The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-04

School Buildings Authorized.
The board Of school inspectors at it's
meeting yesterday afternoon postponed
action on the schedule of teachers sal
aries until a special meeting called for
next Tuesday afternoon, transacting
yesterday only matters of routine ma
ture.
Chairman McGill, Of the special COM
mittee on the consolidation of the Me-
asked for further time in formulating
a report, promising to have it ready
at the next meeting.
Inspector McGill offered the follow
Ing resolution, which was adopted, in
honor Of the late Gen. George G. Smith,
and flags on all the schools were or
dered at half-mast:
. Whereas, After a long and useful life Gen.
son school, and for thirty years a principal
In the public schools of this city, has been
gathered to his fathers;
And, whereas, The life of Gen. Smith was
one of such beauty in its kindness and de-
votion to duty as to make it an invaluable
object lesson to the children of our schools;
therefore, be 1t
Resolved, That the superintendent be d.
rected to set apart an hour in all the public
schools Of the city, during the coming term,
end that the simple story of his life, so
marked by devotion to duty as a citizen as
a teacher and soldier, may be told to the
pupils OF the schools and properly impressed
upon their minds.
9 Resolved, That by the death of Gen:
Smith the public schools have lost one of
their best friends and most faithful workers
one who devoted practically a lifeline I'M
selfish.y to their interests-and the city thus
bereft Of one of its best citizens.
=, Resolved, That this board deeply sympa-
Irifl In mil IS
their great and irreparaole bereavement and
that copy Of these resolutions be forwarded
the family.
The resignation of Thomas J. Null
lane, as assistant secretary, was read
and accepted by the board. A COM
munication from Thomas A. Lenieu,
applying for appointment to the posi-
ton made vacant by the resignation
of Mr.. Mullane, was read and placed
on file. President Zimmerman was
in favor Of taking no action in the
matter, and it seemd to be the con-
sensus Of opinion of the board that the
work could be done by one man, and
the extra $500 saved.
you are a man after my own heart,
Jim,' said President Zimmerman,
upon receiving an affirmative reply
from Secretary Healy, when asked if
he could do all the work, and the mat
ter was left where it was
Secretary Healy reported that there
remained on hand an unexDended bal
ance in the janitor's fund of $176
Supt. Gerlach was authorized to go
ahead with the balance now on hand,
and such additional expenses as he
might incur were also authorized by
the board, to enable him to do the
regular vacation work around the
school buildings
The matter of making the contract
for music readers to be used next year
in the public schools was discussed al
length. The assistant corporation at
torney recently advised the board that.
under the charter, the board had no
authority to make a contract in adj
vance for these or any other books.
Attorney General Chi1ds, in a recent
opinion rendered the state superintend-
ent Of public instruction, held that it
was entirely within the province of a
board of education to make a contract
before the existing one had expired.
Prof. Congdon is now representing a
Chicago concern which has just pub
lished a new music SERIES
The board contracted for the Ameri-
can Book company's publication last
fall, and rescinded it's action in author
izing the contract at the July meeting
Prof. Congdon's series of music books
is said to have found favor with the
board, and it is not improbable that
they may be adopted, as the contract
for the American Book company's pub
lication was made by the board in 1897
with the understanding that the former
contract for music books had expired.
when 1t later developed that the con-
tract did not expire until this June
The question at issue has been: Had
the board authority to make the con-
tract for so long a time ahead?"
Inspector McGill contended that the
attorney general was not the legal ad-
visor of the board, and that it should
abide by the opinion rendered by the
corporation attorney: II claim" said
Mr.. McGill, that the board has no
right to adopt text books to take effect
in the future
E. o. Zimmerman said the board
could bind its successors in office, and
there was no reason why they could
not bind themselves a short time ahead.
Inspector Corning, barring the legal
ity OF the question, thought it was not
a wise thing to do.
President Zimmerman stated that
the board had not intended to do any
thing wrong, but the contract was
made with an idea that the old con-
tract had expired, or probably no such
action would have ever been taken by
the board.
MT. corning suggested Cnat the SUI
pervisor Of music, if there was to be
one, should have a voice in the selec-
ton of a text book.
Inspector McGill did not favor giving
all the books to one publishing house,
and expressed himself emphatically on
that point.
Mr.. Eppstein, representing the Amer
lean Book company, was present and
stated that. as the board declared it's
action invalid, it would be bad prece-
dent for the rest of the state and dis
turb the relations between the book
companies and the local boards where
contracts had been made ahead.
Inspector McGill did not think the
American book company needed any
sympathy, as it had no right to the
action of the board, as the books were
adopted under misunderstanding.
Upon the suggestion of Inspector Nc
Nair, the matter Of music readers was
referred back to the committee on text
books.
President Zimmerman gave notice
that the schedule Of salaries and other
matters pertaining to the finances of the
schools would be considered at the