The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1905-07-14


Abuse Because They Did the Right
Thing.
As there has been considerable mis-
understanding over the controversy
between the Norfolk school board and
A. II. Beall, manager OF the Auditori-
um. the board requests that n state
ment OF the case be made and that
the correspondence be published.
The customary price for the use OF
the Auditorium to anything of n local
nature has been $50 n night, the rent
or to pay in addition for lights and
fuel. making the total cost about $25
in summer and SIS In winter. When
MIR Beal attempted to charge $50
for the building for the use OF the
teachers convention the injustice of
the action caused the school board
not TO use the Auditorium for the
High school commencement, and ar
rangements were made to hold the ex
ercises in the M. E. church. But the
graduates wanted to give Il play as a
part of their program. and this made
the use OF the church impossible, so
1t was decided to use the Auditorium
II anything like fair terms could be
secured. In pursuance of an order OF
the board. President Salter called up
Mr.. Beall, who lives in Sioux City,
and asked him about the matter. Mr.
Beall refused to make n price in that
manner, saying that he would not talk
to Norfolk people by telephone, and
curtly told DR.. Salter that If he had
any business to do with him to write
him. DR.. Salter then wrote the gen
tleman and received reply as follows
Sioux City, May 6.-Dr. =. ii. Sal. |
ter, Norfolk, Neb.--Dear Sir: Reply.
ing to your inquiry of the 5th. have
to say that the rent for the Auditorium !
for the night of June 2, 1905, for the !
High School commencement, will be
$4,000. This will include light, ush-
ers, and the setting OF the stage
Yours very truly, A. b. Beall,
Manager"
Circumstances arose whereby 1t be-
came necessary to change the date OF
the exercises from June to June /, |
and a telegram was sent by DR.. Sal
ter as follows:
Terms for Auditorium accepted |
Make night June 1st. Answer"
In reply to this telegram, a letter
was received as follows:
Sioux City, May 9.--Dr. P. II. Sal.
ter. Norfolk Neb.-Dear Sir: am
in receipt of your telegram reading:
Terms for Auditorium acceptable,
make night June list, answer which
is satisfactory to me, and have ac-
cordingly marked off June 1st.
Yours very truly, A. b. Beall,
Manager"
When the time came for the gradua
ton exercises much of the stage set
tings and chairs were in the basement
of the Auditorium, which was flooded
with water and chairs had to be
brought from the high school build
ing, the drayage on which cost $1.00.
No ushers were provided, as had been
agreed in Mr. Beall's first letter, and
the board was obliged to hire these
at a cost of $175. At the meeting OF
the board following, warrant was
ordered drawn in favor OF Mr. Beall
for $4,000 less the $2.75 that II has
been necessary to pay out to make
good his agreement The warrant was
sent to Mr. Beall by Secretary Ma
trau, who received reply as follows:
Sioux City, June 10-Mr. II. c..
Matrau, Secretary. Norfolk, Neb. -
Dear Sir: | am in receipt OF your let
ter Of the 9Th enclosing order for
sS7.25. This is s2.75 less than our
agreement and must insist upon your
sending me an order for the balance
note you claim that you paid s100
10 have the chairs hauled from the
school house. | have nothing what
age on chairs, ! did not agree to fur
nish you any chairs. You were to
take the theatre as II was and in the
condition II was in, and you had no
right whatever to spend my money for
drayage. l note that you deduct $1.75
for ushers. did not agree to fur
nish you ushers, nor did you ask for
them. ! rented you that theatre, free
of expense to myself, excepting lights,
and you have taken upon yourselves
to appropriate s275 OF my funds,
which l think not only small but a
very contemplate act, and the only
way that you can close up this con.
tract fairly and honestly, is to send
me an order for s2.75 to balance, and
would like to receive this order at
your earliest convenience Yours
very truly, A. B. Beall, Manager"
Norfolk, Neb,, June 12.-Mr. A. B.
Beall, Sioux City.-Dear Sir: I am
just in receipt of your very courteous
favor of June 70, in which you are
pleased to term our action in remit