Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-12-14
THAT INTEREST INC BODY HOLDS
IRIS LAST MEETING
Harmony Exists Mt the Last Meeting 81
Hoard of Edncation-- Some Parting
s,emarIss--An ola BnI Contracted
i'm 1885 is Paid.


bly more. than any board in the his.
tory OF the city, Thursday held its
last meeting There is one more reg
ular meeting night of the present
board, but as this comes only two
nights before Christmas. when all
viii be busy, ii was decided to make
last nights meeting the last meeting
Of the present board, unless something
urgent demands attention.
The board began transac'ing the
business of the meeting by passing a
number of Lills.
Mr.. J Newton Thatcher and broth
er, James Thatcher, appeared before
the meeting and IRE scented an old bill
OF Sl62. 81 for coal furnished the pub
lie schools by the firm OF J N.
Thatcher e Brother. The bill was
passed by he Board Of Education IN
the year 1885 and an order given the
firm on Geo. A Chrlsman. then Sher-
iff oi berkeley coonty but on account
OF tire failure of Mr.. Chrisman, which
failprc has until this dny caused iiti-
CATION IN the ourts, the order was
never paid The Messrs Thatcher
produced the records to show the
truth of their claim and Mr.. Pit
ger. who was also secretary OF the
board at that time, stated that he bad
written out the order, but that 1t had
never been paid by the Sheriff. The
mem bers Of the board expressed it as
their opinion thar 1T was an honest
debt and. although thew were under
no legal obligation. they were obi
gated morally to pay it. The bill had
been presented TO previous boards,
but they refused tn paw it.
Commissioner Evans moved that
the blu be paid. which motion was
seconded by COMMISSIONS Wellinger.
The motion was unanimously carried
and the Messrs Tia c. or given new
order for Sl62. 81 for furnishing coal
for the public schools
The Watash School and Church Fur
nifure Go. whose bill Tor desks for the
Fourth ward school. the board at a
previous meeting refused TO pay un I'll
the desks were put in condition ac
cordlng to contract. Submitted anoth-
tr communication. agreeing to renlace
the defectl parts and TO all fequir
ed of them hv The contract If the hill
is pald by the board. The board in
structed the secretary to draw mp an
order for the amount and send 1t to
the firm afte~ the defective parts are
replaced.
Superintendent of City Schools G.
H. Cole reported the schools in sat-
lsfactory condition, the teachers work
ing together tremendously.
At the suggestion Of the superinten-
dent the dates for the closing and
opening of schools for the Christmas
holidays was fixed The board decid-
ed to give the schools holiday for
eight davs this year. The schools
viii be closed Dec. 20 and re opened
January 2.
Commissioner Evans then made a
few farewell remarks appro pirate
to the closing meeting of the
School Board of 1901. He said, IN
part;
I'VE five have worked for the ciri-
zens of Martinsburg faithfully and
with an honest purpose While we
have been quite active and stirred up
many discussions, believe each mem
Der has been honest in his purposes.
/ believe the work of this school
board has been benefit to Martins
burg, Without agitation, stagnation
follows While we have differed on
many subjects. we have all agreed ON
one point and that Is the effort to de
yeloD the schools, the care OF the pu-
pills and the promotion OF education.
Another result, as the superintendent
las just stated, is the establishment
or perfect harmony among the teach
ers, something that has never existed.
IN nv recollection. in the history of
the schools. While we have done
things that have caused comment,
none can point to ANYTHING we have
done that has injured the schools -"
In closing Mr.. Evans said: Il re-
greet 10 part with the two members
who are retiring from the board; 1
art with them with sorrow and with
the kindliest of ceilings. Some things
thag have been done may have caused
Ill feeling bu that has all blown over
and there are no old sores left TO be
healed. -
Nj Tabler, one of the outgoing
commissioners, thanked Commission.
err Evans for his friendly remarks.
Mr.. Wellinger. the other retiring
commits. Toner, also thanked him He
said 81 know we have differed, but
what / did, / did consc1entiously.