Perth Amboy Evening News

Commissioner Crowell Not Altogether Satisfied With Things and Says So--Refuses to Sign Bills.

MATTER GOES OVER BY TIE VOTE.

Further evidence that all is not running as smoothly in the Board of Education as it might was given at the regular monthly meeting of the board last night. The difference of opinion arose over some bills for school furniture for the recently-built addition to school No. 4. Commissioner Crowell refused to sign the bills. When the bills were read off by the clerk, Mr. Crowell explained his refusal to affix his signature to the bills, on the ground that, although he is a member of the building committee, there was charged for, on the bill, furniture he had never heard of and did not know had been purchased. He said he wanted to see the estimate presented some time ago, when the estimates were received, containing the items and prices contained in one or more of the bills presented last night. Commissioner Poulson, chairman of the building committee, offered a short explanation. A motion was then made to order the bill paid. The vote resulted in a tie, 3-3. Those voting in the affirmative were President Walker, Messrs. Poulson and Peterson; Nays, Messrs. Crowell, Starn and Massopust. Mr. Peterson is the third member of the building committee. The bills were laid over. They may be acted upon at the adjourned meeting to be held Friday night, if a settlement can be effected in the meantime.

FEAR FOR CHILDREN.

Members of Board of Education Discuss Need of Building Inspector.

The alleged danger to the lives and safety of the children in the rear yard of school No. 1, wrought by what some believe to be the unsafe condition of the walls of the machine shop of Thomas Lingle, which has been supported, since the last agitation, by heavy beams resting on the ground, was again the subject of discussion at the meeting of the Board of Education last night. It was urged that radical steps should be taken to safeguard the school children, as the present condition of the building adjoining the schoolyard is declared to be a menace. It was declared that there is a great need of a building inspector in this city, to effect a change for the better in the condition of buildings all over the city. Two or three suggestions to remedy the situation, to refer it to the Board of Aldermen and to the Board of Health, were received, but no definite action was taken.

Board Session and Considered Various Things.

The Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting last night with every member present. Plans were submitted for the proposed addition to school No. 1, by Architects John H. Dayton and J. K. Jensen. Each explained his plans in detail. Numerous changes will have to be made in the present building, when the addition is placed on the rear. When the addition of six rooms is completed, No. 1 will be the largest school in the city, fourteen rooms in all, there being eight class rooms in the present structure. Mr. Dayton estimated the cost of the carrying out of his plans at $22,000; Mr. Jensen at $24,381. The plans were left in the care of the board. The members took a recess, but came to no decision. This will probably be reached at the adjourned meeting Friday night. Superintendent S. E. Shull had his annual report ready for presentation to the board last night. This report has always been read in previous years, but was not read last night because of the lateness of the hour. When an effort was made by the newspaper representatives, at the conclusion of the meeting, to look at the report, Mr. Shull was entirely willing but Jesse Colyer, the clerk of the board, objected, and it had to be as Mr. Colyer said. Permission was given the senior class of the high school to use the auditorium on or about April 27, when they will present a play, "On Plutonian Shores." Ira Sheppard was formally appointed a teacher in school No. 4 at a salary of $50 a month. He has been teaching since March 1. An application from Elmer Merrill for the janitorship of school No. 7, was referred to the building committee. Superintendent Shull's report for the month of February was as follows: Total enrollment for the month, Boys, 1,755; girls, 1,653; total, 3,408; average enrollment, 3,122; average attendance, 2,907.7; per cent. of daily attendance on average enrollment, 93.1; number of cases of tardiness, 368; number of times teachers tardy, 7; number of pupils present every day, 1,132; number of classes or divisions, 137; number of sessions during month, 36; number of sessions school closed, 4; number of visits by superintendent during month, 78; number of visits by commissioners during month, 4; number of visits by citizens, 13.