The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-03-11
BALLOTED INFORMALLY
Effort to Be Made Saturday Night to
Bring About Election.
Raise in Citizens Telephone Rate
Causes Discussion.
Estimate Received on Construction of
High School Vault.
From Fridays Daily.

From Fridays Daily.
The school board took up the election
of superintendent last night, but with
out the intention of making final selec-
ton. 1t was hoped that by doing some
informal ballotting the members might
get closer together and sift the number
of candidates down to three or four, so
that the records of these could be gone
over thoroughly, in order that no mis-
take might be made in making a Sc
lection.
All of the members were present ex-
cept Mrs. Smith. Mr.. Fletcher desired
that all of the members use their best
Judgment, and he did not see any indi-
cation that any member had an axe to
grind. He wished that all of the mem
bers could be present when the election
is had, and said that the board has the
best lot of men to choose from that he
had ever seen since he was q member of
the board.
Mr.. Comstock thought that delay
would be dangerous, as the candidates
would be dropping out as they were
elected to other positions. Already
Superintendent Critchett has been re-
elected at New Ulm and is out of the
field. This is the time of the year when
teachers are elected.
1t was stated that Mrs. Smith will not
be released from quarantine until week
from Saturday, and some of the members
of the board thought that too long a
time to wait.
A huge pile of letters of recommended
ton and applications lay upon the table,
and President Hughes thought that these
should be read as all of the members of
the board have not read all of them.
This did not strike the rest of the board
favorably, and there was a sly glancing
at watches.
The presence of the reporters caused a
delay in the proceedings, until it was
arranged at the request of the board that
the result of any balloting should not
be published, so as not to injure the
chances of candidates elsewhere.
Eleven informal ballots were taken
during which several motions to take
formal ballots and to adjourn were lost.
On the tenth ballot one candidate re-
ceived four votes, or enough to have
elected had the balloting been formal,
but this candidate only received two
votes on the next ballot.
1t was decided to look up those receiv-
ing the highest number of votes in or
der to be sure that there are no OBJ
iections to them. Finally, motion by
DIR. Davis to adjourn until Saturday
at 1880 p. m. was carried.
Telephone Rates.
Considerable other business was trans
acted earlier in the evening. President
James and Superintendent G. X. Willard
of the Mankato Citizens Telephone
company were present and addressed the
board on behalf of the company's bill
for $3l.25 for rental of phones dur
ing the present quarter, whereas the
price heretofore has been $25 quarter.
The board had laid the bill over to see
whether it did not have a contract with
the company that the phones were to
be furnished at 500 a year.
Mr.. Willard said that the school dis
trict is being charged on the basis OF
business phones, with a reduction OF 10
and 2-3 per cent, which is the same re-
auctions as before the recent rise In the
rate went into effect. Notice had been
given to the board of the proposed raise,
as well as to all other subscribers. The
reduction is fair to the board, and is
something not given to other subscribers.
The company had no contract with the
board, as the former board that had or
dered the phones put in had refused to
enter into a contract that would bind
future boards The rate was the result
of an agreement.
DR.. James said that if there had been
a contract, the company would have
stood by it to the last, if it had lost
money. The present rate is just about
the average cost per phone for running
the plant.
President Hughes suggested that the
district should be charged at the rate
for residence phones, which would be
$50 a year, whereas the board has been
paying 500 year, and under the new
rate would pay $l25.
The subject was taken up again later
in the evening, when the bills were
acted upon. All of the other bills were
allowed, and then this one was con-
sidered.
Mr.. Comstock thought that the SER
vice given was dwelling house service,
and Thoughts that the board was already
paying good price for the service which
it is getting The expense of handling
these phones is no more than the cost
of operating dwelling phones, perhaps
less. The Citizens Telephone company
has made kind of barn storming play
before the citizens of Mankato, as to
the cost of operating the plant. 1t is
making us pay for lot of Improbable
farmers lines, and wants to establish
it's rates on the lowest ebb of its bust
ness, without taking into consideration
the increase of business which it is
bound to have in the future, and which