National Republican., 1883-06-27
THE SCHOOL BOARD DIFFICULTY.
How II Originated - what the Trustees
Say About Lt.


The action of the district commissioners on
the question of tho board of school trustees
auditing their bills has given rise to num-
Dor of conflicting rumors and to some ab
surd statements. Among these last is the
statement put FORTH with more zeal than
knowledge that tho commissioners intend to
abolish the hoard Of school trustees as they
have done the board Of fire commissioners.
This statement is so absurd on its face that it
is mentioned simply to show the absurdity of
some of tho rumors. Congress alone has
power to abolish the board of school trustees.
The trouble, however, which gave Tiso to
these rumors is not a now one, IL having
been known and published for months. The
final action of the commissioners as to tks
financial power of the school board as
manifested in their letter of yesterday TO
that body, also has beon fOrcshadOwod for
several months. Tho melting cause of tho
trouble breaking out at this juncture is in
this wise; Last fall certain additions were
needed at the Hill school. Pro-
posals for doing this work were
advertised for, aud Messrs. Bright and
Humphrey put in bid for 81 300 and Messrs.
Hayward and Hutchinson for about 81, 400
The contract was awarded to the latter. Tho
bill for the work was not approved by the
principal of the high school, but referred by
him TO the board who referred the matter to
the committee on high school, of which Mr..
Loveoy wns chairman. The latter last De-
cember prepared report on the subject, but
concluded not to present it to the board at
that time
The bill was not paid. Finally n short
time ago Mossrs. Bright and Humphrey made
charges to the commissioners against Gen.
Birncy, one of the trustees that he had in-
formed Hayward & Hutchinson of Bright's
bid, thereby enabling them to make another
bid, which he as the trustee of the division
in which the high school is located, accepted,
and awarded them the contract The bill
as presented was run up to about Sl,S00.
Finally on Saturday Messrs. Lovcioy, Bir-
ney, Brooks and Clark, of the board of trus-
tees, held an interview with the commits
sioucrs. Mr.. LovGiOy, in speaking of certain
remarks alleged to have been made by Gen.
Brncy to the effect that the former had en-
deavorcd to cause Brncy's removal from the
board, read TO the commissioners the report
which he had prepared last winter to be sub
mitted to the school board. In connection
with tho report he is alleged to have charged
Con. Brney with saying that LovciOy had
promised Hutchinson TO see the bill paid If
the latter would secure Birncy's removal from
Office. In connection with this matter came
up the question of the administration Of the
school funds.
A REPUBLICAN, reporter called on Mr..
Lovcioy and asked him what he had to say
about the matter. MI Lovciuy politely but
firmly refused 10 be interviewed, saying SIM
ply that the matter was Ill the hands Of the
commission Urs.
Mr.. Brooks said that he was present at the
interview led with the Gonmiss ynGts on
Saturday, and nat Mr. Lovejoy read a paper,
making, what seemed 20 him, charges against
Gen. Birney. The latter, he said, did not
deny the allegation that he had told Mr..
Brooks the statement that Mr.. LcVCjoy had
tried to secure HutChinscns influence in hav-
ing Gen. Birney removed from the board.
Gen. Birney said that the statement pub
lished about his being confronted with Mn
Hutchinson, who affirmed he had
made such allega rs about Mr.. Love
joy, were not true. vlle said that
he sent blank form of bid to Messrs Bright
d Humphrey for the supplying and fitting
up of an apparatus for chemistry and physics
&C the high school They returned the bid for
Sl.2GS, Hayward & Hutchinson some time
before had hidden lao, but their bid was
informal. Gen. BirnGy informed them il
they would do the work for 81, ,250 he would
recommend they be given the contract. They
sent in bid for that amount, and the two
bids were transmitted to the commissioners
with Gen. Birney's recommendation that the
lower one be accepted. This was done and
Hayward & Hutchinson got the contract
Commissioners Edmonds and West both
seemed t1 make light of the alleged charges OF
Mr. Loveioy against Gen. Birney. The
question before the commissioners was about
the administration of the school funds, and
they hold that all disbursements of money
must be made under their direction. The
trustees must make acquisitions on them
They had determined to seud letter to the
trustees defining their powers The letter
will be found in the school report