The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-02-13
BELLEVUE BAPTISTS
GET The SCHOOL
wEIoHTY QUESTION DECIDED
By SCHOOL BOARD.
A Number Of the Members Opposed
the idea, Claiming II Was Estab-
fishing a Dangerous Precedent,
but Mr.. Gibbons Arguments Won
out--Animated Discussion on sta
tionery Question, in Which Mr..
Jennings Made Personal Remarks
About Mr.. Prendergast.

The board Of control last evening,
after an exceedingly long and interest
ing debate, finally decided to allow the
Baptists of Bellevue Hill to use room
in No. 13 school building for Sunday
school purposes up to May l. The
board refused a similar request from a
branch of the United Mine Workers,
who also wanted room two nights in
every month.
when the matter was brought up by
Controller f. L. Evans Captain w. "A.
May spoke against the plan, stating
that 1t was a step in the wrong direc-
tion and a dangerous precedent to es-
tablish. Mr.. Evans, In reply, stated
that unless the board granted the re-
quest the church would be without
Sunday school for three months.
Mr.. Gibbons then arose and said he
was surprised at the board, that he
didn't think there was a man on 1t who
would oppose such q motion. 1t had
been done before for the Catholics of
South Scranton and there was no rea-
son why 1t shouldn't be done again.
He further remarked that 1t was for
educational purposes, any way.
why" said he, 'at the last meeting
n motion was carried granting the city
controller a salary OF 500 a month.
where he had no right to get 100 cents
and there was no opposition raised.
yet, now where some people want to
get q room to teach children about
their Creator you all oppose 1t. It's a
shame"
NO SENTIMENT IN 1T.
Captain May said 1t was not a mat
ter of sentiment, but a matter Of prin-
ciple. 1.-THE law says that buildings
shall be used for educational purposes
only" he said, "but a great many
things can be construed to mean edu-
cational purposes"
Mr.. Jennings moved that the matter
be referred to the solicitor Of the board
for an opinion but his motion was lost
and a motion to grant the request was
then adopted. Mr.. Roche then moved.
amid a general laugh, that the miners
union be allowed to use two rooms in
the same building, but the motion was
lost.
The stationary question also caused
considerable discussion. Mr. Roche,
chairman Of the supply committee,
stated that the contract with r. E.
Prendergast for school pads had run
out, or rather been filled and, as paper
| had gone up so per cent. and Mr.. Prem
| dergast just wanted this increase of 80
per cent, he wanted to be advised how
| to act.
A number of members asked to have
| the contract read and upon the secre-
| tary doing so it was found that it called
| for $4,000 pads at stated price per
| 1000. Mr.. Evans said that the contract
should have called for 100000 pads. but,
as it did not and as the $4,000 pads had
been furnished, the board could not
| hold Mr.. Prendergast. This prompted
Mr.. Jennings to remark:
| "Stationers who have entered into
| contracts with this board before have
furnished pads until the end of the year
| at the price mentioned in the contract.
even though they did have to furnish
more than stated number. I think
this a slim Jim way Of trying to crawl
out of small hole, and the contractor
who wants to crawl out of a small hole
must necessarily be small himself"
TO RE-ADvERTIsE.
A number of the members resented
this personal attack on Mr.. Prender-
| CAST, who was present, and wanted to
give him the privilege of the floor. but
Mr.. Langan moved that bids be re-
| advertised for. Mr.. Jennings then, for
the second time in the evening. moved
to refer the matter to the solicitor for
an opinion as to whether Mr.. Prendes-
gast could be held or not. His motion
was lost, however, and Mr.. Langan's
was adopted.
A bid Of Peter Stipp. to furnish cop
per cutters for new No. 3S school for
$5S7, was read and referred to the
building committee. On recommends
ton Of the teachers committee, Miss
Annie +. Judge was appointed primary
| teacher at No. 2 school.
On motion of Mr.. Schriefer, a num-
ber of old school books were donated
to young lady in North Scranton, who
has a small private class of little Ital.
ian children.
Mr.. Gibbons moved that the superin.
tendent and a committee of five con.
trollers attend the state convention oi