National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-05-23

Then, addressing Mn Hart through the Chair,
Mr.. Sopef asked the following Questions was
MIR. Hart 1t ives before.
Mr.. Soper Why, then. did you remain and take
xn SRe s Ssss q
oelectlOn wa, made "a. tbs questisn by Mr.
Nj. Soper, TO Mr. Hart.) Did ysn say that two
| members OF the board had received eneyclope-
dsasH My object is TO show that NM. Harris evil
Mr.. Hart objected 10 Ssinr thuseatechised. and
asked the projection OF the board from Insulting
Dtr. soper dIsclaImed any intention other than
to deiend his reputation, which Mr.. Hart had
sought TO blacken.
Mr. Wilson iavorea giving the fullest liberty to
Mr.: Seper in the matter OF questioning.
| Mr.. Harris asked MIR. Soper 81 he did rot say to
him that he had invited Mr. Hart 70 the hotel
Mr. Soper. Yes SIR 4 did; and there are gentle
mon on this board who'will testify to my purpose.
tiOns from Mr.. Soper, who said he wished to prove
that his afidavitMns not worth anything.
| Mr.. Woodward to Mr.. Soper: "Were the two
| books sent Mr. Fart text books 2"
Mr.. Soper. .Fhey were, sir. at the time, and
Mr.. Hart was chairman Of the committee on Ger
Mr. Mcclellan said the charge was made that
at his suggestion" these books were sent to Mr..
Hart.
Mr.. Soper saId,he had not received suggestion
| from Mr.. Mcclellan to send any other than geo.
graphies. Mr.. Mcclellan was st that time chair
books on German because Mr.. Hart was chair
man OF the committee on German.
| Mr.. Wolf asked II Mr.. Hart had any charge to
make as to the purpose Of Mr.. Soper in sending
these books. p a.
MIR. Hart replied he had not.
Mr.. Harris being present, tho board returned
Mr.. Harris said ut the time referred to he had
been informed by letter that the encyclopedias
new paper, and the books were sent for the pur-
pose Of getting adyertisepents. He had replied
to tho ok-bouse IL the books were sent they
would be returned, as he was q member Of the
school board.
Mr.. o,Driscoll wished to know whether the
books had come to him as editor or trustee.
Mr.. Hart asked MIR. Harris whether he had not
made the statement that he had received the
books and returned them by Adams Express COM
pany, and had the receipts.
Mr.. Harris said he had no recollection of saying
any such thing.
Mr. Hart asked If Mr.. Harris did not say he
proposed to lay the matter before the board.
Mr.. Harris replied he had made the statements
to the board just as he proposed or promised to.
Mr.. Wolf asked Mr.. Hart IL he was trying to
fasten any guilt on members OF the board in this
matter, or was only trying to give reason to JUS
tity his anti-Cornell publication.
Mr.. Hart. That Is all, only to justify my state
ment.
Mr.. French read the printed article, so far as #
reiated 10 encyclope9las, and asked II there was
evidence that any other trustee than Mr.. Harris
received the books.
Mr.. Hart. Well, sir, q set of encyclopedias were
sent to several persons.
Mr.. French and other trustees. ''Oh, the person
who got these was merely q newspaper editor;
1t is nothing unusual; 1t was only to secure book
notices in his paper.
Mr.. Lloyd. Mr.. Hart is taking an unjust advan-
tage Of those who are not here.
MIR: Wolf suggested that anything said about
an absentee be not allowed to appear on the
record.
Mr. Warner asked Mr.. Soper If It was not the
custom OF Appleton & Go. to send encyclopedias
to newspapers. Mr.. Sopor read o circular show
ing such to be the fact.
Mr.. Mcclellan read o written statement from
Mr.. Louis Bagger (late of the Pdtrioi) showing
that the proposition had been made TO we ency-
had been declined.
MIR: French repeated the question TO Mr.. Hart.
whether he knew Of any trustee, not an editor Of
newspaper, who got set OF encyclopedias.
Mr.. Hart said he had given all the statements
he had.
Mr.. Marche. State the proofs Of the charge that
trustees received mileage.
Mr. Hart. As the parties are not now on the
Boardl refuse to answer;
Major Richards said the subject seemed to
have been exhausted.
Mr.. French offered the following:
Res0lved by the Board of Truefees of the Public
Schools of the City Of Warrington, That the
charges made by MIR. A. Hart in u late communi-
cation to the Evening Star, after being fully in
board are concerned, in no wise sustained; that
while Mr.. Hart may have had Information which,
in his opinion, warranted such an assumption,
nothing has been adduced that reflects on the
character OF the members OF this board or upon
the integrity OF Mr.. Soper, the agent of Messrs.
d. Appleton Co.; the question of the $500 bride
or enclyeopeas being sent here Is simply mis-
construction OF words
The resolution was unanimously adopted, and
tho board adjourned