MIR. Martindale excitedly.
If | did / would not be standing here"
replied Mr.. Blackledge.
We'll, how many times do you nave
to be told a thing" said Mr.. Martindale
rather sharply, to which Mr.. Blackledge
laughed and then continued, shaking his
finger at the president:
IF you, as chairman of that committee.
can not sit down and write five lines say
ing that building has been finished accord
ing to contract, no number of smiles and
nice talk will change me from the position
formation / become more firm In my stand.n
Then Mr. Hendrickson arose and he. too.
shook his finger at Mr.. Martindale and said
in measured words:
when the committee was appointed to
Superfntend the erection of the Manual
Training School. certain members of this
board went to the chairman of that COM
mittee and asked for nformatio uDon a
few minor matters. / remember that you
told us that no would be
furnished by that committee"
That's a lie" came in a whisper from a
member OF the board not a great distance
from Mr.. Adams desk, but Mr.. Hendrick-
son did not hear the remark, and continued:
II remember that you said. We don't
propose TO give Information I can't find
words expressing enough confempt for "A