Seattle’s School Board Said No to $153

The monthly meeting of the city school board was held last evening with Vice President D. A. Spencer in the chair and Messrs. King, Corbett and MacDougall present, the only absent member being Mr. Burwell. The contractors whose bids for the addition to the Minor school and for the improvement of the South school grounds were opened last Monday evening were present in full force, but all were disappointed, for after a desultory discussion the bids were rejected.

Regarding the bids for the construction of the addition to the Minor school building, Architect Chamberlain explained the plans and said he had made no additional estimate of the cost. Mr. Spencer said that so many men were out of work and material was so cheap that he thought the work should be commenced at once. The lowest bid was that of Cawsey & Bromley, $4,153. Mr. King did not feel that the cost of the building should exceed $4,000, the price agreed on at a former meeting. Mr. MacDougall moved to rescind that resolution, but Mr. Spencer said such action would practically annul all bids called for and already in hand. Mr. King contended that the district should not be taxed for the additional cost over $4,000 without a better understanding of the situation. Mr. Corbett said he did not want to be understood as opposing the new school, but it was a question of money. The attorney of the board said the previous resolution should govern its action, but that the resolution restricting the cost to $4,000 would not invalidate the acceptance of a bid at a higher figure. Mr. MacDougall moved that the lowest bidder's figures be accepted, but the motion found no second, and Mr. Spencer said he would accept the silence as a rejection of all the bids, and it was so ordered.

Mr. Spencer announced for the benefit of the bidders on the work of the South school grounds that U. S. G. White, the engineer, would report to the board in a few days, and that the secretary would notify the bidders after it had acted on suggestions.

A petition from forty-five families, representing 107 children, was read asking the board to erect a schoolhouse on block 1, Denny-Fuhrman addition, for the accommodation of the residents and taxpayers living in the vicinity of the east side of Lake Union. The boundary of this district is from Latona bridge to Doyle's observatory, and east as far as the cemetery. All the children are of school age, averaging 13 years. The petition was referred to Superintendent Barnard, with instructions to have the children graded in order to determine their requirements, and to report at the next meeting.

A petition was read from property owners on Blakeley street, asking the board to join in a petition for the grading of Blakeley street, from Hyde to Rose, with an inside park, on the ten-year bond plan. Mr. White, counsel for the board, said he did not think the board had anything to do with the proposition. The school district was a public corporation and not taxable. It was referred to the attorney to find out the exact authority of the board.

A remonstrance was read from H. R. Tallman, who claims that Thomas F. Wilson is an improper person for janitor of the Rainier school building for the reason that in April, 1892, Wilson indecently exposed himself in view of the residents in that vicinity. The remonstrance is accompanied by two protests, objecting to Wilson on account of his alleged intemperate habits, and is signed by about fifty people. Mr. Corbett wanted it referred to the committee on education, but Mr. MacDougall thought the number of signatures to the documents justified immediate action. Corbett's motion was finally carried.

Mr. Whitney read an application for a school exhibit for the Interstate fair at Tacoma, received several days ago, on which no action was taken. The secretary was instructed to advertise for coal, wood and school supplies. The superintendent was instructed to examine the gymnasium paraphernalia at the Pacific school and was given power to remove it. The proper drainage of the Columbia school was referred to the building committee. The secretary's report of expenditures of the board for July included salaries and furniture, $187.42; miscellaneous, $40; stationery and supplies, fuel and repairs, $3.70; total, about $2,064.