Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-07
VENTILATES ROWE CONTRACT
School Beard Warns Up Over Heating and
Vsntilating Job,
ARCHITECT LATENstR REstNTs CHARGES
w. r. johnson Repeats story OF sus-
picIouR Action. which Architect
Declares 20 He FRIse-shl-
airy Question ID Again.

Variety characterized the meeting OF the
Board OF Education last evening and so
rapid and marked were the changes in
the mood Of the body during It's proceed
ings as to be at times almost startling.
From seriousness so intense that it closely
approached the tragic to levity Of the
highest character the members passed
with one accord In almost instantaneous
transition. Discussion in terms OF most
pretentious rhetoric was without any In
termediate stage thrown aside for argu-
ment in the slang vernacular. Rigid econ
omy in the treatment of one measure was
closely followed by liberallty in the action
upon another. Even the members in pre-
senting a question we're at a loss to know
in what spirit It would be received.
Almost at the outset Of the meeting the
proceedings took on a very serious aspect.
The committee on buildings and property
reported recommending the payment Of the
balance due John Rowe & Co. on the con-
tract for the heating and ventilating plant
in the High school, amounting to s2,076,
and also the sum of 800 on a bill of extras,
that being the amount agreed upon in set
Element Of an original claim Of S390.26.
The report also recommended that the
amounts mentioned be included in the
claims report for the evening.
Brings Animated Discussion.
This report provoked an animated dis
cussion as to the performance Of the con-
tract, during which was reviewed a great
deal OF the history Of the differences which
had occurred beteween Rowe g. Co. and
John Latenser, the architect who drew the
plans and specifications. w. F. Johnson
vigorously upheld the claim Of Mr.. Rowe.
Admitting that Mr.. Rowe had departed
from the specifications Of the architect,
Mr.. johnson declared that unless he had
done so the plant could never have been
made TO operate successfully. Some of the
members commended that Mr.. Rowe had no
right under any circumsta aces to depart
from the plans and specifications under
which he had accepted the contract. and
Mr.. Latenser was given the floor to state
that had the contractor followed the plans
and specifications implicitly no trouble
would have been experienced, but as some
changes had been made others were found
necessary. Mr.. Latenser, in the course Of
his remarks, stated that the representation
that changes were necessary were entirely
false. Then w. f. johnson said he had
beeen Informed that Mr.. Latenser had
asked Mr.. Rowe what he would give to get
this contract, and when Mr.. Rowe replied
NAnk hV hbhAA Nahe 40 S"h 1@aRN1u ~
ing entirely on his bid, Mr.. Latenser had
used all the influence he could bring to
bear to get the contract for another bidder
whose bid was not the lowest. He had also
been informed that Mr.. Latenser had done
everything in his power to embarrass Mr..
Rowe in the performance of the contract.
This Mr.. Latenser denied as being entirely
false. After some further discussion a mo-
ton by ]. j. smith to refer the report to
a special committee was adopted by a vote
Of s to 4. the members who we're absent
being Theodore Johnson, Mr.. Maynard and
Mr.. Wood.
some Salaries Raised.
The question of salaries. which has given
the board much concern Of late, came in
for still further attention at this meeting.
When the report of the committee on claims
approving tine payroll was presented, w.
r. Johnson moved to amend by making the
salary of Nathan Bernstein, head OF the
department of physics at the High school,
$3.50 instead of $500. Mr.. Bernstein, he
said, was made acting director Of that de-
partment last year, but the salary was not
increased at that time. He had since been
given the position permanently and should
get the full salary of his position. Robert
Smith moved to amend the amendment by
raising the salaries of several other mem
bers Of the High school staff, among whom
was mentioned Prof. Waterhouse, to be ad-
vanced to the salary OF 81 500 per year,
but that amendment was ruled out by
President Barnard as mot amending any
thing The amendment Of Mr.. Johnson
was adopted. Later, by resolution intro
duced by Robert Smith. the salary Of Ar
thur Pearse. who was appointed acting d.
racfor ~ the hfnlagv danartpoant tbly falI
was increased from $50 to $40 per month.
The committee on high school reported
recommending that nine additional type
writing machines be secured for use in the
commercial department and Mr.. Mcintosh
Immediately moved an amendment abolish
ing the teaching of typewriting in the
schools. This amendment carried, only
Robert Smith and Mr.. Cermak voting in the
negative.
The recommendation Of the COMMITTEES
on high school that the biology department
OF the High school be moved. to the new
building was adopted. Mr.. Holman moved
TO amend by including the department OF
physics, but his motion was lost.
JanitOrs Want More Money.
To the committee on heating and ven
tilating was referred a petition from the
1~anitors OF the schools. twenty-six in num-
Der, asking the board to restore their sal.
aries as they we're before the cut Of 1885,
and stating that owing to the increased
cost Of living they felt themselves justified
in making this request. Appended to thi'
petition were two notations in lead pencil
as follows: me too. G. e. Herring
"Me too. ]. F. Burgess"
A communication from Superintendent.
Pesrse stated that reports which he had re-
ceived from principals Of schools showed
the total membership on September 26 Il
have been 1875. which was S64 pupils les
than at the same period Of last year. H.
further stated that he had learned from
these reports that there were four room
IN which the membership exceeded fifty
ave. and, including suburban schools nine
team rooms in which the membership wa