The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-12

A school for school controllers is Mr.
Jennings novel idea.
1t was projected by him at last
nights meeting of the board of control
and Instantly sprang into general
favor
The first session will be held Mon
day, Sept 25.
1t all came about through a start
ling statement from Mr.. Evans, of the
Fifteenth ward, to the effect that the
coal bills for last year showed that il
cost S126 to heat a two-room building
and only $122 to heat an elevep-room
building, both buildings using the same
heating system. He coyly admitted
that the latter building was in his own
ward. Mr. Roche called Mr.. Evans
attention to the fact that the construc-
ton of buildings had quite as much to
do with the cost of heating as did the
management of the furnaces and the
like.
He suggested that the controllers
look into this matter of heating in their
respective districts and endeavor to
bring down the cost to the lowest pos
sible figure.
Then Mr.. Jennings sprang his school
for school controllers idea. 1t was be-
cause of the fact that controllers were
ignorant of the best ways and means
of practicinE economy, he said. that
these exhorbitant bills were contracted.
Some schools, he pointed out, were con-
Quoted at a comparatively small eX-
pense in the matter of heating, but
would be costly in some other regard
Other schools would he saving in text
books, but prodigal of stationery, and
so on. The controllers ought to be in
structed and the only way for them to
learn the best means of conducting
their respective schools was to have
an interchange of ideas.
SUGGESTION MEETING.
Then he made a motion that at the
next meeting of the board, as much
time as could be spared should be de-
voted to school" The controllers
should come prepared to offer sugges-
tions for the betterment of their work,
and the superintendent of repairs, en-
gneering and the like should be on
hand to contribute their knowledge on
the subjects that may be for discus
sion.
The board assented to the idea and
the motion prevailed unanimously
Some enlightenment In another direc-
tion was furnished the controller by j.
+. Hammis of the executive committee
Of the building trades council. He
asked for the privilege of the floor
through Mr. Casey and it being grant
ed him he proceeded to enter protest
against the school boards manner Of
awarding contracts.
"I came here" said Mr.. Hammis, 'to
protest. in the name of 10000 trades
unionists against the promiscuous let
ting of contracts by the school board
to scab bosses and unfair contractors
and against the further action of the
board in not giving us a chance to fig
ure on the contracts.
"These unfair contractors violate the
state and municipal law by hiring alien
labor and working it nine and ten hours
day. We want a clause inserted in
your contracts compelling these con-
tractors TO live up to the law, by hir.
ing none but citizen labor and working
only eight hours a day.
"Ne also ask the favor of being giver
an oportunitv of figuring on your
*.
treated us very fairly. We get nine.
tenths of their work. Had it not beer
for the hoard Of controls management
the builders exchange would not ht
holding out today"
Mr.. Hammis concluded by telling
how the contractors allied with the
builders exchange are in such dire
straits that they hire any old kind o.
n mechanic that comes along and a.
a consequence are untitled to do Z
| good Job. If the board wanted gooC
work done It should consult the build
! ing trades council he said.
| Mr.. Roche asked him to- send a lis
Of the union contractors to the secrn
| tary of the board and Mr.. Hammi
promised he would,
Secretary Fellows stated after tht
meeting that as far as he knows, there
| has been no hindrance tC any COntrac
tor figuring on the boards work.
TEACHER RESIGNED.
The resignation of Miss Cora Pres
| ton. teacher in No. 21 annex was re
ceived and referred to the teachers
| committee.
Forty taxpayers Of the Nineteentl
ward petitiOned for the reinstatement
| of Miss Regina Hillali as janitress @
| No 20 alleging that she was Compcten
| and needy while the man appointed a
! her successor is a man of means hav
ing an independent income of over so
a month The communication wa
ordered filed.
on motion Of Mr.. Gibbons the salarl
of Miss Frances Connor of the higl
| school faculty wos advanced from 81
| TO 500 per moAth. President Jayne VIII,