The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-15

e SCRANTON TRIBUl
ter reviewing the beginning Of the lat
ter session and the excluding Of report
ers and other spectators MIR. Jennings
report makes public the proceedings a.
follows:
Mr.. Welsh moved that the action of the
board taken at the last meeting calling for
the reading of the testimony be reconsid.
cred. The chair declared the motion out
OF order. Mr.. Welsh appealed from the
decision OF the chair. Mr.. Schrieffer the
same, and upon roll call the chair being
sustained by a vote Of eleven for and nine
against.
NAMES OF WITNESSES.
The secretary proceeded to and read the
were sworn before the high and training
school committees: Mrs. Eliza Sparham
(page u. Mrs. Prime page ID. NJ. A. Nc
Ginley (pages p, l09). Mrs: Mary Saun-
Pr. Coolidge page 35), DR.. Anna e.
Clarke page 39). DR.. Louis Frey (page 4D,
Mrs. Lucy Booth pages 81. SD. Rexford
booth pages s, $50. Henry Schloss tpage
100, ll5), Mrs. Capwell page no, Mrs.
Bridget Walsh (page lls).
At the conclusion of the reading Of the
testimony Mr.. ]. II. Williams offered the
following written resolutions:
Resolved. That after having heard the
reading OF the evidence taken at the in
vestisation Of the charges against Mrs.
Lucy Booth. and having fully and care
the conduct of Professor George Howell,
the city superintendent, was not only JUS
tihatie under the circumstances OF the
case, but was highly commendable.
I'VE f1nd that Professor George Howell 5
action IN the matter was taken by him
with view OF performing the duty which
devolved upon him under the provisions OF
the law and his oath of office, and which
the best interests of the school demanded.
That any imputation of improper motive
on his part is entirely without any foun-
dation in fact. and entirely uncalled for
and unjustitia ble.''
a motion was made by ]. II. Williams,
seconded by Mr.. Notz. that the resolution
be adopted, and the same was unanimous
ly adopted
Mr.. Barker moved that the secretary be
instructed to place all the testimony IN Il
sealed package and file II away among the
papers of the board, the same not to be
opened or the testimony referred to at
any time in the future without q vote OF
a majority Of the board, and no one to
have access to the testimony without a
vote of the board. The motion occasioned
much discussion and difference Of opinion.
MIR. Williams offered an amendment that
the testimony should be filed away un-
srn sealed. the members to have access to it,.
Resolved. That the testimony as read
shall be placed In the files of the secre-
tary's office. the members to have access
to 1t, but only In the office of the secre-
tary: Is not to be taken away, or any
part of the same copied"
Subs titution as offered was carried. Mr..
Barker dissenting. Mr.. Wormser moved,
Mr.. Devaney seconded. that the commit
fnsA n mr. anrfs s..N h..
tion prevailed.
THE REPORT ADOPTED.
Mr.. Jennings moved the adoption Of
the report. and that action was taken
without debate.
The statement from Mrs. SPARTAN
was left with Secretary Fellows by u
boy who evidently knew his business.
He made his appearance early in the
session and placed a package Of manu.
script on the secretary's desk, after
doing which he hurried from the room.
Mrs. Sparham's case was settled quick
ly and unceremoniously but with a
slight mistake at the beginning which
was rectified later.
Under the order Of business involv-
ing communications Secretary Fellows
read Mrs. Soarham's letter. She had
written request that the statement
accompanying the letter be read. Both
letter and statement were referred to
the teachers committee, but Just be-
fore adjournment on motion of Mr..
Francois the matter was reconsidered
and Mrs. Sparham's letter and state
ment We're ordered filed. A copy had
been furnished the press with the un-
derstanding that 1t was not to be used
In case the statement was not read.
Mr. Jacobs, for the building commit
Represented with it's recommendations
plans fer the new No. 6 school and for
extensive alterations to No. 26. When
was made a motion that the report be
adopted Mr.. Gibbons registered a de-
cided objection. He first wanted to see
better school facilities provided in other
sections of the citv. on the South Side
and in his ward. for instance. where
pupils We're packed into basement an
nexes like so many sheep. The pro-
posed new No. 3s school. he claimed,
ought to be planned at once.
Mr.. Conrad was another pronounced
opponent to the report. He claimed
that a new No school had been prom
ised precedent over either the new No.
6 or alterations to No 26 schools or to
a new No. 3S school in Mr.. Gibbons
ward. In no other ward were the ac-
commodations for scholars so inade-
u,
the Eleventh.
In order to pacify somebody recess
for five minutes was taken ON motion
Of Mr.. Jennings.
CONSERVATIVE POLICY.
When the meeting reconvened Mr..
Gibbons and Mr.. Conrad disputed the
needs of one another's districts, while
each united in opposing the commit
fan' l.,t Trt
Williams invited hot retort from
Mr.. Gibbons by advocating a conser-
vative policy and suggesting that he
and Mr. Conrad wait for Improvements
in their districts until funds were avail
able.
"Oh, that's an easy suggestion from
you and Mr.. Jennings and some 9TH
ers from wards that were not a part Of
Scranton before the consolidation
We've built elegant new buildings for
you ana now you want us to wait and
meanwhile keep our peoples children
studying in cellars, cellars SO foul aired
that we have to shorten the sessions in
order to give scholars chance to
breathe"
Mr. Conrad and Mr.. Gibbons adyo-
Gated the issuance Of bonds If next
years appropriation was not large
enough to meet the expense necessary
for new buildings
The report was, however, adopted by
a viva voce vote.
7 maluka tribe, No. 70, Improved
OF of Red Men, was granted per-
mi on to give a flag to No. q school.
A hitects' contract estimates Of
S2,5Jv and $4,000 were ordered paid, re-
spectively, to f. S. Williams for work
on No. 20 school and to the Green Ridge
Lumber company for work on No. 10
school
Proposals for furnishing curtains for
No lG school were referred to the sun
ply committee. The lowest bid was
that of $135 by Siebecker & Watkins.
An adjournment was made until
Monday night of next week. when the
December pay roll will be approved in
order that teachers and janitors may
be paid before Christmas