The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-04
HAVE MERRY WAR
School Board Holds an Exciting
Session.
"Bill of Members" Furnishes
the Casus Belli.
CARVER Is EXCITED
Says There Is No Graft in the
Board.
CriticiSas Opinion of the AttOr-
ney General.
CARVER is EXCITED

There has been trouble brewing
for some time, but it was not until
last night that the insurgents and reg
ulars of the school board clashed in
red hot battle of words which grad
ually worked itself up to a dangerous
pitch of excitement. When the smoke
of the conflict had worn away it was
found that the latter had won by
six to five vote, due to the absence
of one of the insurgent scrappers.
The presentation of q bill by A. V.
Lindell, chairman of the finance COM
mittee which called for the payment
OF S2,5S1.41 to Spencer and Reese,
contractors on the new Van Buren,
street school precipitated the fight.
Cuthbert and Sons had furnished
Spencer with cut stone for the new
building and it was held by the in
surgents that this was not right con-
sidering that Mr.. Cuthbert is mem
Der of the board and the chairman
of the building committee.
However, the real bone of conten-
been presented by Gillette and Nichol-
son for materials supplied the board,
and every member of the board knew
that this bill would be presented for
the approval or disapprova1 of the
board as soon as the Spencer bill was
disposed of.
This is the bill which was the cause
of the boards passing resolution
on the afternoon of September 8, pro-
hibiting any member of the board in
the future from selling anything what
soever to the board.
Carver to the Rescue.
Judge T F. Carver was the first
man to rise to his feet upon the pres
entation of the Spencer bill. He start
ed out by denouncing an article that
was printed in the State Journal Sep
TENDER 10 and which stated that
Hereafter the school board will do
business like other bodies. No more
contracts will be awarded to mem
bers."
There we're a whole 10: of things
meeting held this month that I think
should have been left undone," said
he. Undue advantage was taken OF
the fact that some of the members
were not there. The trouble arose
because some of the members had an
erroneous idea of what the law is.
The writeup in the State Journal
was something that should not be
tolerated I don't know who wrote the
article but it was pretty poor sort of
Journalism to use the word graft.
(Then the judge looked over at the
reporter who was present and the re-
porter trembled in his boots.)
I'm all my experience on the board
I've never seen an act actuated by
anv dishonest motives. Because we
differ in Judgment. it is no reason why
a member of the board should be ac-
cused of grating.
81 do deprecate the fact that the
board has passed a resolution which
suggests graft.
s'There is no law against purchas-
ing materials from a member of the
board when the board is doing what is
in the interests of the public.
1.-THE board makes a contract with
Spencer who has to use special mater
ials Spencer finds that he can get
materials wanted from Cuthbert for
less sum than from anyone else. 1t
is none of the boards business where
Frank Spencer buys his cut stone. If
he complies with the contract the
board is bound to pay for it. Cuth-
bert says he isn't interested in the
contract.
IF the board finds it can do bet
board it Is very foolish not to buy
where you can buy cheapest.
Admits System Is Poor One.
Il agree that as rule boards ought
not to contract with members but there
are occasions when it Is to the disad-
vantage of the board not to do so.
"I appreciate the fact the section in
the Laws Relating to th5 Common
Schools of Kansas is misleading. 1t
is entitled An Act to Restrain State
and County Officials and doesn't ap-
ply to cities or school boards
ST am very sorry this matter came
up 1 am sorry that unfair notoriety
would say let us buy where we can buy
the cheapest
At this point the Judge sat down
after having held the floor for about
half an hour.
George H. Smith: "I must say to
you, Judge, you have laid a great deal
of stress on one thing that was wrong.
The report in the paper was false
it falsified the sentiment of the meet
ing I don't know who the reporter
was"
The storm which followed proved
that the reporter in question did not
come far from hitting the nail in the
head. after ALL
Holiday Stands His Ground.
81 think. Mr.. President" said c. K.
Holiday, insurgent. "alI the trouble
has come just because boards-state,
county. city, etc.-have been doing
just as has the board of education in
Topeka, and they have arrived at diff
ficultiee.
You can't vote a contract into your
own hands. That isn't the worst of
it. Implication goes out that you are
on the board and have been furnish
ing material; have an exclusive right
TO IuTnlSn ne QSOplc On
the outside who want to do business
with the board have a little hesitancy
when it cones to applying.
Il say it is time to quit this kind
of business. The law has been vio-
lated and I don't care how much my
friend, the judge, talks otherwise. He
knows it isn't so.
TT is immoral and I don't take
back anything 1 have said. I don't
think there was an unfair advantage
taken at the adjourned meeting. If
a man wants to dig his own grave here
he can do it tonight. 1t isn't right;
it is against the law and the high
est authority in the state gives US de-
cision."
Here Geo. H. Smith, vice presi-
dent of the board, presided while
President s. A. Swendson took the
floor.