The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-08-04
THIRD WARD SCHOOL
Board of Education Re-
sends Resolution to
Build a New One.
APPROPRIATION NOT BIG ENOUGH
Leader Robert Davis in The Fray
Dewitt objects to Building
"Chicken Coops."
APPROPRIATION NOT Big ENOUGH

AS exclusively foreshadowed in 1.-THE
| News a few days ago, the Board OF
Education has rescinded the resolution OF
a previous meeting setting aside $5S 1000 for
the erection of a new schoolhouse in the
| Third ward. The action was taken at a
| special meeting, held yesterday evening.
There were only eight members of the
Board present, and six of them voted to
| rescind. The other two made a red-hot
fight in opposition.
Ever since the school funds were re-
| apportioned, setting aside $4,000 for the
Third ward, there has been considerable
discussion in political circles. 1t has been
stated that Mayor Hoos dictated the
Third ward a-pportionment without con-
sulting anyone as to the ACCESSIBILITY of
such a move. Several members of the
Board voted for the apportionment to
oblige His Honor.
Leader Robert Davis was drawn into
the controversy. He explains that resi-
dents of the ward asked hin to use his
influence to prevent the proposed build
ing of a school to cost only $5S,oOo in
such a growing locality as the Third
ward. Thu journal, and other Repub-
l1cdu Qap6IS pupllSICQ lCi5 - ca
alleged split between Leader Davis and
Mayor Hoos on the school question. This
morning Mr.. Davis said
There has never been a split between
myself and the Mayor concerning this
school question. / disagreed with him,
believing, as do many residents of the
Third ward, that SIS, 900 is insufficient to
purchase a site and erect a suitable school
for the ward. The Third ward is grow
ing and it is entitled to a fine school,
not a small one, which, in a short time,
will be entirely inadequate. Members of
the Board of Education thought over
the matter, discussed the subject with
Third ward people, and concluded, l un-
derstand, to abandon the building of such
a school as $5S, 900 would afford. | think
they nave done a very sensible thing.
When the city is in a better position to
build schools the Third ward should be
given a building of which the city may
we'll feel proud"
Before meeting publicly. yesterday, the
members of the Board held a conference.
Director Mersheimer was originally
chosen leader of the majority, but he has
since been succeeded by Director higgins.
The conference was stormy, being made
so by Mr.. Mersheimer and his only fol-
lower, Mr.. Muller. Both argued for de-
lay, but Director higgins insisted that
too much time had been wasted already
in reconsidering the Third ward school
matter. Caustic remarks were INDUCED
in and some of the Directors were pretty
hot in the region of their collars when
the conference ended.
Directors Finn, Broderick, Dewitt, Firm,
higgins, Mooney, Mersheimer and Muller
responded to the roll call. Some routine
business was lone and then Director Mig
gins introduced the resembling resolution.
What is the object in recalling what
we have done in this matter?' asked d.
rector Mersheimer rather warmly.
1T has been found answered Presi-
dent Firm. that SOS, 900 is inadequate to
procure a proper site and erect such a
school as is required in the Third ward.
The setting aside of SIS, 900 for a school in
the Third ward would cause us to skimp
all the other Schools. The proper thing
to do is to erect good school houses and
not have taxpayers complaining. From
what | can ascertain 5000 will little
more than buy a proper site for a school
in a good part of the ward. Why should
anyone want us to undertake a task
which, with SO limited funds, could only
Dflng QlSCTeQlL upon QS. WYNN ~
wasting money to buy a small school in
that growing locality. I have been in
formed that even the Mayor has ang
his mind about the a~dvisabiity OF erect
ing such a school as was contemplated
.Who is authority for the statement
tina the Mayor has changed his mind!
asked Mi. Mersheimer.
II canot recall the name of my infor-
mant,' was the answer, but feel con-
WINGED that it is So, :,
slThis reversal of a former action IS
ridiculous, retorted Director Mershei-
mer. .sand as Chairman of the Finance
Committee, from which committee such
a resolution should proceed, l repudIate
It. The-sums set apart for the different
buildings are ample to build sufficiently
large structures. We are providing for
the present, not for the future. II this
the schools Mhich should now be kept
going, instead of being stopped owing to
pickering in this Board. we nave not Inc
but we will have it next year. ! OBJECT
s~trenuously to taking away the appropri-
ation we yer made fss bs dor If 6fe schools daiFd to- ware BE
erected elsewhere, for which ample pro-
vision has been made. This resolution
will stop all work tx ana pr incur a assv bswa
a right to call a special meeting for "a
specific purpose, but | dispute his right
to call a special meeting for the transac-
Intended anyway, that he should nave
such power. The object of thisA meeting
was not stated IN the call ally Way anu
| that is the reason the attendance is so
small. The members do not know what
is afoot or they would have been here.
This is a question which should be con-
sidered by the whole Board, not by. a few:
This is merely a question as to who will
get the most money to spend on
schools"
"This whole subject has been thorough
ly considered" answered Director Moo
ney. 1--WE nave talked with the Third
ward people and have concluded that the
ward would be better off without such
| a building as $4,000 could erect. The
Third ward is entitled to and should have
just as good a school as any other We
| could scarcely purchase a suitable site
| with s5s, 600, and that would leave practi-
| cally nothing for a building. 1t is
| scarcely a business-like proposition for
us to buy an expensive site and then let
| it lie idle while the money could be well
spent in providing school accommoda-
lions for other localities. 1t is not a
| question of who will get the most money
to spend. / think all the members of this
Board are quite as honest as Director
| Mersheimer.'
II would suggest said Doctor Null
Ter. "that we lay the resolution over UNI
til the next regular meeting. The whole
| Board will be here then to consider it."
Tina is a good suggestion" put in
| Mr.. Mersheir err. mo one knew the OBJ
| ject of this meeting"
II nave talked with the Mayor said
Director Dewitt. and have told him that