Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-07
APPROVES M'DONALD'S BOND
Board Of Education Consumes Several Hours
Over the Matter,
ARCHITECTS PLACE PURELY HONORARY
No nuiIdings Are to ne Erected and
c onseuuentlY No Percentage Tor
the Man who Evolves
the Plans.

The Board of Education consumed several
hours Wednesday night in approving the
contract and bond of John Mcdonald, official
architect-eect for the coming year. The
matter had been referred Monday night to
the committee on judiciary with instruc-
tions to report at the next meeting. Chair
man Thomas of the committee claimed
that he had not been granted sufficient time
and refused to bring the subject up. On
motion OF Member Cowie the matter was
taken out of the committees hands and the
contract and bond were approved by the
board, the president and secretary being in
structed to af1lx their signatures in token
thereof. Member Sears of the same commit
tee then presented a minority report in
which the contract and bond were approved
The report was accepted
Tho refusal of the judiciary committee to
report was the cause of excited speeches, in
which charges OF unfairness were exchanged
Fearing that the committees non-action
would affect the validity of the contract the
friends of Mr.. Mcdonald cited the commit
tees instructions and demanded by what
right 1t declined to report. Chairman
Thomas based his action on the rule which
specifies that a committee must report not
later than the second meeting after which
business has been referred to It, President
Penfold ruled that during the interim men
toned in the rule that the committee was
greater than the board and could not be
hurried. An appeal was taken by Member
Hess, the chair not being sustained, and the
minority report was introduced. Members
Burgess. Hayward and Thomas voted with
the chair, Moore and Van Glider being alb
sent.
Honorary Position.
AS far as can be seen the position of Off
cial architect is purely honorary for the
coming year. No new buildings are con-
templated and there are no funds available.
The architects remuneration is to be . per
cent of the construction price and is de-
pendent upon the erection of buildings
A proposal was received and accepted
from Oscar Peterson to clean and revarnish
such school seats may be out of condi
tion for 81 cents each. Frank Cotter made
a bid of SO cents. The contract last year
was let at S5 cents to II. Fl. Boyles.
Mrs. Mary E. Jensen, owner of forty front
feet at Fourteenth and Cass streets, offered
the property to the board for the sum of
$1,000. The property is abutted on two sides
by the Cass school grounds and is desired
both for symmetrical and practical purposes.
The proposal was referred to the building
and property committee for investigation.
The committee on building and property
reported that it had received and considered
bids for blackboards for the new Csss,
Saunders and Pacific schools. The prices
ranged from 221a to % cents per square foot,
the grade at 25 cents being considered most
suitable. The contract was accordingly
awarded to F. X. Buckminster of Chicago at
that price.
proposal was received from Kinds g.
Noble, New York, to purchase discarded
High school books. Five hundred volumes
were enumerated and lump sum OF $50 Of
fered. The matter was referred to the com
mittee on supplies and the superintendent of
instruction.
The High School Natural History society,
a newly formed organization, asked for the
use of the assembly room in the City hall.
The request was granted.
On ballot the name Of Miss Katherine
Powers was placed on the elected list.
All bids on the proposed sidewalk south
OF the High school grounds were refused and
the certified checks were ordered returned.
The work will not be done until spring.