The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-22
THIS MAN UP FOR OFFICE!
,vrtFssIr BLdCKMiILING HELP
LESS HOMbN and MEN.


I'M
Fon N, TJmo
Among the candidates nominated in Tam
.,,n, Hail on saturday 10y John Kelly 5 instruc-
,'.,. vco- william i. Kirk. who was named Tor
,il,rman-at.1argc by Martin J. Reese. and ac-
eortcd "a proper candidate for once ov the
Tamniany organization. Frederick Snyth'
canlilate for District Attorney. cast MS vote Tor
80 ofc,ur.c this was to have hccn expected
thin rs member II an organization which is
s,t,e,, IN the dcspotir rule OF its own Commit
,oo,, pi-,iplinc. hut it was not to bc expected
thin ne gentleman whose character has al
ways been good.
,rhor, "a ii liitln story about Mr.. Kirk. cnndi-
,,,, f,r Alderman. which the voters of this city
sro,'i road In lsGl many reports were circu
ta,.i I'm tho Fourth Ward concerning the school
oc,,rs In that part of the city. 1t was intimatcd
,,,, cross corrurtion calculated to damage the
.o,.i,,cv 4 the schools existed among these
oe,,crs. that a scheme of levying on teachers
All candidates for positions In the schools was
En- mi operation. and that acts OF hcartless
or,.itr wore urarised by the corrupt officers in
N,ir rnlrts 20 exact money from their victims
IN matter became ~ notorious that It was Mt
hst taken up hy the Board of Education On
Nov Is 1864 stated session OF the Board
nd.utel A resolution to the effec: that. M COM
,i,ints hat boon mnde TO the officers OF tho
Hoard " Education that improper means had
been resorted to on the part OF some Of the
Trustees " the Fourth Ward to obtain money
from teachers AMI others. n special committee
heappointcl 20 examine into the facts Of the
,ase This committee met on May 90. Its menu
bers were James l.. Miller. Samuel b. II. Vance.
James H. Dupignac, Orlando p. Smith Timothy
Brennan. Frederick Smyth. and Henry 7. West.
The committee held several sessions examined
hry.iour witnesses and took 800 follos OF tes-
amony much Of which was given unwillingly.
md several Of the witnesses were known 10
awe preyaricated or testified falsely
The committee began work with the impress
zion that the prevalent rumors OF gross dere-
ition Of duty would prove untrue or exaa-
cera,cd Before they had finished they were
erioyeusy disappointed They found that
perfect system had boon arranged by q majority
II the. trustees To eStort money. 4 Ring had
heen formed To- manage school affairs In the
Fourth Ward This Ring had NJ its clerk John
Whit. Principal " Grammar School No. 90. A
ncw s'hoOI-house was building in Nandewatcr
street to take tho place Of Grammar Schools
~ an 20. and twas necessary to disrharge
.1me teachers. or put them in lower positions
III" teachers were all anxious to get into IN"
lsw school. ana III" King WIS formed 10 dispose
J tl" positions 10 tho highest bidders. John
WAT" acted ~ agent. and to him all applicants
were sent and Informed ~ tie amounts they
must pay for appointment. The sums de-
muuIei varied from $50 60 5000 according 10
Leposi'.on sought II he amount could not
~ paid SO One. because the teacher who ASK I'd
ior the situation was too poor 10 rnise The
money th" ngrnt ngr"cd to take u IN in
snumrnis. Those who declined 20 pay We're
or rmnd that no teachers would he Np-
4 mt ! un. oss they did pay. II they hc-itatci.
4nd desired 10 consult a." trustees the trustees
sent iA, applicant back to the agent 20 pay the
lnru~i nvcd. Cttiz"ns throughout tho ward
W"r" lWtr' that positions nal t. he paid Tor.
AL that the Ring received money through their
fu 90 mention particularly that William L Kirk.
4irusie". accepted money from school teAche r.
Sr appointments. aud that the trustees Of
whom Kirk was ono had acted In manner
,hat brought lasting injury and Disgrace io ine
,'hopl. system Of thneity. c~uecially 70 tue cit
.uI ring thr. ugh the gross acknowledgement OF
corrupt public servants. who had violated their
DATA % alre and the common feelings 81 hu-
manity They reported thW slight atnnemcui
might he made for the injury done by these bad
men 10 the cdu atomai and moral welfare OF
.hc children OF the city hy removing thom forth
with from their positions, ana 10y the District
Attorney OF tho clty speedily bringing the mat
er before ihe Grand Jury for their e'iipn.,.
orleh Snyth WAS member. do about the mat
;erf Iroy came e. u unanimous conclusion
TINT jeremiah Murphy. James White. J"ro-
mRt tNn-iln Daniel lirsly John II. Lester.
luarlns Kelly. and William l.. Kirk. Trustees OF
rolmon schools in the Fourth Ward: and
lrNA Nuruhy Commissioner Of Common
uouis from said ward have been guilty OF
li-sra'rtul conduct IN the matters connected
MliN I'If tlIl 'Itl fli - rs : 'lnNl tfIlftfS.
They r. onnrn led that all these persons be-
removed from their pfiie"s for thoir .-gracrful
.oaIuot. uud that White. the Principal of Ward
school ~. 20, and four teachers should forfeit
.hrIr llueos Tn" cl'rk Of tho Board. Mr..
Thomas B0esH. was instructed to send n Ger
AIDED copy 81 .he report 10 the District Attorney.
AMI "a request him to submit 1t 10 the Grand
Iury for their action. Tho entire Committee
approved the report, and the resolutions were
~ iiei hy all the thirty-four Commissioners
shAl N"r" present.
Tho Commissioner who was Ilsgraced was
Indignant that his name should be- handed
down 90 lniamy in connection with this mater,
anil bee threatened 10 hold every individual of
.A' Committee personally Responsible Tor his
,Aala irr To this Commissioning Frederick
sUJtI, now associated with Mr.. kirk on. ol
al~ ,' Used Trustees 10 "a caudiiat" for election.
rrlued That hc had not the least Objection To be
ArIi resp |ns.tle in every way. lie had acted
ladrr oath, and WAS willing To submit the ac-
dph ~ thr committee 10 the investigation and
'lulny ~ tho public. or any other court or
lthrr tribunal that might De selected. Mr..
smYIh denounced the Ring as one engaged IN
.le o. iIiuu- business of Matchmaking women.
hepont"i out H.. the evidence the fact that nj
IN" meeting Of the nio0 800 out OF 5000 Was
2ald by a teacher who was appointed in the
Hr"'inG. and that at tn" same meeting more
nan 'N"ny appointments and removals wcr-
aie inside OF ten minutes. Commiss Toner
MDcrcallcd atsution TO the fact that when the
f-ll u.'hy Wn- taken the sirugElr between fear
Nh duty ou the part OF some Of the teachers
'h' lltil" glrl cam" upon the stand on crutches.
sue hau been taxed SO for paltry situation at
isaiaiy ~ 500 year This he characterized
William l.. Kirk the trustee who was expelled
ron Nlhcr Tor participation in this Infamous
H Ammlihg scheme, condemned partly bS
rlel'rcS SWyihs vote, Is now selected hy
ihuiIahy iialI, at convention Of which Mr..
'Milh Dr. member and his name now appears
a. 'h' -'in" h'ket with his accuser rs candl-
lat- lur Office.