The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-12-02
,0ARD Of EDUCATION !.
AND PRINTING JOBS
One of It's Members Gets Good
Share Of Work to Be Done
For School Board.
Attention of Board Is Called to
Violation of Their Rules
by MIR. LeTourneaw.

'sev. en- member Of the Board
shall have any financial interest in any
contract of the Board"
The above is taken from the Hand
Book" of the Board Of Education Of
he city of Duluth and is no doubt in
ended to cover all purchases made by
the board.
When the board desires bids on the
printing for the year the same proce-
dure Is followed as In all other city
and county work, viz: The blanks are
distributed among the different Offices
by the clerk of the board and in turn
these offices hand them to Fred
Lounsberry for figures. When open
ed by the board this year it was found
that the bid Of Peachey & Lounsberry
was the lowest. Mr. Lounsberry then
proceeded to distribute the work among
the various offices that then formed
the Typothetae. Just about this time
the Union Label agitation was on and
because A. J. Lyle would not submit
to the dtctation Of the Typothetate on
this question he was not awarded any
Of the work. Among those who received
a generous share Of the work was the
firm Of ]. J. LeTourneaw & Co. Now,
Mr.. LeTourneaW is q member of the
Board Of Education and treasurer of
the same and under the section quoted
at the beginning of this article know
ingly violates the law and Is subject
to prosecution Hereunder. If this were
the only instance throughout the year
in which Mr.. LeTourneaw received
work from said board it might be ex-
cused, but during the last week we
learn he has been doing work for the
board, and there are many times
throughout the year when he has
work on hand Whether he uses his
position as a member Of said board to
who have the giving out Of the work
are trying to make good fellows Of
themselves with Mr.. LeTourneaw the
fact remains that every line Of work
executed by that firm for the Board
Of Education Is illegal and payment for
same should be refused by the board.
II the members Of the board pass such
bills they are equally guilty with Mr..
LeTeourneaw and should be. made to
answer for their illegal actions.
We have talked with some members
Of the board and they are cognizaht CT
the combine among the printers and
how impossible in the past it has been
to get competitive bid. Just short
time ago there was some work to be
done and tho best bid that could be
had in this city was In the neighbour
hood Of 5000 One Of the members of
the board thought il would be good
idea to get bids from the outside. =, 1t
was done and the figure received was
about $500. It is asserted that there
has been about $1,400 worth of work
held up during the past year because
of the impossibility of getting fair
estimate on the work. AS to the bid
Of last summer we can hardly speak
intelligently but We feel sure that it
was exceedingly high and based on
the experience gained by the Board of
Water & Light commissioners on their
bid for blanks recently. we feel
that were the same contract offered
today that the prices would be at
least rs per cent cheaper.
The members Of the board are
among our most honorable and in
fluential citizens and we feel that 1t
Is only necessary to call their atten-
ton to this abuse Of the regulations OF
the Board to Immediately take notice
and avoid such unlawful actions.