Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-18
TO DRILL HIGH SCHOOL BOYS
Board of Education Looks Toward Regular
Army for 0Ommandsnt.
FAvoRs ENGAGEMENT OF WEST POINT MAN
General Bates Says that an Omcer
Retired for slight Disability
May he Induced 60 Drill
Cadets Here.

The Board Of Education has gone on rec
ord as favorable to the proposition OF bring
ing to Omaha a retired army oficer, grad
uate Of West Point, to be c~ommandant OF
the High school cadet battalion. The mat
ter came up at last nights meeting, and
thirteen members, all who we're present,
voted for tor at least voted to continue
negotiations looking to that end.
The resolution was introduced by W. F.
Johnson, who said he had been consulting
with General John G. Bates on the subject,
and that he had written several letters to
retired army officers whom the general had
recommended to him. THE general thinks
we should get a young man nr the place,
someone who would come here and take
this up as his life's work." said Mr.. John
son. There are plenty Of such men, all
young officers who because of some disa-
bility have been retired from the service on
thre-quarters pay. 1 remember he men
toned a Captain Piper Of New York, who
lost an arm in the Philippines. l have
written to him, and also to another officer
down in Arkansas.
THE general says we can get any one
OF these officers for S45 a month during the
school year, with communication of quarters,
which would be about $Ss a month addi-
tlonal. Under such an arrangement the
government would furnish us with all the
guns and other equipments we might need
for the military branch Of the school,"
Mcintosh Raises Objection.
Member Mcintosh did not take kindly to
the arrangement I'm afraid that this
would work a arrangement of conditions at
the High school" he said. "a graduate Of
West Point would be likely to want to foist
the rules to which he had been accustomed
upon the entire school, and the tendency
would be to take the school management out
of the hanos Of the principal. Besides,
what guaranty have we that the govern
ment will furnish us with this equipment"
He was told that the government had
promised this as one of the conditions Of
the boards employing a retired army ON
Ger.
Mr.. johnson added that the officer en-
ployed for such service would also be
willing, doubtless, to take one or more
classes outside of the military branch, as
two hours work a day would scarcely be
enough to content a vigorous man. Being
a graduate of West Point, he would be par
ticularly adapted to teach mathematics, for
example.
A vote was finally called on the motion
requiring the High school committee to con-
az ~ NOAlOopCuuChCt Win tuSoO army
officers, and get additional information as
to what they would be willing to do. Mr..
Mcintosh explained that he did not object
to this and voted afirmatlvely with tho
others.
COmmandant Pearse's resignation
The resignation of A. s. Pearse as COM
mandant of the battalion was accepted. The
application of Lieutenant Jesse M. Temp
sett for the. position thus vacated was
received and referred to the High school
committee. Attached to this application
was a statement sighed by thirty oficert
and men Of Company L., First Nebraska
testifying to his skill as a drillmaster.
Upon motion the High school teachers
were given two days vacation, April 8 and
4, without loss Of pay. .;'
A resolution was adopted to the effect tina
steps be taken to discourage the establish.
ment OF a bowling alley at 1920 North
Twenty-fourth street, which is within 15C
feet Of the Saratoga school. 1t was intro.
duced by w. F. Johnson. He said there
would be no objection to the alley II its
environments were wholesome, but 1t was
to form an adjunct to a poolroom and bar
through which patrons must pass In order
to reach 1t. 1t was also decided to see
what could be done toward the suppression
Of the poolroom and bar.
The order for the general vaccination IN
the schools was rescinded, the reason being
that smallpox in the city was abating.
A resolution Of thanks was extended Il
herbert Stubbendorf for repairing thirty
guns which heretofore had formed a use.
less part Of the High school battalion equip.