The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1919-07-26

The pIutocratic Zenith Telephone
Co. has become too autocratic to please
even the autocrats Of the school board.
At the last meeting of the board Of
education, held July IL, payment of a
monster bill of said telephone company
was held up by the directors.
The school board thought it had a
contract with the Zenith Telephone
Co. for special rates. It now finds
out that no such contract is in force
and effect. That knowledge is based
on a bill nearly four times as large as
in the past and an opinion handed
down by the board 8 own lawyers, the
talented Messrs. Baldwin, Baldwin and
Holmes.
It made the directors gasp when a
bill in the sum Of $853.50 came in for
a quarters telephone service, instead of
$251.5o, as in the past.
In other words, the board Of educa-
ton now Is called upon to pay $l8 q
month for service that formerly cost
only 81 month. What has cost only
SIG a year, henceforth, will cost $72
year.
That was considered some advance,
fellow citizens.
The boards lawyers Informed the
directors that changes in the laws now
make it illegal to give any person,
firm or other interest rate that is not
given to all other persons, firms OF
interests. If the Food Hogs, the
grocers or the Socialists are charged
$S53.50 per quarter for telephone serv-
ice then the august board Of education
must toe the scratch to that extent
instead Of $250.50, as in the past.
While the autocrats have been de-
veloping ""class Consciousness the
telephone companies have been ANAL
gamating, securing legislation and do
ing away with class discrimination in
rates.
Such autocrats as soon will retire
from the board Of education will
not be compelled to wrestle further
With that perplexing situation.
The directors managed to dodge d.
rect expression and going of record in
the matter of Director Firoved's reso-
luton, calling for Withholding Of
patronage from the Marshall Wells
Hardware Co., SO long as that firm
is on the. unfair list Of organized labor.
It will be remembered that the in
PRODUCTION of the resolution at the
previous meeting by the Little Com
moner fell like q pail on the autocrats
there assembled. Even Supt. Hoke
looked more sad, hopeless and vague,
if possible, than before.
Finally, Director Crassweller, a
clever pinch hitter, proposed that they
lay the matter over month so thai
the directors who were so terribly ig-
rorant Of the real situation could have
time to inform tlcrselves.
There may have teen an idea, too,
that Director Proved might die, for
get, or even be absent, but no such
luck was experienced. The sleepless
reminder, as Mr.. Firoved may be
called, insisted on calling up the reso-
luton.
The autocrats were cooked and
primed. Most sagely they reported
that the board had no discretion in
such matters; that goods had to be pur-
chased after advertising and from the
lowest responsible bidder, etc., etc.
No evidence was offered to the eff
feet that real effort had been made
for getting over that technicality.
Where there is a will, there usually
is way, but when it comes to buy
ing stuff, there is no dominant will on
the board of education in favor Of
barring the Marshall-Wells firm. There
never will be such will so long as
autocrats dominate the board.
The kindly old News Tribune re-
ported that Director Coole voted with
the autocrats in disposing Of the reso.
luton, but Director Proved states that
he plainly heard Mr.. Coole vote the
same as he did, "no," therefore the
new director was misrepresented by
the morning paper.
The journeymen stone-cutters pre-
scented communication, asking that
as much stone as possible, used in
school building, be cut in Duluth,
thereby giving employment to skilled
workers right here at home, as well
as increasing their number.
All the directors talked at once,
therefore an innocent bystander could
not tell what they said or believed in
the matter. If the Rip-Saw reporter
got the proper information, the com.
munication was received and filed
away in a most respectful manner.
There was q decision from the
boards attorneys to the effect that
the board has, the right to sell real
estate that no longer is needed or de-
sired for school use.
Mrs. Anna Williams Roberts, super.
visor Of music in the local schools, in
formed the board that she wanted
damages for nerve shock and an in
jured ankle, while in the service Of
the schools. The desire for damage