Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-17
LUNT PICKS OFF The PLUM
Secures Election Of Attorney for Board Of
Education.
GETS MAJORITY ON THE FIFTH BALLOT
Controversies Over the Book and
Plano Contracts Come Up and
Are the Subject of Animated
Discussion

A. J. Luntw az elected board attorney for
the coming year to succeed Frank H. Gaines
on the Hfth ballot at Monday nights meet
ing Of the Board OF Education. This was the
main event Of the meeting, as the board
decided to postpone a determination OF the
amount OF the levy TO be made for school
purposes to a special meeting to be held
next Saturday evening. In the meanwhile
the matter Is to be put into some sort OF
shape by the finance committee, assisted
by Members Burgess and Black. This ac-
ton was taken by means Of a resolution
introduced by Burgess.
There we're four candidates for the at
torneyship when the balloting commenced
F. H. Gaines, A. J. Hunt, c. z. Morgan
and W. H. DeBord. Morgan got two votes
on the first two ballots and one afterward;
DeBord bad one on the first and third and
two on the second. Gaines had FIVE. four,
six and seven on the FIRST, second, third
and fourth, respectively, while Lunt had
seven on all OF them. The fifth and decisive
ballot was as follows: Lunt 8; Gaines. Q:
Morgan, 1.
The board took another step in the al
rection Of disposing OF the $250.000 High
school bonds voted at the last election. by
determining TO advertise for bids at once.
ING 'IuN VII " TeCelNeu w W FtDludiy
20, and will be opened on that day. They
must be On blocks of $25. 900 or multiples
thereof and the bids must allow for delivery
on March I. May /. and July /. on the OPP
ticn CT tie board. In the meanwhile the
bonds will be registered and duly adver-
tised.
This matter was determined upon as q
consequence Of q communication from City
Treasurer Edwards to the effect that no bet
ter timethan the present can be secured Cor
disposing of the bonds in view of the eager.
ness with which money Is seeking invest
ment. He declared that the premium to be
secured now will more than Offset any in
terest that may accrue from the issuance
Of tie bones so early. a..
Remarks Become Pointed.
The ghost Of the fight that occurred sew
eral months ago over the purchase Of books
from the American Book company arose
from q report of the committee on claims.
1his committee recommended the passage
Of an appropriation sheet, In which was
contained limits for the payment Of books
purchased In the last six months. There
were over a dozen book firms provided for
and the total payment was $s,S12.97. OF this
amount S.. 256. IL was awarded the American
Book company.
When the appropriation sheet was read
Member Van Glider wanted to know why
It was that the American Book company had
q bill so much larger than the other book
companies.
AR We under contract with this COM
pany or Is this board owned by III" de.
manded Van Glider.
II voted against the introduction Of the
Biographies which this money is to pay fol
jus: as you did," interjected DR.. Moore
"but since the board adopted these books
and purchased them l think we ought to
pay for them, Mr.. Van Cider"
when the truth is told about this matter
the members Of this board squirm behind
their Seats" retorted Van Glider. when
the vote on this matter came up, you, DR.,
Moore. skulked out Of the room to escape
going on record"
II did not answered Moore.
lyon did, retorted Van Glider loudly
and then continued: This American Book
company Is one OF the most corrupt insti.
buttons In the country and has already
beaten this city out Of $50 1000. 1t owns
more superintendent and more schoo
boards than any other company. Why;
Because 1t goes dowp into its Golfers to buy
them. That's why It Is now being paid
five or six times more than any other com.
psny for its books by this board. The
agent Of this company was In Denver the
other day and was t~elegraphed to be here
tonight. Why? Not that he might get his
pay for the better books his company fur.
nishes, hut to see to 1t that he gets 25 cents
more for each book than any other insti
tuition This geography that costs % cent.
more than any other geography is no bet
ter than many others published, even II 4