The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-19
REOPEN SCHOOL
BUILDING CASE.
The Board Takes Strond.
Action Looking to
This End.
ASKS APPOINTMENT
OF JOINT COMMITTEE
Chief Of Fire Department Quoted
as Saying He Would Not Ap-
prove Building if Construct
ed on the Plans Already
Tentatively Agreed
Upon.

"ResoIved, That the School Board pe-
ttlon the Finance Committee to appro-
Eprlate the sum Of $500 900 for the ereo- #
ton OF new High School.
"Resolved, That the question Of the
selection OF the plans for this building be
left to Joint committee Of five from
the Common Council and four from tho
Board Of Aldermen and the School Board,
The above Is the result OF the meeting
OF the School Board held last night at
which the matter OF tho proposed new
High School building was the chief topic.
1t means that the board is on record as
asking that the entire question relating
to plans be reopened and left to special
Joint committee composed OF five men, Fl
sbers of the Common Council, four mem-
bers OF the Board OF Aldermen and tile
entire School Board which is composed
OF nine members, giving the latter body
an equal representation with the Council q
In the matter.
committee composed OF Messrs. Ca &
pers chairman; sFioge, Mitchell, Ebel and
sHutzler was appointed to appear before
the Finance Committee at a special meet
Ing Monday night md urge that body
to carry out the spirit OF the resolution.
The action of the board was not unan-
Jimous Messrs. Hutzler and Clarke took
the ground that the School Board should
have charge OF the entire matter after
the appropria tion was made as the mem \
bers would be held responsible for any
defects that might appear in the build
ing. N i33Sf{ 5s 81
Dr.. Hoge G Conservative.
The resolution adopted. wa 8 offered by
DR.. Hoge. and was advocated by Chair y
man Capers and Mr. Ebel IT hey took the
ground that the School Board and the
Council were aiming at the same end,
both bodies desiring to give the public
n first-cass High School building in re-g
sponse to a popular and we'll recognized
demand. A
When the body was called to order, Dr..
Hoge stated that the meeting was on
X his motion. as he heard rumors that
politics had entered Into the selection OF
the plans chosen, which no thought were
plainly and palpably unfit for such a
building as was desired. 81
He did not know that there had been
any politics In the matter. He was sure
the School Board was above such a
thing. He desired the best plan for. the 4
money and wanted the whole case re- 4
opened.
Mr.. Childrey said he had heard ru-
. mors that politics played part in the
selection Of the plans tentatively chosen.
Mr.. Woodfin asked forian official state
ment Of the case, and Major Capers told
what he knew of the various meetings
held He and Messrs. Mitchell, Hoge,
Ebel and Hutzer were the original COM
mittee, and later this was reduced.
leaving himself and Messrs. Ebel and
Hutzler
Smaller Committees.
The Council committee, finally reduced
from five to Messrs. Mills Glenn and
Whttet, had said they wanted nothing
to do with the matter OF construction.
Plans were asked for, and sixteen ar
chitects submitted bids. All these plans
were given the fullest considerations
Finally all wsre eliminated save those
offered by Messrs. Bryant and Blauvelt.
Mr., Mills moved the adoption of the 3
former, and the vote stood three to three,
the Council committee voting solidly for
the Bryant plans and the School Board
members for those of Mr.. Blauvelt.
After mum ber Of fruftless ballots there
was a second meeting with the same re-
suit, In the final selection tho board
members had no vote, hut were anxious
for unanimous action.
Messrs. Ebel and IIutzler retired be-
cause they understood they had only
advisory rights
Major Capers said he had Offered the
resolution sending tho two plans to the
full committee, and declaring he satis-
full committee, and declaring his satts-
faction of the conference with either
Members Ignored.
The Bryant plan was recommended by
the Council COMMITTEES ana is now be-
fore the Finance Committee for action
Dr. Hoge said the curious part OF the
whole business was that members OF the
school board familiar with such work
had been ignored by men who had had
no practical experience with school
buildings, All the members, However,
seemed to realize that the resolution
under which the movement was started
gave the school board only advisory
powers.
1t was stated that Mr., Glenn would
move to leave the construction to the
school board. and that Mr.. Whittet was
the only member who would not agree
to this. Mr.. Hutzler said the ladies OF
the Richmond Educational Association
were In favor Of the building being done
by the school board,
Most OF the members thought the peo-
Pile at large also held TO this View stlll
they were not pressing this point, and
personally did not desire tho lrKsome
task OF taking charge OF the work,
1T developed In the discussion that
Chief Fuller. of the Fire Department,
told Mr.. IIutzler that he would not ap-
proye building constructed upon the
plans tentatively adopted. 1t was said
the Chief made this statement aftef
looking at the stairway arrangement. !,
without knowing whose plans he was M
specting