The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-12-04
SENATE BACK-UP
ON NEW NELSON
WINS VOTE
Refusal to Further Carry Goals
For Macdonald Gets StennO
Back Into the Fold

Back Into the Fold
Neil c. Macdonald, former state su-
perintendent of public instruction and
now director general and supervisor
extraordinary of education'' under the
board of administration received a
rather nasty slap on the wrist from the
state affairs committee in the senate
yesterday when it reported back an en-
tirely new bill in place of senate bill
%, commonly believed to have origin
ated with Mr.. Macdonald, and which
would have deprived Miss Minnie j..
Nielsen, state superintendent OF public
instruction, of her last shred Of author
ity. This is the second time that the
jleague majority in the senate has been
forced to yield to public opinion, altho
| the supreme court in a four to one de.
cision has held that in the first in
stance, the amending Of the board OF
administration act to preserve to Miss
Nelson her former authority and pow
f; ers, the senate simply indulged in soma
harmless camoutiage which did not al.
feet the final result.
The state affairs committee eliminat-
ed from s. B. % provision whicl,
would have deducted from the amount
Of state aid apportioned to the state
consolidated schools "the amount ne
cessary for expenses Of administration,
including amount necessary for print
J ing, pupils examinations, clerical and
travelling expenses" which would have
provided more funds for Director Gen
eral Macdonald
, The state affairs committee also
leaves with Miss Nelson the duty of
certifying to the state auditor the sey.
Ieral amounts to be paid to consolidated
schools by the state treasurer on war.
rant of the state auditor, privilege
which in the original Macdonald bill %
was transferred to Charles Licssman,
secretary Of the state board of admin
j istration. There is also cut ont of the
original bill the provision that "all
schools shall, as far as possible be in
! spected and examined by inspectors.
supervisors and directors appointed by
the board Of administra ton, and all
schools be duly recommended for classi
/ fication by an officer appointed by the
board" ,.a
Further there is eliminated the re-
quirements in the original bill that on
or before July Is each year applca-
tions for state aid and lists of eighth
grade and high school graduates shall
be filed with the board and that on OF
before October Is of each year lists cf
all teachers and school officers and
such other lists or repots as may be re,
q,lired by the board shall be filed.
There is also cut out the further pro.
vision chat in order to promote the
consolidation and Standardization OF
schools it shall be the duty of the
board to cause to be prepared and pub
lished bulletins and other printed ma
terlAl concerning these and similar
matters; and it shall also be the duty
of inspectors, Supervisors and directors
appointed by the board to attend and
discuss these topics and similar ones al
teachers and school officers meetings
the time and place Of such meetings tt
be filed with the board at least ten
days previous to the convening of the
same by those calling the meetings.
All of these provisions were regard
ed as aimed directly at the shering OF
all remaining powers from Miss Mel
son and to further concentrate contro
Of the whole educational system in tho
hands of the state board of admins
! tration. The elimination of these pro
visions leaves Miss NELSON with some
vestige Of authority. It is understood
that these concessions won back to the
league Senators Stenmo Of Grand
Forks who was with the league ma
:, liority in the senate until the attack
was made on Miss Nelson in the board
of administration bill during the last
session Stenmo is chairman Of the
), senate committee on education tt
which Senate Bill % naturally would
have been referred, but it went instea
!, to the state affairs committee. which
lis the leagues steering organization ii
the senate.
4 Change of heart on Senate Bill q
. will not, it is understood, deter tho
league majority in the house from kill;
J ing this afternoon House Bill %, abol
fishing the board Of administration
substituting for it, for the control q
charitable. penal and higher education
lal institutions, a state board of super
visors composed Of the, governor an
other elected officials, and the restora
y ton to Miss Nelson Of full control
without supervision, over the common
school system Of the state. This bill
!, which rrnoinitatnd pnnrncnnto tivo RI, r+