Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-21
TO DRAW SCHOOL PLANS
Architects Mcdonald and Latenser Selected
by the Board of Education.
WORK DIVIDED BY PRIOR AGREEMENT
Former Gets High school and the
Three Grammar Schools-Their
Compensation to &c
Fixed Later.

hiAtu ihAtFs
Architect John Mcdonald and Archltect
John Latenser were last night appointed by
the Board Of Education TO draw the plans
for the four new school buildings to be built
this year. The former was given the con
tract for the High school building and
the latter the contract for the three gram
mar schools-Cass, Pacific and Davenport
The selections were made without any
great fight because the slate had been made
up before the meeting. Mcdonald and
Latenser were the two prominent candi-
dates for the work and have been running
very nearly neck-and-neck, with Mcdonald
having a shade the best Of it. Yesterday
afternoon the two elements came together
and agreed upon a compromise, according
to which the work was divided. Conse-
quently when the ballot was taken on the
High school architect, although the Latenser
followers made some opposition, the matter
was Immediately settled. Mcdonald received
eight votes, Latenser five and Fisher 4
Lawrie one. DR.. Teal was absent.
Immediately after this selection had been
made, Van Glider moved that the architect
for the three other buildings be elected,
DR.. Moore moved that this part of the work
be split up among three architects, but the
motion was lost. Latenser had a walkaway
on the ballot. He received eleven votes to
three cast for Fisher & Lowrie.
sauabbIe over Compensation.
The fight Of the meeting arose over the
compensation that should be paid the archi-
tects. The matter was brought up by a
resolution from Hayward, which fixed the
compensation at 3 per cent of the contract
price of the building for all plans and speci-
fcations necessary and which provided that
the buildings shall be put up under the
direction OF a special supervisor of construc-
ton. This resolution was opposed by a
number of members, who wanted the archi-
tects to superintend construction. they to
be paid 5 per cent for both duties-the pro-
fessional figure. 1t was asserted, however,
that this additional . per cent, amounting
to some s. 1000, would amount to more than
the salary of a special supervisor.
Mr.. Hayward explained that the real pur-
pose of his resolution was not to separate
architect and superintendent, but to specify
the amount the board was willing to pay, so
that there may be no misunderstanding, and
that the architect may not demand more.
Later, If the board so desired. the architect
could be appointed supervisor for 2 per
cent extra or any other salary agreed upon.
A motion was made by Johnson to refer
the matter to a to determine the
compensation, because, he said. the plans
might be secured for less than 3 per cent.
other members, however, insisted that they
would not vote to select an architect until
his compensation was fixed because he
might demand more money than the board
should pay. In preference to hiring a man
in this way, before it was known what he
was to get. DR.. Moore moved that the cleo
ton OF architects be postponed until the
compensation be fixed. Mr.. Burgess pre-
scented a still more sweeping motion as a
substitute for all preceding motions. He
moved that no selection be made until
sealed bids be received from the architects
who appeared before the board, in which
they are to state the price they will draw
the plans for. AS these architects were all
present, Mr.. Burgess wanted a recess of
fifteen minutes for the purpose of receiving
the bids.
The disagreement was finally smoothed
over by Johnson's changing his motion so
that Haywardis resolution was to be re-
ferred. the architects to be appointed with
the understanding that the appointments
are contingent on the acceptance of the
compensation the board wishes to give.
This motion prevailed.
vi hIHhss
A resolution by Moore provided that the
plans for the school buildings shall be
submitted to the whole board as a commit
tee of the whole and shall receive its APP
prevail before such plans are presented to
the board for adoption. If the plans are
not adopted the contracts with the archi-
tects shall terminate and the board shall
allow them no compensation for their work.
During the course of the meeting a COM
munication was read, in which Architect
John Mcdonald explained that he had not
attended last Mondays meeting to present
plans for the school buildings because he
did not believe IL was proper to do so
nor did he believe that any regularly or
dained architect of good repute and stand
ing in his profession would respond to the
invitation" Mr.. Mcdonald declared plans
should have been asked from several rcpu-
table architects. the author of the best to
be paid the usual compensation of J per
cent and the others to receive cOmpensa-
tion scaled down IN order of merit. Other
architects in the city were to be allowed
to submit plans without compensation,
these to be considered the same as the 9TH
ers. The selections should be made after
an examination of all the plans, the assist
ance of an expert being called in, If nee
essary. Such a procedure, said Mr.. Nc
Donald, would have precluded even a Rus-
picion of skullduggery on your part" The
architect also gave his views Of the princi-
pies that should be kept in view in drawing
the plans.
In connection with this architect matter
a communication of some interest was re-
ceived from the Building Trades council to
the effect that the council had passed no
resolutions nor in any manner whatever
taken any action in regard to the selection
OF an architect, This letter was written
In order that none of the competing archi-