The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-23


lie schools of Scranton, to take effect
March II, 1897. Most respectfully,
(Mrs) Lucy Booth.
on motion of Mr. Notz the resigna-
tion was unanimously accepted. There
was no debate or comment. The board
had two lively tits. one over the mat
ter of the new buildings Nos. 2S, 10 and
6, and the other about the report of
the insurance committee, upon which
action was deferred at the previous
meeting.
Mr.. Jacobs, of the building commit
tee, announced that the plans for these
proposed buildings were ready and ap-
proved by the committee, and recon-
mended that they be accepted, but
that no bids be advertised for at pres
ent, owing to the impoverished condi-
ton of the school districts treasury.
Mr.. Notz believed it would be a better
evidence of good faith on the part of
the board towards the wards which
had been promised these buildings if
the bids would be advertised for at
once, and moved that the secretary be
instructed to advertise for bids and to
state in the advertisement that the
district has no money at present, but
will have it later on.
Mr.. Wormser argued long and loud
against any such provisional bid, say
ing it was bad business policy to con-
tract a debt until the wherewith to
liquidate it was at hand or in sight
and still worse business policy to tell
expected creditors that they would be
dealing with an insolvent concern and
that they would have to peddle the
hlp
Gibbons accused Mr.. Wormser of talk
ing buncombe and said it came with
bad grace from the representative of
the Eighth to oppose a much needed
school in his own ward, No. being in
Mr.. Wormser's bailiwick.
MIR. WORMSER'S REPLY.
To this Mr.. Wormser replied with
some warmth, saying that he had been
elected five times from his ward and
| that was evidence that his constitu-
| ents, or a majority of them, at least,
We're satisfied with the way he had
| represented the ward. He had never
| before had his fealty to his constituents
| questioned, and he gave Mr.. Gibbons
| to understand that he had made an
| assertion that would not be easily
| overlooked. Speaking on the merits of
| the question, Mr.. Wormser stated that
| he realized that No. 6 should be re-
| placed with a larger and better build
| ing, but he had to be consistent in
this as he had tried to be in every 9TH
er act performed as a member of the
| board, therefore he would not favor
contracting an immense debt which
had not been provided for, even though
| it would continue the hardship that
| his constituents had been and are suf-
fering.
| Mr.. Jacobs suggested as a way out of
| the difficulty that the bids be adver-
| tised for providing the committee be-
tween now and next meeting can find
| some way of meeting the debt. This
| was acceptable to both sides of the con-
| troversy, and would have been adopted
but for Mr.. Jennings speech against
| parading the districts poverty before
the financial world, and a motion that
the poverty clause be entirely elimi-
mated. The motion was passed with
out any opposition. Mr.. Wormser con-
tented himself with a shrug of the
shoulders that said as plain as words
Let the sin be on your own shoul-
| derS-l'm on record"
| After an hours discussion, death
| blow was dealt the scheme to gradu-
| ally cancel all the insurance held by the
| board and establish a private insurance
| fund by putting aside each year as
| much or little more than is now paiC
| in premiums. The plan as outlined il
| the insurance committees report con,
| tanned three propositions: First, that
| the present policies be allowed to rur
| to their full time limit; second, thai
| when the policies expire they be renew.
| ed on a common basis of 40 per cent
| of the value of the building; third
| that they be renewed only for tht
| period during which the longest termed
| policy held at present has to run ant
| that they then be cancelled, all a
| once.
Mr.. Gibbons ardently supported al
| three propositions Mr.. Jennings spOk,
in favor of the first two but did no
commit himself on the third. Mr.
Wormser fought for the first two anC
against the third and succeeded il
swaying the board to his way of think
ing.
WHAT THEY AGREED ON.
All agreed that the policies shoult
he allowed to run; at least no opposi
tiOn was offered to this proposition. /
was also unanimously agreed that i
was not necessary to insure a buildins
for more than 40 per cent. of its value
as nearly on fully 60 per cent of tn,
modern school building is indestructibl
by fire. The split on the third PROPOSE
tion was the result of Mr.. Gibbons
conviction that the district could saw
money by forming an insurance funC
from the premiums now being paid
and Mr Wormsers opinion that it wa
the height of folly to think that sucl
scheme was feasible because ther