Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-19
LAST GASP OF THE MAJORITY
Dominating Faction Of School Board Sees
Its Final Hour.
NJ ,NDA~Us WILL BE USED ON PtNFoLD
Attempt win ne Made to Force Pres
idcnt to Sign Mcdonald Bond aud
Contract - stormy scenes
Mari, Last session


last night the rule Of the present majority
came to conclusion in a final stormy
scene. Members Cowie and Hayward passed
the lie, thinly yelled and Van Glider en-
tangled himself In incoherencies. Burgess
leader Of the minority and almost certainly
the next president OF the board. made his
usual sturdy fight against odds and the in
cident closed until new faction takes the
rein.
The majority, through a resolution intro
duced by Cowie, made another effort TO OBJ
tain the signature of President Penford to
the contract and bond OF John Macdonald,
as official architect OF the board. Carl Her
ring. attorney of the board, was instructed
In the following terms:
Whereas, Tho president OF the Board Of
Education has heretofore refused to sign
the contract OF John Mcdonald as archi-
tect, submittod TO this Board OF Education,
Whereas The president Of the Board of
Education has been instructed by the ma
lority, OF the board to sign said contract,
Resolved, rhat ir tho president of the
Board Of Education persists in refusing to
sign said contract that the attorney OF this
! ard be instructed to commence man
damus proceedings Immediately against the
president Of this board to compel him to
Venetian Blinds for Buildings.
chairman tOWle OF the committee on
buildings and property reported a proposal
from H. b. Dodge OF Chicago, relative to
Venetian blinds for the three new grammar
schools. The bid was 10 cents per square
slo' for 1876 blinds. amounting approximately
10 $500 Members of the minority and par
truiarly Hayward. complained of unfairness
in not advertising for bids in matter Of
such Importance The defense was made that
the price was exceptionally low and would
not long continue in force. Cowie added
that Hayward had not shown the same solicit
tude IN obtaining bids on stoves when that
proposition was before the board two weeks
ago and that. as a matter of fact none had
been solicited on that OCCASION Hayward
responded with some heat that the statement
was false and that his committee had visited
various hardware dealers. The charge was
returned and an exciting colloquy followed,
which was finally quieted by the chair. The
secretary instructed to place the order
by a majority and minority division.
The majority, relying upon it's numerical
superiority, also forced through the election
of two teachers who had not been recon-
mended by Superint tendent Pearse in accord
ance with the rules of the board On secret
ballot the names of Misses Emma Newcomb
and Carrie Fairchild received eight votes
and the chair declared them not elected, as
he declared a two-tbirds vote necessary
under suspension of the rules. An appeal
was taken and the chair not sustained. At
torney Herring, called upon for decision
said that in his opinion the election would
not be legal as under the rules, ten votes
were necessary.
Cadets Want Arms.
A delegation of High school students was
present to urge the purchase of arms for
the cadet battalion. Commandant Ten Eyck
explained that Congressman Mercer and Sec
retary Meklejohn had been communicated
with to no purpose and he asked that 115
, Springfield rifles be purchased at a cost OF
S6.75 each. On motion of Teal the matter
was referred to the supply committee with
instructions to secure sample OF the pro-
posed rifle.
Teal also secured the passage of resp
luton calling upon the judiciary committee
to secure monthly report of the condition
OF the boards finances. He expressed the
oninion that the board had hitherto been act
ing too much in the dark with respect to its
resources a semi-y yearly report only being
submitted
A report from the superintendent Of in
struction showed that there are now 15,423
pupils in the public schools. This is an
increase of $50 one year ago. Nine
teen rooms have less than thirty-fve oc-
cupants. intended as minimum limit, and
eight rooms have more than fifty-fve &C
cupants, the intended maximum limit.
A communication was received from the
city council asking that a committee be ap-
pointed to confer with similar delegations
from the council and county commissioners
relative to the purchase of voting machines
for the spring elections. The committee
formerly appointed to discuss the booth
question was continued for this purpose.
A proposition received from Hos?e
Offering to apply the monthly rental on the
seventeen pianos now in use upon pay
ment for their purchase at the end of the
year. The matter was sent to the commit
tee on supplies.
Latenser New Buildings.
Architect Latenser reported on the condi-
tion of three grammar schools now in pro-
cess of construction. He said that the Cass
school was approaching completion and
would be ready for occupancy on January
Is Work on the Saunders school was said
to be progressing slowly. but well
could be expected considering weather con-
ditions. In the Pacific building the rain
has done considerable damage to the paint
and the frost has injured the plastering
The contractor was instructed to do no