Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-08-05
THE new SCHOOL BOARD

Met for Organization Last Saturday.
Division in Election Of Treasurer
Starts . Discussion.
The new school board met for or
ganization last Saturday evening.
All members we're present. On mo-
tion Geo. q. Bitterness was unani-
mously elected president of the board
and P. G. Peterson was in the same
manner elected clerk. 81. S. Peterson
and Peter Hong were placed in nomi-
nation for treasurer, and each re-
ceived three votes. The vote of Presi.
dent johnson was challenged on the
ground that as presiding officer he
was not entitled to vote except in case
OF tie. The doctor insisted that as
member Of the board he could not
be deprived of his vote, and the re-
corded vote was thus left three to
three. Neithe; side would yield, and
there was consequently no election at
that meeting. The matter will come
up at the next regular meeting, which
will be on the first Wednesday in
September.
A representative of the TRIBUNE in
terviewed several members of the
board in regard to the matter. Mr..
Bitterness stated that there was really
no serious trouble in the board, but
that the supporters OF Mr.. Hong felt
that as Mr.. Peterson has had the
honor of being treasurer for two
years the honor should be passed
along to someone else. If that is all
at issue we May expect to see CON-
promise effected by the election of
some other member of the board who
has not already had his share of the
honor.
DR.. johnson and q. S. Peterson
state that the question is one concern
ing the banks of the city. They say
that the statement was made by Messrs.
Bitterness and Hong that the Kandi-
yohi County Bank had not been
treated fairly-that it had not been
given large enough deposits of school
money-by the present treasurer, and
that therefore treasurer should be
elected that was favorable to the
above bank. Mr.. Peterson denied
that he had Disseminated against the
Kandiyohi County Bank in the uat-
ter of deposits. He said he was the
first school treasurer in Willmar to
divide the funds between the banks.
DR.. Johnson and Swan Anderson
took the ground that no banking
house or any other concern should
dictate in school matters.
1t is unfortunate that any such m at
ter should come up to cause diyis-
ion in the school board. There was
very little trouble about that matter
when the district was in such condi-
tion that for part of the year the
treasurer was called upon to over
draw the account. But it seems that
the surplus over which the district
congratulated itself shis year has be-
come an apple of discord. If that is
to be the case we better go back to the
old method of living from hand to
mouth. A proctracted deadlock in
the board in regard to one matter will
be likely to cause bitter feelings that
will hinder the members from working
In unison for the good of the school
for the rest of the year. The mem
bers of the board are elected to look
after the interests OF the school dis
trict, and as far as their official &C.
tfons are concerned they are not sup
posed to remember that there are any
banks in Willmar. The treasurer
gives a bond for the money he han
dies, and all the board has to see to
is that that bond is good.