The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1919-08-21
THAT
DID THE. WORK
HAD PROMISED THAT SUCH 4
THING WOULD NOT HAPPEN
State Superintendent Accepted Prom.
ises Given BY Townley Leaders
In Campaign

Bismarck, Aug. 16.-Stripped Of
practically every power which has
been held by the state superinten-
dent of public instruction since North
Dakota acquired statehood, Miss Min
ME ]. Nelson, preferred by major
ity of more than 5000 North Dakota
men and women as managing head of
their public school system, was
sneeringly informed by Rev. George
A. Totten, chairman Of the state
board of administration, that she was
nothing more than creature of this
board, that her duties would consist
of such tasks as the board might
from time to time assign her. and
that it was the intention of the board
to abridge her powers wherever and
whenever it might see At.
John N. Hagan, commissioner Of
agriculture and labor, presented, and
Robert Muir, brother-in-law Of VIM.
Lemke. seconded the following reso-
luton:
Resolved, That the board Of ad-
ministration, having the power to
prescribe the courses of study ( or
the several classes of public schools
of the state, we hereby empower and
authorize the educational commission
to proceed to prepare. draw up. and
prescribe all the courses Of study for
the several classes Of public schools
which shall include all the common
schools Of the state, to take charge
and supervision Of the certification
of teachers, to standardize all schools
and to prescribe examinations for the
eighth grade and high school pupils.
and that this resolution shall be in
effect from and after its passage until
otherwise altered and amended : OF
changed by this board. 'sa -7~ as
Messrs. Totten, Casey; Muir: and
Hagan voted aye.
Miss Nelson had protested the
adoption of similar motion on The
grounds that it eonflicted with Sec
tion 1892, Chapter 26S, Ct th,: COM
piled laws Of 1913, defining the duties
of the state superintendent of public
instruction, and with section nine of
the board of administration act,
which provides that the powers and
duties of the state superintendent OF
public instruction as they existed pri-
or to the passage of this act shall not
be altered or amended or abridged.
The Rev. Mr.. Totten and Mr.. Muir
anpeared to agree with Miss Nelson
when she cited her authorities, and
the matter was dropped for that day.
Mr.. Hagan advised that he had
spent the night peering over the stat
utes and that he had found excellent
legal authority for the action which
the board proposed, that all acts in
conflict with the action which the
board proposed had been repealed,
and with them any power or duties
which the legislature heretofore had
conferred upon the Office to which
Miss Nelson was elected. The Rev.
Mr.. Totten and Mr.. Muir were con-
yerted by Mr.. Hagan's legal lore. and
Casey had been quiescent at all times
SO the resolution was passed.
Upon her second meeting with the
board, following the selection Of
Grain, Macdonald man, to be certif-
icate clerk, in the face Of Miss Mel
sons objection that 1t did not make
for good organization, that it was un-
necessary and an added burden on
the state which was not justified,
1f3eo NYioloo,, ooLods
"Then 1t is true that this act does
circumscribe my powers and that it
does limit my authority?"
"Oh. undoubtedly SO. undoubtedly
So" replied the Rev. Mr.. Totten, rub
bing his hands in apparent glee.
"Then the state superintendent is a
creature of this board?" Miss Nelson
asked.
"oh. we would not say that, not
that exactly" said the Rev. Mr.. Tot
ten. within certain limits pre-
scribed by this board there will be
duties for the state superintendent to
perform"
You were, Of the opinion; were you
not" chuckled the Rev. Mr.. Totten,
'sthat this act would limit your DOW.
sesf~
II was. at first" replied Miss Mel.
son, 'sbut ! accepted the promise Of
your leaders that It would not"
The members Of the board OF ad.
ministration highly enjoyed the stu
alton. There were broad smiles,
chuckles and merry quips ct the e1
psnse Of Miss Melissa. whom the leg
hlature had placed - the ,powsr, Of
these three. sppointses q the Town
ley administ1atiaa.
When this resolution originally
~ 1sassa q llissa q llislseas aslssa Il! i