-- Dec 19, 1899
Presidents Lorenzo Snow and Joseph F. Smith were at the office.
Brother J. Fewson Smith called and met President Snow, reporting his recent trip to Canada. He accompanied President Smith and Brother Rudger Clawson as engineer to help settle the difficulty existing between our brethren who were working on the Alberta canal and the engineer of the company that is constructing it. Brother Smith now reported that he succeeded in settling the difficulty to the satisfaction of the people, also of Mr. [Elliot T.] Galt and the engineer.
The sum of $300, appropriated some time ago by President Snow in favor of the Park City [Utah] meeting house, was covered by an order issued today to Brother [Thomas] Allen, the presiding officer of that branch.
Dr. Karl G. Maeser and President J[oshua]. H. Paul, of the L.D.S. College, conferred with the Presidency over a difficulty between the College Board and the teachers employed by Prof[essor]. Nelson, the principal of the Commercial department. The following account of the matter is copied verbatim from the minutes kept of the interview by Secretary George F. Gibbs:
"These teachers were employed by Brother Nelson, at a time when he was running that department of the college in a measure, independently of the board; and when he employed them it was not known by him whether any part of the college appropriation would be allowed to his department by the board, in fact he had been given to understand in some way that the board would not sustain him because of his independent attitude toward them; but in order to run the school he had to make arrangements with his teachers even before an appropriation was made to the college, and he entered into an agreement to pay them two thirds cash, and one third in scrip, provided an appropriation should be made; if no appropriation should be made then the two thirds cash was all they were to get. After the usual appropriation was made to the college and its board had employed a new President, Brother Paul instead of Brother Done, the question arose, what should be done in order that the board and new President should have complete control over the business department as well as the college proper. It should be stated that Brother Nelson had bought school apparatus and furniture amounting to about $3,000, in order to run the commercial department, and he had done this without the knowledge or consent of the board, and he had heretofore collected and disbursed independent of the board the tuition of his department; and now that the board had taken a step to bring him into line he held that they should either buy him out or assume the payment of his teachers as well as himself. The board held they could not do this without the consent of the First Presidency as they had not funds with which to do it. An audience was therefore obtained, the board and Brother present. After quite a lengthy talk, the Presidency authorized the purchase of the furniture at Brother Nelson's own figures, also the employment of his teachers at the salaries agreed on by him; but the question of the kind of pay was not raised at the time, and the board afterwards would not make any distinction in paying the teachers of the business department, as to kinds of pay, from the other teachers employed directly by the college president, and this caused quite a little feeling. The question was brought to the First Presidency and referred by them to the college board. They decided they could make no distinction as to the kinds of pay between the teachers employed in the college. Brother Nelson and his teachers appealed to President Snow, who, on recommendation of President Angus M. Cannon, referred the matter to the Stake Board. Brother Nelson had at first asked for an arbitration of the difficulty which the board felt it could not accede to, and in referring the matter to the stake board, Brother Nelson expressed his satisfaction, being under the impression that the members of the stake board were all new men who had not heard the question, excepting President Angus M. Cannon, President of the College Board, and he understood that Brother Cannon, who was also President of the Stake Board, was not to sit on the appeal as President of the Stake Board. But President Cannon did sit on the appeal also, and Brother Nelson took exceptions to this in an appeal again to the Presidency. It should be stated that Brother Nelson's teachers now claimed the one third scrip as well as the two thirds cash; or, in order to meet the minds of the board trustees, in order that no distinction as to the kinds of pay he made, they suggested that their salaries be raised to cover the difference. Quite a long conversation was had on this subject, during which Brother Paul stated that if the salaries of Brother Nelson's teachers would be raised it would cause dissatisfaction with the teachers he himself had employed, as Brother Nelson's teachers were already well paid in the amount represented by the two thirds excepting in two cases, and Brother Paul thought it would be proper to readjust their salaries but none of the others. Nothing was definitely done, but it will no doubt come up again."
Brother William A. Rossiter delivered to President Snow today a deed for twenty-three inches of land on Main Street immediately north of Savages Store, and immediately south of the Council House corner, making a present of it to the Church. At the time the Church sold the property known as the Constitutional Building, of which this was a part, Brother Rossiter bought the property on which Brother C. R. Savages store now stands, the latter being unable though desirous to do so at the time. Afterwards Brother Savage bought his property of Brother Rossiter at an advanced price, and the latter made a present of this margin to the Church. He now makes the present of this land also, which he acquired at a profit from the same transaction.
An order was issued today for the sum of $300, appropriated some time ago in favor of the Park City meeting house.
Mr. George C. Anderson called, having just come from Canada. He expressed himself as being pleased to learn that Brother J. Fewson Smith had reported a satisfactory settlement with the sub-contractors and the canal people, when he represented. He intimated that the company would be pleased to have our brethren continue working on the canal next spring; also to have the Church send other emigrants to that part. ...
An appropriation was made today by President Snow, of all the tithing of Blackfoot [Idaho] Ward for the year 1899, to assist the people of that Ward in building a meeting house, they having none at the present time.
Cleaned up and went to the office to report to Pres[iden]t. [Lorenzo] Snow. I explained my actions in Dublan [Mexico] and other places. He said "I know you have been guided in all your labors in Mexico by the spirit of the Lord. I approve of your labors. If the High Council of Juarez Stake is demoralized by your action then we had better make a new High Council." (1)
-- Dec 20, 1899; Wednesday
Presidents Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith were at the office.
Bishop William B. Preston and Architect Richard Kletting waited upon President Snow in relation to the proposed Deseret News building. The question has arisen as to whether the building should have a half story basement, or the first floor be even with the street. Certain business men advise that the first floor be made level with the street, and expressed a hope that the whole of the floor might be rented for a first class dry goods establishment, as a means of holding trade at the upper end of Main Street, and as a counter move against parties whoa re endeavoring to pull trade southward. Nothing was decided. ... (2)
Endnotes:
1 - Journal History; Abraham Owen Woodruff, Diary
2 - First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes
LDS History Chronology: Lorenzo Snow
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Lorenzo Snow
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
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