The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-28
BOARD IN NO DANCER
GOVERNOR WILL TAKE NO ACTION
AGAINST NORMAL SCHOOL
DIRECTORS
ANKENY MAKES STATEMENT
President Says Detailed Statement
Will Be Submitted to Governor,
Which Will Close the Tn
fortunate Controversy.

There is no likelihood of any sensa-
tional developments in the matter Of the
normal boards Duluth deficiency. Gov.
Van SAINT yesterday stated that no com
plant had been made to him, and unless
some specific complaint was registered he
should take no action whatever in the
premises. While the fact that the board
exceeded the Appropriation by over $1,000
is not denied, it is known that there was
10 intent Of wrong on the part of the
board.
Director Phelps is really to blame. The
trouble came about during the fight be-
tween the board of control and the nor
NAL board While that fight was pending
in the supreme court the normal board
could rot pay any of it's bills. Director
Phelps made contracts from time to time,
and the contractors undertook the work
largely on their own responsibility, be-
lieving that the normal board would be
able to make good their claims Director
Phelps practically had control of ali the
work at the Duluth school during the
time that the financial control of the nor
NAL board was in dispute
President A. t. Ankeny, of the normal
board, yesterday issued a statement COW
ering the case from the boards stand
point. Mr.. Ankeny says:
Ankeny's Defense.
Since the examination of the Duluth
building accounts made by Secretary Oh
sen and myself, in a conference with the
three members of the board of control or
Tuesday last certain publications have
been made rejecting on the good faith OF
the state normal board or some of its
members. An explanation would now
seem to be proper, and l make it, so far
as L am able on general knowledge and
without having the records at hand
fprnnnn rod ho
first time that the bills still unpaid
amounted to $13632.17. The state auditor s
records showed that the cash balance
still on hand was $6,3O652 If all the
to be deficiency Of S7,425.65. The unpaid
bills are: For heating. American Heat
ing company, $780, Northern Electric
company. $3.50; Northern Hardware com
pany, $22; w. F. Phelps, $175; D. r.
Black, plumbing, $2,2SS.S3; Palmer, Hall &
Hunt, balance architect fees. 50, 49,. "a /;
Johnson Electric company 1925, and
Water Arch Furnace company, $1,000.
This state of things was a complete
surprise to all Of US. 1t had always been
believed by our board that we were
within the sums appropriated. Director
Phelps had full charge Of the matter,
and his reports and those of the archi-
tects were made to our board from time
to time. Since about July last our bills
had not been paid, and it is only lately
that the board of control took action
about $1,000 appropriated. but that is
for specific purposes, and no part of it
can now be used on the above deficiency
Part of this deficiency must be attrib-
uted to the fire. While the original con-
tractors put the building back into place
for the amount of the insurance. $40, 600
there were still some extraordinary ex
penses attending. They were fees for
arbitration, adjustment, new insurance
fuel during the time and engineers serv-
ices; also added architects fees of about
ICOO. During all the time too, the fund
had to bear its share of the necessary ex-
penses of the board From such items
alone fully half the deficiency may fairly
be accounted for
1t is proper to say that in the pruning
process last winter, the estimates of our
board were cut down several thousand
dollars. Yet all the important contracts
had then been entered into [ think I
may safely say that the Duluth building
is one of the best and cheapest buildings
if not the best and cheapest, ever erected
by the state The total cost, at about
$1G0,0CO for the building proper is very
low. The architects have given to 1t un-
usual care. Everything done has been
honestly done. AT the proper time do
tailed statement will be laid before the
governor. and I have no doubt that he
will unhesitatingly recommend to the leg
islature that the deficiency be promntiv
met.