Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-01-30
WRANGLE ABOUT A BOILER
A Committee Alleged to Have
Exceeded Its Authority.
SCHOOL BOARDS LIVELY SESSION
Explanations Made by Some
of the Members.
A Remarkable Flow of Oratory at Monday
Nights Meeting of tho Board Of Educa-
tion-Abandoninept of No. ~ School
Other Matters Considered.

Other Matters Considered.
The new boiler which the visiting
committee on School No. II recently or
dered placed in the school created a
great deal of talk at the meeting of the
Board of Education Monday. AT the
previous meeting the committee on the
school reported that they had ordered
the boiler put in so that the school
might not have to be closed any length
OF time. At that meeting it was con-
tended by some of the members that the
committee on fuel, heating and ventila-
n tioD, which has such matters in charge,
should have been consulted before any
thing was done, while othor members
thought the visiting committee had a
perfect right, in view of the fact that
it was a case OF extreme emergency, to
order the work done. When the first re-
port was made bill from II. A. Miller,
who furnished the boiler, amounting
to $685. was presented and motion
was made that the bill be paid. After
considerable discussion it was decided
to lay the whole matter over for two
weeks.
Accordingly. Monday night the bill
came up under the head of deferred
business. As soon az tho matter wac
launched upon the board Mr.. Belts
read a report in which he said the
committee on fuel, heating and ventila-
tion, OF which he is chairman, had
nothing to do with the transaction and
they would not sanction the action Of
the committee which had ordered the
work done. DIR. Shortlidge and Mr..
Morrow, of the school committee, again
made an explanation of their position,
stating that they had, as they thought,
acted wisely, after which Mr.. Turner
moved that the apology be accepted
and the bill paid.
But Mr.. Baynard was not ready. He
spoke in favor Of living strictly by the
rules of the board and thought that
nothing should have been done without
consulting the committee at the first.
Mr.. Ross thought the members of the
committee on the school, in view of the
fact that the old boiler had gone back
on them on Sunday, had acted as they
thought best and he was not disposed
to censure them, but he said he wanted
to know just how much liberty school
committee had.
On motion of Mr.. Baynard. which
was substitute for the one offered by
Mr.. Turner, it was decided to refer the
whole matter, boiler, bill and all, to
che committee on fuel, heating and
ventilation.
Following this action Dr. Shortlidge
fave notice that at future meeting he
E0uld offer a resolution the purport of
which would be to do away with the
committee on fuel heating and ventila-
tion and place such matters as now be-
long to that committee in the hands of
the several school committees.
Mr.. Baynard, of the committee on
new buildings, reported that the com
mittee had considered the advisability
OF enlarging No. l6 School for the ac-
commodation Of colored pupils, and at
a meeting held Monday it had been
decided to engage an architect to draw
plans and make n report as to the hest
way TO make the improvements. The
report was accepted.
The bill from the Park Commission
for $3.50. 30, representing half the cost Of
the construction of the retaining wall,
was reported favorably by the commit
tee on new buildings, and on motion of
Mr.. Baynard the proper officers were au
thorized 70 draw up a certificate of in
debtedness for the money and give it to
the Board of Park Commissioners.
On motion of Mr.. Baynard it was
decided to deed to the city that por
tion of the ground in the rear of the
Washington School which will be re-
quired for the park drive.
Mr.. Baldwin made motion that
after Feb. 9th the Board dispense with
the use Of No. - School and that the
pupils in the ninth and zenith grades
be transferred to No. 20 and the small
scholars to No. II. The motion was
carried the members being Of the opin O..
ion that the board will save money and
can cover the ground under the new
arrangement.
Mr.. Kersey reported that Hindoo
had been admitted to School No. IA,
and said that as there had been some
complaint he would ike to know il he
had right to remove the lad to another
school. President Baird informed him
that the Hindoo had perfect right to
attend the school, which settled tho
matter.
Mr.. Turner presented report from
Principal Berlin of the High School,
which stated that the receipts from
sales of articles during the year amount
ed to S5} 43. The report was referred
to the committee on manual training.
A bill from M. Megary S Son, for
slS2, for desks at No. . School, was
ordered paid.
The secretary was directed to prepare
petition for presentation TO the Street
and Sewer Directors asking that Fourth
street from Union to Bayard avenue
be curbed and paved. The move is for
the benefit of the pupils attending No.
% School, and the property owners on
the street will be asked to sign the pc
tition.
Mr.. Hartman moved that the proper
officers be authorized 10 draw on City
Council for the February appropriation.
The motion prevailed.
In lieu of communication from Iii
brarian Seweil of the Institute Free
Library, DIR. Shortlidge made motion
that the communication be referred tc
Superintendent Harlan, with instruc.
tions TO ascertain from the principals
of the schools what pupils arc registered
at the library and such other informa
tion as is desired
The secretary was ordered to sub
scribe for copy Of the School Journa
for year to be sent to each member o
the board at rate of 80 cents each.
1t was reported that substitute
teacher at the High School had not beer
regularly employed. The matter wat
referred to the committee on teachers
for investigation.
The matter OF renovating the roomt
of the board was referred to the com
mittee on repairs.
Elbridge L. Gerry's yacht ElecrrI
y will be brought to Wilmington soon TO
repairs