The herald., 1896-07-09
NORMAL SCHOOL TRUSTEES
A Lively Meeting of the
THE TRANSFER OF The moneys
Caused Quite a Discussion Be-
tween the Members
SOME VERY STRAIGHT TALK
Trustee Wilson Says That He Will Not
Be BulIdozed
While Trustee Brooks insists On Asking En-.
barrassing Questions
The Purchase Of kindergarten Furniture Also
Causes Oebate-Refusal to Advertise
for Bids-The Training School
Teachers

trustees OF the state Normal school was
held at the school building yesterday af-
ternoon. and proved to be one Of the
liveliest gatherings Of the trustees held
since the new members Of the board
took their seats. The hour of the meet
ing had been set for o'clock, but the
trustees were very slow in gathering,
and it was half an hour later before the
board was called for business. President
Pomeroy presided, and Trustees Brooks,
Lukens, Molyneaux and Wilson were in
attendance. Prof. Pierce was also pres
ent and acted as secretary.
After the transaction of the regular
routine business the report of the exec
utive committee was presented, when
Mr.. Brooks promptly raised the point
that the report was incomplete, and did
not state everything that had been done
by that body. Mr.. Brooks demanded
a full report, that the board might know
just what had been done, in order to act
intelligently.
In the course Of the debate 1t came out
that at the suggestion of Trustee Wilson
the Normal school fund had been trans
ferred from the Farmers and Merchants
bank to the Merchants National bank.
the change had been made. to which
Trustee Wilson replied that he did not
know of any special reason, but that in
his judgment he thought that change
was desirable.
Trustee Brooks then asked Trustee
Wilson if he was not director of and
attorney for the bank to which the
funds had been transferred.
Trustee Wilson admitted that such
was the fact, when Trustee Brooks re-
torted that he thought the proceeding, to
say the least, was rather indelicate. If
there was to be any change all the banks
should be given chance. He did not
think it right that the funds should be
transferred to a bank in which one of the
trustees was interested, as he did not
think that any trustee should benefit
pecuniarily by his position.
A personal colloquy followed in which
considerable warmth was displayed, and
at times the talk verged closely on TO
personalities Trustee Wilson intimat-
ed pretty strongly that he, did not pro-
pose to be bulldozed or irtimidated by
trustee Brooks, or any one else, but
would do his duty as he saw fit. Trus-
tee Brooks held to his position, and said
that he had been appointed by the gov
ernor to his position to succeed a dead
man, and not live one, as was the case
with his colleague. This piece of Brook
sonian sarcasm fell fiat, as Mr.. Wilson
evidently did not see the point of the
allusion.
The fight then waxed warm. and af-
ter further interchange of compli-
ments, Trustee Brooks moved that If
the FUNDS were to be transferred from the
Farmers and Merchants bank, the Cali
fornia bank be designated as the depos-
itary of the funds, as this bank had not
closed its doors during the panic, and
the Merchants bank, under it's former
Yoi<
Farmers and Merchants bank closed it's
doors, and as this bank had always
shown disposition to accommodate.
ana there was no complaint, he did not
see any reason for a change. Trustee
Brooks again intimated that he did not
think it proper for any trustee to use
his position for his personal advantage.
Finally Trustee Lukens moved that
the funds remain in the Farmers and
Merchants bank. Quite discussion fol-
lowed, pro and con, and it was finally
decided that the comptroller be requested
to draw his warrants for each individual
teacher and let them get them cashed
wherever they wished. This caused an
other commotion, as the law provides
that the comptroller shall draw his war;
rant in favor of the trustees. AS a sort
of compromise, it was finally concluded
to let Prof. Pierce get the money from
the comptroller for the teachers as best
he could for the time being, but that the
funds be kept in the Farmers and
Merchants bank as they had been re-
moved without authority.
The next question was as to the en-
ployment of teachers in the training
department There were formerly nine
teachers, but this number had been re-
duced to five. Trustee Brooks moved
that the former number be restored.
AS usual there was no second, and Trus-
tee Brooks suggested that it was possi-
BILE that somebody might be mobbed by
the parents Of children who had been
kept out Of the school for four or five
years.
The purchase of furniture for the re-
Gently established kindergarten train
ing department next came up. Trustee
Brooks moved that a schedule of the
furniture needed be made out by the
principal and that the same be advertised
for bids, local manufacturers being given
the preference over eastern concerns.
There was no second to the motion, and,
on motion of Trustee Wilson, the sec
retary was instructed to purchase the
furniture at such prices as he deemed
proper, only Trustee Brooks voting in
the negative, saying that the contract
should be let to the lowest bidder. and
that Los Angeles manufacturers should
have show in the premises.
The election of secretary was post
poned to another meeting, 1t being
agreed that Prof. Pierce should have the
position until secretary was elected
Trustee Brooks again tried to have
the professorship of pedagogy abolished.
thereby saving $1500 per year. but he was
again sat upon with violence, and then
the board adjourned to Sept. 18th.
VIII Build Yacht