Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-10-22
PHONE TRUST IS
SCORED BY THE
SCHOOL BOARD
All Telephones Ordered Out
Of Buildings Unless the
Rates Are Reduced Mid
winter Graduation.


and its plan OF changing numbers with
out notifying the patrons. and a. q re-
suit Of the company doubling the rates
Of telephones In the school houses, II
10 likely that they will all be discon-
tinued. the board having voted unani-
mously to have the secretary inform
that company that unless the tele-
phones could be retained at the former
rate Of $1.25 per month they should be
removed at once. There are eight tele-
phones in the different buildings and
the rate charged by the present COM
pany Is $3.50 per month, double the
amount charged by the Independent
company. while the service 10 not con-
sidered as good.
The telephone question came up to-
ward the end Of a long board meeting,
Mr.. Meek reporting that he had been
presented with q contract for $3.50 a
month for each telephone, which he re-
fused to sign and the board held with
him that the telephones should be re-
moved fro mthe school houses unless
the former rate could be secured. 1t
was also reported that the telephone in
the office Of the superintendent was
costing So per month. IS for the tele-
phone and 81 each for the three extern
sions in the adjoining rooms to the
clerk. The line was reported practi-
cally out Of service for several days
owing to the fact that the number had
been changed, a fact which was not
reported to the secretary or any Of the
patrons. Several Of the board reported
that they had called for the old num-
Der several times and failed to get a
but had not been advised
that the number was changed and did
not know 1t until the meeting last night.
Mr.. Davidson said the board was likely
to get the reputation Of being trust
busters as 1t refused to patronize the
coal trust and was now after the tele-
phone corporation. but moved that the
telephones be taken out unless the dis
truct could secure the $1.25 rate.
Midwinter Graduation.
Midwinter graduation exercises are
also to be held in the future, the board
voting to conduct exercises for the mid
winter class. similar to those held at
the close OF school but not on such an
elaborate plan. There are IS to grad
uate in February Of this year and exer-
cises Will be held at the Pinney thea
ter, an address will be made to the
graduates by some speaker and the d.
plomas presented. The entire expense
of the midwinter exercises will not be
over 800.
Upon recommendation of Superin-
tendent Meek two experts are to be
engaged to look over and report on the
public school system OF the Independ-
ent district. The men to be engaged
are DR.. George Strayer, head Of school
Of Columbia university,
Of New York. and DR.. H. Elliott. Of the
of Wisconsin. who are to
speak before the State Teachers as
ISOLATION in January Mr.. Meek re-
ported that he believed these men
could be secured for 800 each and
would spend three days looking over
the system and would send their report
later. Mrs. Cook stated that the board
was expanding In the neighborhood of
100000 per year and that the expenses
were creeping up each month and ii
the experts could assure them that the
money was being we'll spent 1t would
be expended to engage them, which
was done.
Tho Dancing Question.
The question Of permitting dancing
In the High school gymnasium was put
up to the board last night and was one
which they passed by for another meet
ing. Mr.. Meek reported that the stu
dents wished to hold dances there, but
that there were q few strenuous OBJ
jections. Mr.. Booth suggested that
they be set down upon good and hard
and Mr.. Davidson declared no atten-
ton should be paid to them. He stated
he favored dancing under supervision
and he would rather have his children
at school dance under supervision
than at public dance, where many Of
the students went when dancing was
denied to them at the school and at
which the influences with which they
were surrounded were not good.
Mrs. Cook reported that she had re-
ceived number of queries as to why
Of the high school was not
used and Mr.. Meek informed her that
the class work was soon to start there.
but thus far the work given had been
on the Fairgrounds. Gardner Adams
was engaged as O clerk for Principal
Ryan OF the high school at a salary OF
$50 per month, upon recommendation
Of Superintendent Meek and the SAL
aries Of several teachers were slightly
increased and that of one janitor raised
IS per month.
DR.. Winship. who was engaged to
lecture here last week, was paid $50
for the lecture, which was said to be
Of great value to teachers.
Mr.. Booth reported that $500 had