The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-03-24

tained the ownership Of the McAilis-
teryille school, however. He want
ed TO put il in somebody elses
charge. vet ge. the profits. George
Wright appeared upon the scene
some time after 1880, and leased II
rom him. paying 5000 year ever
since TO Mcfarland Some reports
have put John l. Gordon as one OF
the owners Of this school. out
Wright Is the sole lessee NeAllls-
tsryille has received si26,2549l IN
the past five years from the State
The four schools owned by the
syndicate. are therefore e. follows ::
seu.e Of Sosool. ceuliy. oSasr.,
Chester sprin-s. -ChssisT.-.---- y l-Si''
lfco. PeErson-
sIeresr..-.... -.-... .Neroer.--.----5. ". Hr1shi-
:. 7. Tcuso1-
: J. lo7d0c-
X K-'WrlgsL
J. G.rtoa-
J. L Paul
NJ aUis.srrtIls ..... .Juzists---..-.G- v. Wright
These four schools have received
an aggregate OF s646,30l SO from
the state IN the past five years-
The other Leading schools are own
ed By the following parties
I,srto- Arnstrong. Stock c.. q l2
Msas;isls--.---.. Tiaza -------- ars--allen
Tni 3utgrr --.--.kay et;e ------- hef; :. Ass's-
y hI-e Hail.. Gam f4zI1--- ldAi Moore
Bsrri.,rt .Sus1a-hznna Pref Sweet.
S0l1iers' Orl' 'ns- Philz ieli' li'hia----------.----
The Iast-named l. the only one OF
the number that is run az a charity.
rhe others are operated as business
enterprises.
BIG PROFITS.
An experienced manager OF these
schools estimates that the profits on
the Chester springs school will be
about $4,000 a year. Similar fig-
ures were made for Mt. Joy and
Mercer. while McAllisteryille school
mas been placed somewhat below
that figure. Ii is fair TO assume
that the profits Of the four syndicate
schools iii. exceed $4,000. and
that on the entire appropriation by
the state legislature OF $4,000 per
annum. nearly $4,000 is profit.
The appropriation bill passed by
the lass legislature is full Of loosely
drawn up items. For instance, the
state superintendent. DR.. Higbee, Is
given in 1t $500 for travelling expsn-
ses. he Is supposed to spend that
i'll visiting each institution once
every quarter, as the law requires.
But Captain William McClelland,
Of Pittsburgh, a mem5e Of the q.
4. r. investigating committee, says
they were given official informatlon
that Dr.. Higbee mad not visited
some Of the institutions but once in
a year. He mas the power to send
deputies in bis place, but be didn't
even do that
Another item Of the appropriation
gives Mrs. Elizabeth Hutter, female
inspector Of schools, 1920 salary
per annum. and s400 travelling ex
penses. Her las; annual report
praised the schools in the most ful-
some terms, and shows sne " did not
see anything wrong at any OF the
institutions Her position and sal
ary are enyiable b. sinecufes. The
male inspector Is given a salary OF
$1,000 Der anuum and 500 travel
ing expenses, "or so much thereof
as may De necessary.
He never files any itemized ac-
count of his travelling expenses, neil
ther does the state superintendent,
said Capt. McCleiland Yesterday.
The deficit of s2l ,25S56 in the
schools management in the two
years was provided for by special
appropriation by the last Legislature.
The way that deficit was created, +"
said a gentleman. was oy crowding
the schools, or padding the rolls and
showing that the management had
taken in more scholars than the pre-
vioUs appropriation covered, and re-
lying on tue patriotism OF the legls-
latare to make good the deficit
simply a squeeze.
The reason the g. 4 Z. commit
tee did not go into a more thorough
examination Of the charges was be-
cause the G. 4 L. treasury hadn't
sufficient funds TO stand the two or
three thousand dollars expense it
would have entailed. The gentle
men are al capable and enthusias-
tic enough, but felt they could trust
the Governor to personal examina-
tioB The committee is By no
means done yet, however. its recent
report being merely preliminary.
IL awaits further orders from De
partmeat Commander Goblin.