The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-03-13
PULL IN CITY
school. Jobs
CAUSES ROW
Promotions of Relatives of
Commissioners Bring
Criticisms.
HURL BITTER CHARGES
Preliminary Plans for New
lrVington High Are
Given O. K.
HURL BITTER CHARGES

IINCIt vs. rs
Implied criticism Of promotion of
relatives of school commissioners in
school city positions. and charges
pressure had been brought to bear
on commissioners and school en-
ployes from various sources, marked
a bitter exchange at a four hour
session of the school board Tues
day night.
The session lasted from 8 p. m.
to midnight, with final action being
approval of preliminary plans for
the new 100000 Irvington high
school. A 100000 loan also was
authorized.
The majority faction, composed
Kepner and Louis F. Whiteman,
handled politely phrased charges of
insincerity with the minority
(Charles w. Kern and Theodore F.
Vonnegut) for more than two hours.
Quarrel Over Architect
The row began in discussion of
plans for the new building at
Schools 81 and 50. The majority
faction finally crashed through
motion to employ an architect to
draw plans while the minority want
ed to use revamped plans which had
been used on another school, and,
according to Kern, save $4,000 of
the taxpayers money"
Kern charged that the minority
faction was interested in helping
architects collect their 5 per cent
fees.
IF It were not for the publicity
] would ask that a statement be
made tonight" retorted Mrs. Sed-
wick.
II thought this was a public body
and action was open?" invited Kern.
Charge Pressure Brought
az don't think you care to have
your actions aired" hotly replied
Mrs. Sedwick.
IT am ready to have anything I
do aired" said Kern.
Argument over the plans first
started week ago when the ques-
ton of whether or not they bore the
seal of licensed engineer came up.
Just what pressure was brought
to bear on the licensed engineer Oh.
r. Osler, who also is assistant build
ings and grounds superintendent to
remove his seal from the plans?"
Kern asked in an insinuating tone.
What pressure was put on him
to put his seal on the plans in the
first placer" countered Mrs. Sed-
wick. "He wouldn't stand the re-
sponsibility. 1t seems strange an
architect would tell you"
Kern broke in:
at realize they would tell you that
you have to have a seal on the
plans because in refusing plans the
school city already has paid for,
the architect loses fees.
"I know architects here are not
going to have buildings constructed
unless they get their 5 per cent. On
Jne building the building and
grounds superintendent prepared
the plans and submitted them to an
architect and he traced and blue
printed them and got his l per cent
when the board accepted them. We
do that right along.
Salary Basis Urged
Then, again, why should we al
low them 2 per cent for supervising
construction-which they don't do
sometimes?"
Mrs. Sedwick interrupted to in
quire why the board does not en-
ploy its own architect on a salary
basis, and Kern replied:
1.-THE state tax board repeatedly
has urged this. but architects and
others have brought influence in
this matter, just as influence has
been brought on plans for Schools
81 and &c."
Kern and Vonngeut directed
barbs at the report of the buildings
and grounds department that Mrs.
Sedwick's son-in-law, Dan Nolan,
has been promoted from truck driver
to labor foreman, and Robert White
man, ~, SUI VI UOd10 AAOAlHSA
Whiteman, has been promoted from
mechanic to garage foreman, both
to get 5000 a month.
Defends His Son
Whiteman declared his youthful
son was competent to boss the other
mechanics. Hadn't he studied me-
chanicS at Technical high school
and had a whole year and halt
Of practical experience?
'sYou forget it is not my recon-
mendation. You told me he could
Lave any position he wanted" said
Mrs. Sedwick to Kern about her
-in-law Nolan.
I'VE didn't question appointment
of your father as chief engineer at
the library did we?" Whiteman shot
at Kern.
ma ~