The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-04-12
HANCOCK TALKS
OF SCHOOL BOARD

To The Forum: The members Of
the Fargo board of education nave
been characterized as irresponsible
| spendthrifts, which has not been de-
MED.
Such a charge having been made it
would seem fitting that it should be
sustained by reliable evidence. | will
therefore proceed to offer a few sug-
gestions as to whether or not the
members who are seeking ro~-electton
are fit persons TO represent the tax
| payers in so important a body as the
board Of education.
1t has been suggested that the rum
pus over Superintendent Hoover was
worked up in order to engage the
minds of the people and avert notice
! from the reckless expenditure of non
cy on the Fourth ward school build
ing. If this be true, one should not
blame them for attempting to hide
their careless conduct in such an eX-
t~ravagant expenditure of money ad-
visedly, and without fear of successful
contradiction.
Some members of the board have
~endeavored to impress upon the pub
lie mind that they have always acted
for the best interest of the schools,
and that their best Judgment was on
| all occasions called into action when
ever matters of serious import were
under consideration. The results how
ever would indicate that they have
been Oftener guided by their preju-
dices than by their judgment. They
have protested too much and done
too little to ,entitle them to any
further confidence at the hands Of the
electors of Fargo. If they are allowed
to continue their lavish and nwar
ranted expenditures every household
| err il he city will soon be taxed be-
You'd endurance. to sustain their fads
and i. lions.
Now as to their good judgment"
Two years ago the board invited
architects to submit plans for a ward
school building specifying the re-
quirements to be met. In due course
the architects responded with their
plans and estimates" The. highest cs-
innate was $40, 900 submitted by archi-
tects Of long experience in such mat
tiers. The lowest estimate was SAL, 900
submitted by a man of little or no
experience in estimating the cost of
such buildings, and although he
building is far from being completed
it has cost double that sum.
Notwithstanding the great differ
ence in the above estimates the board
placed the building in the hands OF a
man whom they knew lacked expert
ence in such matters. What has been
the result? Simply that the tax pay
ers are called upon to foot the round
sum of 100000 to be paid in two
years in addition to the regular taxes.
II must be quite clear to everyone
that Fargo is not in a position TO
erect such school buildings in all the
wards Of the city, but there might be
some excuse for erecting such q build
ing in a central position where the
advantages of its gymnasium could
be shared by all the school children
alike.
1t is only fair to state that one or
two of the present members were not
on the board when Judge Young car
ried out his coup d. etat' on some
of the more innocent" members Of
the board. The judge being chairman
of the building committee, moved that
the plans be referred to his COM
mittee to. report later to the board.
The president Of the board at that
time, and at least two other members
fully, understood that all plans sub
mitted would be carefully considered
by the building committee, and rec
concentrations made to the board.
What did Judge Young do? He Sim
| ply took the matter into his own
hands and awarded the job to his po-
litical ally without even comforting
with his committee. In this, as in
other matters the Judge carried out
his lofty idea that the public should
not be considered nor even members
OF his oWn committee, and not a sin
gle member Of the board had the
backbone to call the judge down, but
let it go by default. Owing to such
action and the wilfuI ignoring OF the
wishes Of the people $100, 900 of the
tax payers hard earned money has
been reckiessly expended, when $40,-
900 would have been ample to provide
all the needed school room in that
locality and the consequence will be
that the other wards will suffer by
being deprived Of their share Of
needed improvements.
1t is just as necessary for q city as