The Saint Paul globe., 1900-06-23
IS OFFERED 70 Mr.. DAVIS
SCHOOL BOARD YESTERDAY TEN.
DERED HIM THE SUPER
INTENDENCY
MR.. DAVIS IS NOW IN PARIS
Testimonial Resolutions to Supt.
Smith on His Departure for
EurOpe-RepOrters Dis
cover Secrets.

President ]. w. L. Corning was au-
thorized at a special meeting of the board
of school inspectors held yesterday after
noon to send letter to DR.. George W.
Davis, at Paris, offering him the SUPER
tntendency of the st. Paul schools. Supt.
A. ]. Smith is still superintendent, and
will remain so until the first of the year,
and, in case Dr. Davis does not ACCEPT
the place, he will, without question, be
asked to withdraw his letter of resigna-
ton.
Mr.. Smith left for an extended trip In
Europe last night, and on the eve of his
departure he received by special messen-
ger a set of resolutions passed by the
board in executive session yesterday aft
ernoon that can leave no room for doubt
as to the regard with which he is held by
the members Of the board
After E. o. Zimmerman let the cat out
Of the bag Thursday afternoon by the in
PRODUCTION Of a resolution electing DR..
Davis, and assigning Mr.. Bond to serve
during the interval, the members of the
board were somewhat in the air. In the
executive session which preceded, Mr.
Corning was authorized to write the let
ter that was sent last night, and it was
thought that no publicity whatever should
be given the matter, except that a tacit
understanding exist that Mr.. Smith hold
over until such time as DR.. Davis could
accept the place. E. o. Zimmerman's res
olution very nearly. caused a split in the
board, and considerable bad feeling was
developed.
Mr.. Corning yesterday morning was In
dilemma. He could not determine wheth-
er to send the letter to DR.. Davis after
what had passed in open session. It was
impossible to determine just where the
board stood, so, at the suggestion of sew
eral Of his colleagues, he called the special
meeting for yesterday afternoon.
The entire afternoon was consumed
with the Superintendency question. Mr..
Corning was authorized to write to DR..
Davis, and Supt. Smith was notified of
the boards action.
The board is somewhat exercised over
the exclusive news that has been printed
In the G e from time to time upon
the superintendency question. When the
board met yesterday afternoon some one
moved that the reporters be excluded.
e. O. Zimmerman put in a good word
for the newspaper men,
Then President Corning said: I'VE don't
seem to be able to have any executive ses-
sions for the next day we see it all In
the paper. 1 don't think executive ses-
S4OiiS are lIIc r-Snt lnlnS, DuU II we are
going to have a trumpet out of the win
dow, 1 am not in favor of holding any
more executive sessions
1t would be we'll If the wires around
the school board Office were examined to
see where the leak comes from" sug-
gested DR.. Wallace.
For my part" said Mr. McNair, az
have said nothing about the matter to any
reporter. always refer them to Cor
ming"
'They don't get much out of me-" de-
clared the president, with a flourish of
his gavel.
B. Zimmerman and E. E. Mcdonald
voted against closing the door upon the
press, but were overruled by a majority
Of the board.
The salary question was pretty thor
| oughly discussed, with rather satisfac-
tory results. Principal Robinson, of the
St Paul high school, will have his sal
ary raised to $4,000, and the principals OF
the other three high schools
will receive $1,000 instead Of
$1,SOO. Several minor officers of
the board were given small advances
but the grade teachers and most Of the
principals will have to be content with the
regular schedule increase.