The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-08
School Board Has a Series of
Wrangles.
About Appointment of
School Census Enumeration.
ANTI-PURCHASE RULE.
Board Members VIII Continue
to Sell to Themselves.
How They "Saye' the Schools
Much Money.


board was spent in wrangling over the
appointment of a school census enum-
orator and the adoption of an "open
door, policy of trade. 1t was a sort of
field day. Usually the board hammers
away at business like the city fathers
but last night those who are generally
peaceful made things lively.
The storm commenced when the ap-
plication of E. Alexander to be appoint
ed school census enumerator was pre-
scented.
Il wish to formally present the APP
plication of L. T. Gage" said John
CLANCY.
81 move he be elected" said Mr.. Bone
brake.
'I have the application of a North side
man. said Mr.. Priddy jumping to his
feet to announce his candidate before
some one was elected. Gage has had
this two years"
Il move that the city be divided into
three districts" said Mr.. Matthews.
I will vote in the negative on that,
said Griggs, as believe the city ought
not to be divided
Gage owns property" said Mr.
| Priddy. 1--WE had him on our teaching
force. He has had it two years.
think we ought to give 1t to some one
| else. Others need it,
| we are not running a charity or
| ganization.' said Mr.. Macferran. Mr..
| Gage has the ability and I think we
| should give it to him.
! I have the authority to announce
for the candidate I spoke of, Mr.. Bever-
| ly, that he will do the work for less
| than the usual price," said Mr.. Priddy.
He will do the work for three-quarters
| of cent head
IF the work is worth anything it is
worth a penny a head. At that rate it
is two months work at about $119.'
''Mr. Beverly's daughter isemployed in
/
THAT is true said Mr.. Priddy.
Gage went to the same house twice, !"
said Mr.. Griggs. Alexander has the
ability
Question: shouted a member who
was getting tired of the penny a head
| Wrangle. Gage was elected enumeratOr
and the second inning Immediately com
| menced when Mr. GriggS arose and an
| nounced that a new rule which had been
submitted as an amendment to the by
| laws at the last meeting would come up
| for discussion. The rule was written by
| Mr.. Macferran and prohibited any mem
| berS of the board in the mercantile bus1-
! ness from selling supplies to the schools.
Il see no valid reason why a member
| of this board in the mercantile business
| should not be permitted to furnish sup
| plies provided he sells them as low as
| other merchants" said Mr.. Wilson who
| is in the drug business and furnishes
| material eff it is a good rule then
have one to offer as a substitute"
Mr.. Wilson read a rule which barred
any merchant from sailing any supplies
to the schools, any banker from having
any dealings with any member of the
board or any teacher employed, and, in
fact, any member of the board from
having the remOtest business relations
with anyone in any manner connected
with the public school system.
I am opposed to the substitute,
said Mr. Matthews. 1T is apparent
that it is gotten up for the express pur-
pose of bringing ridicule on this new
rule. It is not worthy of serious con-
sideration. There have been runors
that, this board was purchasing too
much material from its members, and
| this new rule would relieve US all from
suspicion
1T was not many years ago that
there was talk of a member of the
board being influenced on the selection
of teachers by the fact that he had
borrowed money from teachers. 1t was
said that a member loaned money &c
: teachers and then used his efforts tc
have them retained so they could pay
! back the money. I see no reason why
a banker has any more right to handle
/, money than a merchant has to sell sup
: plies said Mr.. Wilson.
Il have been on the board two years,
said Mr. Clancy. Il had thought VI
to this time that the board was made
up of men willing to trust each other
Both these new rules are absurd"
Il think there is justice in making i
, broad If it is made at all, said Mr
Priddy. Il saved the board money by
selling ink for "a cents that we hat
been paying As cents for. l got inside
I prices. If there is any fault it is Will
t the auditing committee"
do we know as much about you
f business as you do?" asked Mr.. Mac
, ferran.
f Couldn't you have saved that none!
2 to the board just as well if you haC
not sold the ink?" asked Mr.. Griggs-
This resolution reflects upon tn
= board. I am against BOTH said MI
t II don't know as there is anything
] wrong in the resolution" said DIR. Buck
! you who have watched politics knoV
about the state executive who SoA
butter and eggs to the state instItu
When the substitute came up for I
t vote Wilson was the only one Not1nl
for it. On the original motion Buck
Macferran, Griggs and Matthews vote
e for and Wilson, Mallory. Chaney
Bonebrake, Daley, Embree ana Wide
o voted against it.
: Just by way of calling up OLD IlIne
e Mr. Wilson, chairman of the building
/ committee reported another heatin
+ plant as unsatisfactory. This time
+ at the high school. The heating plan
s in the high school is a patent" hot a
s affair which acts as if it were original
e bllilt for a smokehouSe. The patent
e arrangements was guaranteed" to b
lie perfectly clean but the walls of tn
o building have to be cleaned every yea
It as the plant enits as much smoke an
d SCOT as it does heat The plant wa
e built in 1896. For the past three year
= the furnaces have been rebuilt ea1
1t year at a total cost of 81. 600. The orig
: inal cost of the plant was S., GOO. NJ
lie Wilson suggested that a building i
10 erected at the rear of the high schot
l. for a steam heating plant Mr.. Wilde
said he would be very sorry to spend
large amount Of money this year for
heating plant when new buildings al
ss needed and suggested that the buildin
t committee talk with the Edison con
IN pany about furnishing heat. With II
u Tyasert r1lanf the rooms have to be T3s
at Dered and painted each year.
. Mr. George Tincher appeared befol