The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-07
Dignified Members Board of Ed
ucatiOn Fuss.
Fall Out About Appointment of
a JanitOr.
WANTS FIRE ESCAPES.
Chief WiImarth Demands Them
on Manual Training School.
Superintendent WhittemOre Is
Given a Raise in Salary.

The appointment of a janitor for
one of the East side school buildings
at $50 per month, and a fight over
whether to allow a coal bill of $3.50,
occupied nearly all the time of the
members of the board of education at
its meeting at the board rooms in the
high school building last night.
In considerably less time than it
took to decide the momentous ques-
tons above referred to, the board au-
thorized payments of bills aggregat-
ing $4,000 without discussion and
completed all the other business of
the meeting.
The question of paying the coal bill
hinged on the proposition as to who
should pay for heating the new
Quincy school building while it was
in the course of construction. The
board of education is doing some of
the finishing work on the inside of the
building and the contractor has not
completed his portion of the work.
The contractor refused to accept
either of several propositions made to
him by the board in regard to the oivi-
sion of the expense in heating the
building for the inside work. and it
now seems that the contractor was
wise. The board of education will
. have to pay for the heating of the
as much advantage of the heat as the
board of education, but at apparently
no cost.
The appointment of janitor for
one of the East side buildings pre-
cipitated fight. The discussion be
came heated, and apparently a per-
sonal encounter between two members
of the board was but narrowly
W H. Wilson. chairman of the
building committee. nominated George
Richardson for the place. J. w
Gleed Immediately offered an amend
ment to the resolution, suggesting the
striking out of the name of George
Richardson and the substitution Of
the name of A. Hagan. Both men
are colored.
The amendment offered by Mr..
Gleed brought on A heated discussion.
ed by Mr. Wilson, and the superin-
tendent of city schools and the head
janitor of the school buildings, made
talks for Richardson.
Mr.. Wilson declared that it was his
opinion that the board should not ex-
pertinent with janitors of no expert
ence. who were liable to burn out q
heating plant at a cost of perhaps
$500. and he declared no one knew
anything about Hagan.
When put to a vote. the name of
Hagan was substituted for that of
Richardson, but before the vote could
authorizing appointment the discus
sion was reopened.
Mr.. Gleed had little to saw He
simply asked the members Of the
board if it wasn't a fact that Richard
son had been discharged from the
service of the board at one time be-
cause it had been alleged that he had
brought whisky on school premises.
Mr.. Wilson said it was true Richard
son had been discharged on that
charge. but that the charges had been
made by some jealous persons. and
that they turned out to be unfounded.
Wilson declared Richardson was a fine
janitor. careful and conscientious and
he moved his election to the place
Mr.. Gleed then offered some lauda-
tory statements in regard TO his can
didate, and Mr.. Wilson retaliated by
declaring that it was his opinion that
the board of education should not be
expected to pay the political debts of
anyone
A strange silence fell over the board
room, and it seemed that no one dared
to speak But quickly recovering his
presence of mind. President Mallory
decided the discussion had gone far