The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-04-29
A SPIRITED MEETING
The Great Falls School Board Getting
Right Down to Business.
ABOUT THAT HIGH SCHOOL
COMMITTEES Appointed to Investf-
gate the Structure and Report
1T Was Not Wholly a
Harmonious Debate.

Great Falls. April 2s.-The school
board met last night in special ses-
sion. all members being present, in
Judge Burleigh's ONCE. in which the
board meets. and the adjoining room
was crowded with spectators. A let
ter from F. p. Leffingwell. the Chi
cago attorney Of the board. was read
The attorney says that the attorneys
for the American Exchange National
bank of Chicago. in the suit brought
by the district to recover IS 1000 depos-
tied in lieu of the $4,000 bonds. which.
IT is alleged, the suspended Merchants
National Bank of Great Falls, through
its president, VIII Hanks. hypothecat-
ed to tn American Exchange National
bank Marty two years ago. had inti-
mated that q compromise. which II
was thought, was satisfactory, would
be proposed IN a few days.
Clerk Caufield stated that there was
only s2.57 available in the general fund
to pay the salaries of teachers and
others for the month 81 April. The
balance Of nearly 5000 rests in the
suspended Merchants National bank.
Holmes said that some action should
be taken. but he would oppose all
propositions, except to close the
schools unless the board went into ex-
ecutive session. Raban said the trris-
tees were servants of the people, and
he saw no need of an executive ses-
sion. Cooper moved that the county
treasurer be requested to transfer
$5,2SS.10 from the special interest fund
to the general fund of the district
Raban seconded the motion and 1t was
unanimously carried. This action
leaves 500 In the special fund, to meet
the interest due July 1, at which time
an apportionment will be made.
Poole stated that he found 1t impos
sible to give the necessary time to his
duties as member of the building
committee. and rendered his resigna-
ton. On motion of Gockstetter, Sec
onded by Poole. the resignation was
accepted, and the chair was authorized
to appoint his successor. Hanks and
Gockstetter are the remaining MEM
bers of the committee.
An estimate of Mckay Bros. to the
amount of s1,954.60. 80 per cent of the
value of material used and labor per-
formed since April on the High
school building, was presented. Cock
stetter moved that the claim be al
lowed and a warrant drawn for the
amount Hanks seconded the motion.
Cooper asked the clerk to produce
the estimates heretofore allowed. This
was done, and after critically inspect
ing them, Cooper said: "It seems to
me that these estimates are coming
thick and fast. Two were allowed
April 6. one for $4.725, the other for
$2,505.S7. and now comes this one dated
April 90 From the limited amount Of
labor that seems to be done, 1 cannot
understand how the claims are SO
much. I have made study of the
sums heretofore allowed, and must say
that I have little confidence in Archi-
tect White or his figures. The time has
come when the constructions of this
building should be investigated. 1t is
charged that the work is crooked. If
that be SO. or IL 1t be not so. 1t is high
time that the board should know IL.
White, in dividingNthe number of cubic
feet of stone work, to obtain the num-
Der of perches, made a mistake of 10
perches in favor of Mckay Bros. This
was on the extra foundation, and has
been paid for at the rate of $40 per
perch. He made a mistake of over
1000 cubic feet in computing the ex-
cavation for extra footing. He has
taken outside measurements and fig
ured. double corners twice. Then he
notes, Add $3.50 for double corners F"
Here Gockstetter excitedly ex-
claimed: "You have no right to accuse
this board of what it has not done"
Cooper replied that he had not ac-
cused the board of doing anything.
'In fact-well, 1 will not say it," Cock
stetter said mo, guess not"
Cooper replied: well, 1 will say 1t,
then. 1t is evident that the board did
mighty little in the way of scrutinizing
Whites accounts" This remark was
followed by loud applause.
Cooper continued: "A great amount
iof the cement used is not Portland ce-
,ment. Masons tell me there is hardly
enough to form a percentage. If the
architect was ever near the building
he must have noticed that Akron ce-
ment was being used Applause.) 1t
is stated that the walls are not pointed
up. Asphaltum has not been used upon
1.-The walls except around the top, to
make a showing. When White submit
ted his Specifications he must have
known that the foundation was too
slight to sustain such a structure: IL
not, he is not the superintendent we
want. and shall vote against the pay
ment of another cent until an investi
CATION is had" loud applause)
Hanks asked If Mckay had given a
sufficient bond. Holmes said that one
of his bondsmn was a multo-million-
aire. Hanks said that in that event no
investigation was needed.
Holmes. referring to the errors in
Whites computations. said that IL was
the clerks duty TO ascertain IL the fig
ures were correct. This statement was
a surprise to the spectators. who be-
lieved that IT was the duty of the
auditing committee. Holmes said that
ne knew nothing about the cement.
but all unprejudiced masons said it
was good.
Gockstetter stated that the charges
preferred were false. and he was great
ly f1attered at the excellence of the
new building. and IL would be a credit
to the children when they entered IL at