Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-09
THONPSETT TAXES COMMAND
Former Lieutenant Of First Nebraska to
Drill High School Cadets.
NOT READY TO EMPLOY TRUANT OFFICER
Debate on Matter Brings Out some
Interesting Information and n
Decision 20 Defer
Action.

The Board Of Education at It's meeting
Monday night settled the question OF a COM
mandant for the High school cadet bat
talon by appointing Lieutenant ). Thomp-
sett to the place, which he is TO fill until
June 1 at q salary Of $50 a month. Lieu
tenant Thompsett was a member Of the
First Nebraska regiment and saw actual
fighting in the Philippines. He went to
the front as a sergeant and came back as
q lieutenant. He is recommended as an
excellent drill master.
w. F. Johnson, chairman of the High
school committee, reported that there had
been no tangible results from his corre-
spondence looking to the employment Of a
retired army Officer as commandant. II
had been impossible for him thus far to
secure any information as to the qualihca-
lions Of the available men. He recon-
mended that as Lieutenant Thompsett only
wished to retain the position until June 1,
that the yecretary of the board continue
the correspondence with retired army on
GERS with the view to closing a deal with
one Of them by the opening Of the fall
term.
A resolution Of thanks to Lieutenant
Colonel Arthur KelkeBney for serving as
commandment since the resignation Of Conn
mandant Pearse was adopted and In further
Secognition Of the service he was awarded
S25 in cash. 3
Matter of a Truant Omcer.
The question Of whether or not to em-
ploy a truant oficer engaged the atten-
ton Of the board for half an hour. The
constitutionality Of the law being ques-
toned, Attorney Herring's opinion was
called for.
THE law seems to leave the appointment
Of a truant officer optional with the board"
said he. There Is a wide latitude for
construction, as no special time is desig-
mated for his service to begin or to end. l
think it is an ethical rather than a legal
question which confronts the board in this
matter"
superintendent Pearse said: MY con-
viction is that there are many children out
of school in Omaha who ought to be in
perhaps between 300 and 900 Of them. l
have seen large numbers OF boys OF school
age loanng about brickyards, factories, rail-
road yards and along the river banks. 1t is
impossible for me to say h measure Of
efficacy would attend the appointment OF a
truant %oficer, as there is no precedent OF
their work in cities OF the metropolitan
class. Lincoln is the largest city l Know
of that employs one. ] can say this, how
ever, that II the law was rigidly enforced
this board would have to establish several
special schools for the accommodation OF
the truants, for as a general thing this
class Of pupil is incorrigible and SO de-
icient in manners and habits as to make 1t
inexpedient to have him associate with the
regular pupils OF the city schools"
r-u~- r~.x ..l Me- nAau
President Barnard said; Two years ago
this same question was up before the board
and we gave our secretary at that time,
jim. Gillian. permission to see what he
could do In the way Of rounding up tru-
ants. He hired two photographers and
sent out about 1000 letters to parents who
were supposed to have children COMING
under the compulsory school law. II cost
the board about 5000 and, so far as we wer'
able to estimate, the attendance Of thre'
truants was secured as a result. l doub'
IL the law can be enforced with success II
a city OF this size"
w. F. johnson said he estimated thai
there were fully 1000 children OF schoo
age in Omaha who habitually remained
away from school.
The discussion resulted in a determine
tion to defer action in the matter OF al
appointment until the opening Of the mex
school year.
Resolutions were introduced by Member
Mcintosh eongratulating Member Rober
Smith on his marriage, which was solemn
ICED April 8. They closed with the words
I'VE heartily commend Mr.. Smiths actor
and congratulate him upon his assumption
Of the Benedictine relation" H. N. Woo
went to the dictionary to see what Bene
dictine means and found this definition
"A liquor made at the Benedictine mon
astery, FecamR Normandy" Mr.. Smith
being on his honeymoon, was not present I
say whether be really did assume such re
lations or not. W. F. johnson explalne,
that Benedictine is a cordial, and SO M I
Mcintosh probably meant cordial relation
instead Of Benedietine relations.
A resolution was adopted authorizing IN
expenditure OF SIS for shade trees to b
planted in the various school campuses.
Compliment for HenninEs.
A report was read from the Fidelity an
Deposit company, in which City Treasure
Hennings Is bonded. The report said 1
effect that the city treasurer's books an
records, covering the period between Marc
rs. 1900, and October 4, 1901. had bee
checked over, and continued: I'm view Q
the large volume Of the collections. nearl
5000. 900, and the multiplicity Of accounts
the. accuracy Is remarkable. His record
are correct in every particular"
A complaint from the wife Of A. r