The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-27

At a meeting of the teachers COM
mittee of the board of control, held last
night, a petition was read from a large
number of citizens of the First ward,
requesting that the dividing line be-
tween No. &c and No. % schools be
changed from Depot street to the Della
ware and Hudson tracks, as at pres
ent the children living south of Depot
street and east of the Lackawanna
river are compelled to cross the rail-
road tracks to get to school, and in so
doing endanger their lives.
After a vigorous opposition by Mr..
Shires of the First ward, and an equal
ly strong championing by Mr.. Fran
co.'s, of the Second Mr.. Gibbons moved
that the committee recommend to the
board that the line be changed, and
the motion prevailed.
After the petition was read by Sec
retary Fellows, Mr.. Shires sprang to
his feet and exclaimed: Mr.. Chair
man, l move that the secretary notify
the principals of Nos. 26 and % schools
to adhere to the present boundary
lines, and to cancel any permits pre-
sented to them transferring any pupils
from one school to the other"
Mr.. Shires is not a member of the
teachers committee; neither is Mr..
Francois. The latter Immediately arose
and called the attention of all present
to the fact, by blandly remarking:
Mr.. Shires is not a member OF this
committee, and has no more right to
make any resolution here than have.
l am surprised at his trying to force
the children to go to No. 26 school and
cross the tracks, when No. 26 is crowd
ed and there is plenty of room at No.
u. And on the strength of Mr.. Shires
himself breaking the rules last year,
relating to permits, 1 have given out
several of them"
HIS EIGHT CONSTITUENTS.
II. L. Hartranft, of North Scranton,
one of the siXty-two citizens whose
names are attached to the petition
here asked permission to address the
committee and, on being accorded the
floor, said: Il represent a large part
Of this district, inasmuch as l have
eight children"
There was big laugh here, and cries
of Good for you." He then briefly
told of the dangers incurred by the
children crossing the Delaware and
Hudson tracks, and Mr. Gibbons then
made the motion given above.
Mr.. Shres said, with Considerabl
warmth: Last June a petition came
before the board. signed by POS cti-
zens, asking for a new school, in the
very district now under discussion. L
certainly think that some attention
should be given that petition, instead
n n "a faN hp L.,
ing about these tracks"
Another gentleman, living in the
First ward. then addressed the COM
mittee and cited the case of a child
who lost a leg on the tracks in ques-
tion, only week ago, while on the
way to Sunday school. The motion
was then put to the members and car
ried.
Earlier in the evening several prop
erty holders requested that their chill
dren be allowed to go to No. 33 school,
instead of to No. 9. The recent fixing
of school boundaries caused the trans
fer of a number of No. 33 students
living in the triangle bounded by
Adams avenue, Gibson street and the
Erie and Wyoming railroad tracks to
the new No. building. The request
was granted temporarily, until further
orders are issued.
MAX PHILLIPS CLAIM.
Prior to the meeting of the teachers
committee the building committee met.
The claim against the board of $3.50
wages by Max Phillips, formerly jani-
tor of No. school, came up before the
members. Phillips was discharged last
year, and began suit against the
board for $3.50 salary, which he claimed
to be due him for the balance of the
year. The case is now pending in court,
and the committee will recommend to
the board that the claim be settled for
$500, providing Phillips pays the costs.
Mr. Stack, representing the Scranton
Electric Light company, proposed to
furnish the lighting apparatus for sew
eral Of the night schools at a rate
which proved satisfactory to the COM
mittee,
There will be a special meeting of the
board of control tomorrow night,