Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-16
MOVE FOR SMALLER BOARD
Retiring Member Thinks Board Of Education
Unwieldy at Present
ATTORNEY HERRING WAVES HIS PER DIEM
says lie VIII no the Needed Lobbying
at Lincoln and Not Charge n
80 Per Day voted 10
Him.

or the practice Of the Board Of Educa-
tion have established any formal cere'
mony or exercises to mark the close Of
Its lofioial year and the graduation Of a
portion Of its body. several OF the retiring
members found opportunity last evening
to work little valedictory addresses into
the regular proceedings. All Of the
members were present, but in its early
stages the meeting moved rather slowly,
and Il began to look as though the mem
bers we're not going 70 work themselves
up to their customary conversational en-
thusiasm. for there was but little to be
done and the character OF the regular
business was not such AZ to inspire ora
tory or debate Toward the close, how
ever, when new business was permissible,
new IN was infused into the proceedings
and there was something doing right up
to the close.
To this portion of the program W. r.,
Johnson, who is one OF the retiring mem
bers. contributed the following: u
Resolved. That this board recommend
90 the legislature that legislation be
boards Of education in cities Of the metro
politan class seven instead OF fifteen.
Board f. Unwilling.
Speaking as to his resolution, MI. John
son said that he had become convinced
during the term Of his service on the board
that fifteen members was too many, that a
body OF that size Is unwieldy and that at
frequent times Il is impossible 10 prop
erly place the responsibility. He said that
possibly he was not the proper person to
complain on that score, but there certainly
Rad been too much talk in the board. His
idea is that Ave or seven men could sit
around a table and do business without
regard for the gallery or the newspapers
to much better effect than a board Of If
teen members. He acknowledged that he
Rad done at least his share Of the talking
in this board and perhaps more than his
share, but that did not alter his belief
that there had been TOD much talking
done.
Mr.. Wood, another Of the retiring mem
bers, said that at first glance he was in
clined to favor the idea OF reducing the
number of members OF the board, but he
felt hardly prepared to act upon this res
olution at this time without further con-
sideration. There had been times when
he thought eight Of the members OF the
board were too many and at other times
he had thought thirteen were hardly
and, to be perfectly frank, ne had on some
occasions decided that fourteen of the
members were about right even when he
was not OF the fourteen, but that opinion
came as an after thought and as the re-
suit OF mature reflection. He was moi
prepared at this time to say whether Ave
or seven or more would be the proper
, membership for the board and he would
prefer to see the resolution laid over to 9
future meeting. other members felt that
action upon this measure should not be
hastily taken, and a motion to lay the res
olution on the table until the next reg.
ular meeting was carried.
For school Revenue.
Another stir In the proceedings fol-
which W. F. Johnson was primarily re.
spSnsible arose over the question Of dii
yerting the income from liquor licenses
police court and other fines from the schoo
fund and providing for the support o
the schools by direct taxation and stat,
apportionment. Mr.. Johnson's origina
resolution on that subject was returned
by the Judiciary committee with a repor
TO the effect that such action could legal!
be brought about and he then introduced
a resolution in which the board urges tn,
legislature to take the proper steps to la!
before the voters at the next election al
amendment to so revise the charter as t
provide for the school fund as stated.
Robert Smith. still another OF the hv,
whose terms expire with the present year
spoke at some length In opposition 4
this measure. He said there are man,
persons who feel that perhaps It is no
Just the right thing that the schools shout
be maintained with money obtained fror
the present sources and on the face OF 1
that resolution might look like a worth
and desirable measure, but he declared 1
20 be impracticable and he declared tina
any person who had any knoWledRe OF noii
tics In Nebraska would know that no sue,
constitutional amendment as was pro
posed could be passed by vote Of the PEG
pie, Mr.. Howard favored the resolutio
expressing his confidence in the voters {
correct this existing condition II given a
opportunity to do so.
On motion Of Mr. Cermak, the resolutlo
was laid on the table.
some Routine Work.
The report OF the committee on text
books recommending the purchase OF book
TO the amount Of $l,22S for supplemental
reading in the school was adopted afts
-some debate.
Mr. Maynard as chairman OF the hnanc
committee presented a report Of the var
out funds Of the board for the year froi
Jaanary 1. the expenditures for Deeembs
being estimated. This report showed ths
there WIS an aggregate deficit Of s10.s3
II was placed on file.
Mr.. Mcintosh reviewed the long argue