The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-26
WAR OF WORDS
SwendsOn Holloway JOust at
School Meeting.
Engineer Says Building Commit
tee Ignored Him.
OFFER NO FIGURES
So Board Must Re-adVertise for
Painting Bids.
Ask More Consideration OF New
Desks.
OFFER NO FIGURES

A word-joust between S. A. Swend-
son, president of the board of educa-
ton, and W. G. Holloway, deposed en-
gineer Of grounds and buildings, en-
livened the meeting of the school board
at the high school last night. 1t came
about when it was found that no speci-
fications had been furnished by the
contractors bidding on the painting for
the fourteen school buildings.
Mrs. Margaret Hill McCarter asked
why the specifications had not been
prepared. Then uprose Mr.. Holloway.
1T has been the custom in the past
for the building committee to confer
with the building engineer he said
gently, but this year I was ignored.
This should be a warning to keep
good man as engineer instead of GUST
ing him from Office
You are out Of order" President
Swendson shouted as he hammered on
the table with his gavel.
Il don't care if I am" replied Mr..
Holloway, in no uncertain tones I am
going TO talk as long as I please"
You're out of order! You're out of
order. You're out of Order!' repeated
the board president in three-four time.
pounding the gaVel presto, crescendO.
You can't make me stop talking"
yelled the now thoroughly aroused eX-
engineer. Il am going to keep on talk
ing if I don't say a thing worth while
until you quit pounding"
Furious rapping from President
Swendson who told Holloway that he
was not a member of the board and
had no right to talk unless called upon,
word or two more from Holloway
and then the latter sat down.
Then the board resumed business
again. James r. Cuthbert, chairman
of the building committee, favored re-
al oil Of
specifications might result in unsatis-
factory work. He moved that the bids
be not opened but rejected.
He lost. The nays were Swendson.
Holiday. Kutz and Mrs. Margaret Hill
McCarter. Those in favor of rejecting
the bids being Cuthbert, Smith, IindelI
and Mrs. Evans. The vote stood four
to four. President Swendson declared
that the Cuthbert side had lost and
the bids were opened.
A series of rapid fire questions were
asked as to how many coats of paint
were to be used what kind of paint
and varnish, etc. etc, etc, and a few
more etcs., to which no satisfactory an
sWer could be made
This brought forth the question from
/ Mrs. McCarter in regard to this chaotic
condition and the mOuth-duel between
Swendson and Holloway. After both
parties had ceased, and the dove of
| peace yawned and sleepily fluttered
down. S. r. Kutz changed his mind as
| became a wise man and also his vote.
/ He made a motion that the former mo-
| ton be reconsidered or a motion that
the bids be rejected be adopted and it
carried. Mr.. Kutz's motion carried
with it that the building committee
should be instructed to draw specifica-
lions. The clerk will advertise for new
| bids.
The bids will be reopened at the next
meeting of the board. August Z. On
the same date the bids for the 500 new
desks will be reopened- They were
! opened last night after the agents for
/ the various desk companies showed up
| the good points of their desks from the
| samples present. However. the COM
mittee on the matter asked for more
time to consider the merits of the seat
and the motion to that effect carried.
The contract for the 73 window
/ shades for the new Van Buren, school,
was awarded to Crosby Brcs- The bid
vac e70