Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-06
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
T~sxpGysrS League NaksS Rspsrt on Ia
ashosl Beard Investigations.
ExTsAvAsANct IN SCHOOL MANAGEMENT
Specific Charges, Showing where
Large sums of Money Have
Been Wasted by Board
During Last Year.

Al q meeting Of the Taxpayers league Of
South Omaha. held on the ard day of Feb
ruary, 1902, the following report OF the
Investigations made by the league into the
efairs Of the public schools Of this city
was ordered published:
The Investigations Of this league have
been In progress since the early fall Of
1901. The ohicers OF the league are David
Anderson, president; A. H. Merrill, vice
president: A. L Bergquist, secretary, and
August Miller, treasurer. The following
are SOM Of the citizens and taxpayers who
have signed the roll of membership:
ID. Anderson. August Miller. George w.
N. Hunt. John I +, sehS SHan D. n'T n. Click K,
". cess cPSSEs j, &. SSioP6SSSSs sl Frank sH cTsS:
Rowland, l. C. Gibson. A. A. Wright e.
q Reed. F. J. Persons, G. e. Curtis, I, J.
SSt Msil' + zoe ;. GFaiF tEs.ita "a + +. F PSt"iika Free Jerry !;
Dee, Frank Koutsky. G. C.. Clifton. w. H.
h sS;6e s.,O " s: White sa rEsnk g. PIyO9skf aka.
r. & Haskiss. J. G, Graham. u. I. Miller,
Condor 1 1ay TsT;ert u d e. Mn'i r. 'Rin Pay "
y. 2. Mann. :. ". Hastings, J. II. KOpietE'
0aS " N41 " n lNaAaC N9o W
check and prevent large and wasteful ex-
travagances in the management and ad-
ministration Of our city schools. Another
object OF the league was to prevent the
construction of a high school building at
a very large cost and charge upon the tax
payers, at a time when no funds we're
available for such purpose, and also at a
time when under the law no expenditures
for such a purpose could be made on ac-
count Of lack Of public funds available
therefor. While the league recognizes the
necessity OF a high school building, we
also believe that a general lack of con-
hdence in the present school board war
rants q delay until a time when full con-
ndence in a careful Board OF Education
might obtain.
That this lack Of confidence in the
| present Board of Education was not with
out foundation. we call attention to the
recent indictment of seven members of the
board for malfeasanee in once. and 20 a
few significant facts taken from the records
Of the board.
"In the seventeen months from May 1,
1900. to October 1. 1901. the Board Of Eduea-
tion paid to L. A. Davis, architect, the sum
Of $s,125. $1,000 of which was for plans of
a high school building. which has never
/ Dtcn HkATJeO ana which unuGE the law
could not be begun for lack Of funds.
During the same period OF time the board
paid for plumbing the following amounts to
the following named persons: To George
| Parks, S4,6616S; to John Parks, 1857. so;
to George L.. Dare, x4.oee. IA. making a total
| expenditure for plumbing during the time
| when but one new building was erected OF
$40, o91.so.
During the past year and in face Of the
fact that no money was on hand with which
to build q high school the board paid for 9
high school site $is,o 900. This site consists
Of one-half block Of property entirely out
side the business district Of the city.
During the above seventeen months ths
board paid to M. Donovan, a painter and
paper hanger, the sum OF 81, 1865.
The board awarded to George Parks 9
contract for the heating plant in the Corri.
gan school, a four-room building. for 3s.04S
when at the same time a bid was In the
hands Of the secretary Of the board propos.
ing to do the same work for 81. 1000.
From October. 1900. to April. 1901, the
board purchased 1910 tons of coal, an av.
erage Of thirteen tons to each school room
In the city. The Arm that had this Goa
contract was indicted by the recent grand
jury for obtaining money under false pre-.
lenses.
From May 1, 1901. to October /, 1909, tn,
board paid for lumber over 1900, no par
of which was used in new buildings. Tn,
price paid for finishing lumber was as hiEl
as $50 per thousand. while the market prlcI
at the time for the same grade Of lumbeI
was $40. For sidewalk lumber $40 per thou
sand was paid, the market for the sam,
grade at the time was $40. The board pait
for common lath 80 per thousand, the high
est prevailing price for which was $3.50.
Since May l. 1901. the board has re
! ceived from all sources a sum of s1s3,