Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-30
EDUCATION BOARD
DROPS PROBE PLAN
Won't Engage New York Mu-
nicipal Research Bureau
Experts.
CONFLICT OVER PLANS
FOR ADDITION TO SCHOOL
view Members Are Sworn In.
Farewell Dinner to AM
bros Tompkins.
The Board of Education viii not en-

gage the services Oh the BUREAU VI
Municipal Research of New York for
the purpose of investigating the con
ditions in the construction and engi-
neering departments of the local
school system. The original purpose
was to have the two departments
combined. But at last nights meet
ing of the board it was decided to dis
pense with the proposition. although
several members strongly urged that
IL be taken up. A letter from dtrec-
tor of the New York bureau was read
and stated that for a fee of $3.50 the
services of one member of his staff
would be supplied for one conference
with the heads of the departments,
and that "a thorough but not a COM
plete investigation would be made"
"If such an investigation is needed,
all right, let us have one" was the
opinion of President Taylor who is
very much opposed to the idea of en-
gaging the bureau, but it is absurd
to believe that at one conference
somebody from New York is better
qualified than ourselves to pass an
opinion on something that We have
been in close touch with for seven
years"
Commissioner Johnson said he be-
lieved that the fee would be much
higher, in fact he thought 1t might be
as high as $1,000. He then advanced the
opinion that it would be worth $1,000
to learn how to save $4,000 or 100000.
Commissioner Belfatto also stated
that he was in favor of spending the
money, saying that it might clear the
atmosphere, after all the talk relative
to the conditions in the two divisions.
When put to a vote, Commissioners
r. Elmer Throssell, who only re-
Gently became member, succeeding
Commissioner Tompkins, asked to be
excused from voting, owing to its
being his first meeting and because
he was not familiar with the SUBJ
ject. The result of the vote, there
fore, was to 4. President Taylor
declared the resolution lost and when
Mr.. Brown interposed with a query
as to whether the rules did not re-
quire that member not voting
should in such case be counted as
voting In the Affirmative, Mr.. Tay-
lor replied that the rules did not ap-
ply in this case because Mr.. Thros-
sell had been excused.
Objections on Plans.
There was, another conflict of opin-
ions when the matter of approving
the plans and specifications for the
proposed additions of the Hawthorne
and West Side schools was brought
UP, and 1t was not until after more
than an hour of discussion that
favorable action was taken on both
sets.
The designation by Supervising En-
gineer George w. Knight of par
ticular make of air washer for the
West Side School addition was the
cause Of one bone of contention, Com
missioner johnson being the chief OBJ
jector. To designate one make was a
bad principle, he said, which might
lead to unpleasantness such as was
experienced in similar instance in
connection with the plans for the
South Side High School last spring.
At that time he said 1t was alleged
that manufacturer mentioned In the
specifications was able to demand a
larger price for his commodity than
he could get in other cities and for
that reason 1t would give an unfair
advantage to the firm whose product
10 named.
President Taylor declared that the
statement that a higher price could
be charged was mistake. 1t is
eral way that the equipment should
be made and in this case the Gar
rier" type of air washer or an i'm
proved type was specified.
Mr.. Brown asked whether the name
might not be omitted and a descrip-
ton of that particular kind of ap-
pafatus be inserted. Engineer Knight
was appealed to for an opinion on this
point and stated that it would re-
quire a lengthy description and that
the type mentioned was the only one
he had seen which seemed to suit
the purpose for which it was desired.
n TA1, -
against the matter and President Tay-
Tor finally. said impatiently: you
are holding out on misinformation
you have had from a biased engi-
neer." The vote on the question was
i've to four, Commissioners Breunig,
McCabe, Smith, Throssell and Taylor
taking the affirmative stand.
In consideration of the plans and
specifications for the Hawthorne
school Commissioner Belfatto raised
objections to two clauses relating to
the work of excavation, which he said
would leave a loophole for the con-
tractor to claim extra work was neces-
sary and thereby add several thousand
dollars to the cost of the building.
Supervising Architect Ernest f.
Guilbert expressed the opinion that
the provisions called for in the specifi-
cations could not be improved upon,
and the plans were approved by an
almost unanimous vote.
The proposition of granting permits
sion for the extension of a trolley line
through Roseville avenue, to pass by
a proposed school building on that
street, was laid over until the next
meeting. Mr.. johnson urged that his
motion denying the permit be passed,
but strenuous opposition was made
by Mr. Belfatto, who declared that to
prevent the trolley extension would
simply accommodate a lot of rich
residents and give them peace and
quiet, and ii was a question of ac-
commodating them or a larger per-
centage OF the population of that sec
ton who demanded better car service.
A delegation representing the
Alumni of the Hawthorne School,
headed by Eugene H. Meyer, asked
tor permission to hold monthly meet
sngs in the school building instead of
semi-annual ones and that the boards
rules be suspended in their case Mr..
Meyer stated that there were no
available halls in the vicinity except
those connected with saloons. The
matter was referred to the educa-
tional committee.
The three reelected members, Breu-