The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-09-05
School Board Reassured by To
peka ssTruSt Breaker
More Evidence of Price Boost.
ing for Schools.
ATCHISON COULDN'T RESIGN
Members of Board Hung On to
Newly Named Head.
Board Gently Turns Down De-
mands of Unions.

The Topeka coal trust" bobbed up
again at the school board meeting last
night altho the matter was not treat
ed officially. 1t appears that the So
called combine" in which seven COM
panies made identical bids for the
schools coal supply, is still disgruntled
over the securing of the contract by
the one local company, outside"
which underbid some $4,000. let
ter from the mine supplying the win
ming company, was passed around to
the members of the board. The letter
stated that the supplying company
understood that statements were be-
ing made by other Topeka companies
to the effect that the winning firm
could not furnish coal to the amount
necessary. The supplying company
wished to reassure the board that the
local firm was entirely capable of full
filling the contract. The letter furth-
er stated that efforts had been made
to persuade the supplying company to
refuse to furnish coal to the winning
firm. The letter treasured the school
board that they would furnish the
local firm all the coal that the schools
would use at the price named. The
members of the board agreed unof-
ficially that the contract should be al
lowed to stand.
The members of the school board
otherwise enjoyed a very entertaining
evening with w. E. Atchison as chief
entertainer. Atchison returned to his
first board meeting after his vacation
only to find that the presidency of the
board had been wished upon him. AS
he entered he was sa1uted by the
members as Mr.. President"
Atchison didn't see the joke. IT
won't take the job he shouted.
Here is my resignation to take effect
immediately and he scrubbed to that
effect on piece of paper. He was
Gained down by the board and per-
| suaded to take the chair on condition
meeting. Atchison took the chair but
his feelings were still badly ruffled.
They were more so when L. M. Pen
we'll arose and officially inquired of
President Atchison whether the board
should file it's suit for back tax PEN
alties against the county commission
ers. Mr.. Atchison county attorney
is of course the attorney for the COM
missioners. And president of the
board he would be expected to lead
the fight against the commissioners.
Atchison answered by reiterating that
he had resigned, refusing to see the
"joke"
After an uproarious discussion of
Mr.. Atchison's resignation little rou-
tine business was considered. The sup
niles committee was authorized to
purchase such supplies as should be
needful The board voted to employ
a school nurse at $40 per month. upon
the announcement of the refusal OF
the Public Nursing association to
| handle the schools as heretofore GUS
tomary Miss Mamie Grover was APP
pointed nurse. The board accepted the
/ resignation of Miss Edith Cole as
teacher and granted years leave of
absence to Miss Clara Sparkling and
| Miss Emily Cole F. F. Dawdy was
appointed truancy officer at a slary of
81 a day.
A little unexpected high cost of
| education bomb was exploded by a
| letter from City Physician H. L. Clark.
notifying the board that the toilets of
State Lafayette, Branner, Parkdale
and Washington schools must be con-
nected with the new East side sewer.
i The outbuildings of all these schools
are comparatively new and the estab-
| Iishment of modern toilet systems will
cost the board several thousands of
dollars.
The board also approved the reply
| of the building committee to the labor
unions in regard to the use of janitors
in work which the unions feel should
| be done by union men. The reply.
drafted by P. W. Griggs, informs the
unions in courteous language that the
board intends to do it's own hiring of
| labor.
The reply states in part that: 1.-The
sole aim of the board of education
should be, and we believe is, to en-
| ploy labor and purchase materials
with the object of securing the most
possible for the city considering the
money expended. no consideration or
favoritism being extended to any one
group or class of people,
/ When the business of the meeting
was concluded Atchison arose, to offer
/ his resignation. Move the meeting
adjourn" remarked Dr. c. B. Van
Horn merrily. And unheeding the in
| dignant protestations of Atchison to
the effect that he had not declared
the meeting adjourned, the mem bers
| trooped out.