The herald., 1897-04-13
A Red Hot Meeting Held
Last Evening
PERSONALITIES EXCHANGED
THE HARDWARE BILLS COME
IN FOR CRITICISM
Director Webb as Chairman of the
Supply Committee Ignores the
Contract of the Board

The board of education broke the rec
ord last night in its undignified and
violent demonstration in open session
and its disgraceful scenes of strife and
disa agreement The routine business had
proceeded quietly enough until the bills
were presented for approval.
Mr.. Davis said he could not approve of
the hardware bill made to the w. c.
Furrey company when the board had
contract with the Harper-Reynolds
company. In the last hardware bill,
amounting with the plumbing) to about
5000, Mr.. Davie had found upon investi-
CATION that the prices given by the Har-
Reynolds company were 20 per cent
less than those given by Furrey. He
wanted to know why the contract was
violated.
Mr.. Webb sprang to his feet and re-
piled that the board had no contract
with the Reynolds company
that the purchasing committee recog-
nized.
Mr.. Davis wante.> to know by what
right the committee could possibly re-
fuse to recognize contract made by
the board, and called for the reading OF
the document. This wac read by the
secretary, being dated July IT, 1896, and
ending July 30, 1897. signed by the Har-
Reynolds company and the presi-
dent and secretary Of the board Of edu-
cation of that date.
Mr.. Webb, in a state of great excite
ment, seized the contract and reading
some of the items therein mentioned, de-
clared that the Harper-R Reynolds COM
pany had not kept their part of the
agreement in regard to certain prices,
and hence the contract was void. He
attacked Mr.. Davis as being retained
by the Harper Reynolds company, and
suggested that his law practice
being insufficient, he was endeavor-
ing to get something out Of the board
of education.
Mr.. Davis kept his temper admirably,
and amid all the confusion that followed
he preserved his composure and dignity.
The question was discussed by the
board. Mr.. Braly said this was a
grave accusation and should be investi-
gated. Mr.. Conrey stated that one of
the members of the Harper-Reynolds
company had In a conversation at one
time said to him that he did not think
the contract legally binding. Mr.. Webb
kept the floor most Of the time, continu-
ing his personal attacks on Mr.. Davie
and making gag motions to cut off any
reply Mr. Davis attempted to make.
Every effort on the part OF Mr.
Davis to have an investigation made
was headed off. Mr.. Webb declared that
the contract was void through its vio-
lations by the Harper-Reynolds COM
pany, ae the books would show that at
the time it was made a member of the
company was on the board; that the
committee would not recognize it..
Every thing was tabled that Mr.. Davis
attempted to put in the form Of mo-
tions, Mr.. Mathews not voting, and the
support of Mr.. Braly and Mr.. Conrey
in thinking an investigation should GER
tainly be made amounting to nothing.
The following report of the committee
on teachers and schools was adopted:
TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS.
Recommend that leave of absence un-
til June 30 be granted to Edith H. Field.
Recommend the acceptance OF the
resignation of Miss Mary z. McGraw
as teacher
|
fer be assigned regular work In the first
grade of Sixth street school.
Recommend that Mrs. Marietta Sta
pies be assigned to Seventh street kim
dergarten, afternoon session, as direct
or. and that Miss Charlotte Sherwood
be assigned to kindergarten, Union ave-
nue. school, as assistant director.
Recommend that Miss Helen M. Todd
| rivp n
noon kindergarten. in the Seventh street
school, as assistant director.
Recommend that Miss Ada Burkhead
be assigned Sioyd rooms, Second street
school and Twenty-eighth street school;
this order to take effect on the order Of
the city superintendent of schools as
soon as Sloyd rooms are ready for use.
AS there has been some question
raised as to the children of the public
schools taking part in the street parade
of a Fiesta. your committee wish the
following instructions given to teach
ers:
That the children shall in no way take
part in any parade other than for the
purpose of forming to march direct to
the tribunes, and that such formation
shall take place as close to the tribunes
as possible
suPERINTENDENTs REPORT.
The superintendent made the follow
ing report:
AS the special committee appointed
at your last meeting to consider the
advisability of having the school chill
dren take part in La Fiesta in 1897 de-
cided that the schools should be repre-
sented, I have to report that no action
has yet been taken by the schools, but
that a circular has been issued to the
principals, which will embody the fol-
lowing instructions:
Since it has been decided that the
children may have Children's day ex-
ercise on April a.. at 10 a. M, it is ne
cessary that principals and teachers
interest themselves and their pupils,
SO that all may take part cheerfully and
heartily. This will be the fourth time
the children Of Los Angeles have been
asked to participate in the exercises
of La Fiesta, and ON account of the care
full organisation In the past, there have
! been no Academia. In order that we
may be able to handle the crowd Of
children who will participate in the ex-
ercises this year It will be necessary
to thoroughly organise your schools BY
forming companies and selecting ON
cers to handle them.