Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-01-30

The Chairman called tine meeting 10
order, and in a few words stated that
complaints had been made TO him as to
the present standing Of the City Board
of Education. The Board is composed
of three Democrats and two Republ-
cans. but O Republican Chairman bad
been elected, and there is considerable
dissatisfaction and the Committee was
called together to listen to explanations
and take such action as it deemed best.
The three Democratic members of the
School Board, Messrs. Kuriz. Elliott
and Graham, were present, and Mr.. Nc.
Garry moved that they be heard.
MR.. ELLIoTs STATEMENT.
Mr.. Elliott said Before the organiza
ton Of the new BOsrd | had CONVERSE
lion with Mr.. Graham, in the course
of which stated that | had
no aspirations for the office OF
Chairman of the Board but wanted
DR.. Kurtz for that position. Mr.. Ora
ham agreed with me entirely and said
that he would stand in with me and
we would elect DR.. Kurtz. | spoke to
MIR. Earl and he was favorable to DR..
Kurtz. ] also mentioned the matter to
DR.. Kurtz. and told him that was for
him for Chairman. The Doctor said
that was the Oldest man on the Board,
and should have the position, but If
didn't want it he would serve If elected.
When the Board met voted for DIR.
Kurtz, the Doctor voted for me and MIR.
Earl got three votes snd was elected.
You can imagine my surprise. The
morning previous to the election Mr..
Graham came to the bank and we had a
conversation about the Secretaryship
and the salary OF said office. told him
that under the ruling of Judge Bicknell
the Board had no power to allow any
member Of said Board any compensation
whatever for services performed That
| was willing TO be Secretary nominally
but not to do the work. Mr., Graham
said that II was best to have a Secretary
belonging to the Board. and l said that
it would be better to have person out
side of the Board do the work and get
tho salary. belonged to the late Board
and we had been paying salary to a
member of the Board for his services as
Secretary until the grand jury in Novem-
Der called our attention TO the fact that
our action was illegal. We then got the
opinion of Judge Bicknell, attorney for
the Board, and he said our action was
illegal and we stopped paying MIR. Wade,
q member of the Board and then acting
as Secretary, a salary and employed a
substitute teacher in his place, MIR.
Wade in January brought in bill for
500, for services performed prior to
Judge Bicknell's decision, and | was in
favor OF allowing him at least $50, as he
had worked hard, but the bill was re-
ferred to Judge Bicknell and he again
said that member OF the Board could
under no circumstances be allowed CON-
pensation for services. Mr.. Gibson,
then President of the Board, refused to
sign the warrant. Attorneys Chapman
and Hendricks gave a legal opinion,
which conceded with Judge Bicknell's.
| was glad to know that DIR. kurtz was
elected as q member of the School
Board, as knew he wonld make an ex-
cellent chairman.
Mr.. Graham asked Mr.. Elliott if he
remembered when he (Graham) went
into the bank and suggested that he
(Mr. ElliotO be chairman.
Mr.. Elliott said, Eyes, and told you
that was for DIR. Kurt, and yon agreed
with me ON Kurtz, did you not!"
Mr. Graham-"Yes, SIR"
DIR. KURrz' STATEMENT.
DIR. Hurts said: al hoped that this
matter would be suppressed, as it Gre
ates bad impression, but will make a
simple statement. When | consented to
accept the candidacy for the Presidency
at the solicitation of Messrs. Elliott and
Graham, consented as a matter of duty
to the Democrats party. was surprised
when found had only one vote, and felt
embarrassed for the party. | thought it
looked as IL no Democrat on the Board
was competent to fill the chair. When
| went into the meeting | understood
that | was to be chairman. Mr.. Ora
ham came to me and voluntarily told
me that he would vote for me for chair
man. Mr.. Graham asked me il / would
be in favor of paying salary to the
secretary and said that until there
was contrary opinion to that of Judge
Bicknell l would oppose paying such
salary.
When Graham left he left me under
the impression that he would vote for
me. A salary was paid to the secretary
when was a member of the Board.
was secretary of the Board some years
ago and drew a salary which | gave to
another person for doing the work.
Then we did not know it was illegal.
voted for Mr.. Elliott.
MR.. GRAHAM's STATEMENT.
Mr.. Graham said: "There is differ.
ence of opinion between myself and DIR.
kurtz. | never opened my head in re-
gard to the presidency of the Board to
DR.. Kurtz on the night of the meeting
Of the Board or at any other time. |
spoke to Mr.. Elliott in regard to DIR.
Kurtz being chairman. Mr.. Elliott and
myself agreed to vote for Dr. Kurt, but
afterward changed my mind for these
reasons
81 believe Mr.. Earl .better fitted in
every respect for President Of the Beard
of Education than DIR. Kuriz, and for
the following reasons and belief | op.
posed DR.. Kuriz,
First-That there was on the retiring
Board ring composed of certain men,
bers who acted wrongfully in hiring a
Superintendent OF Schools and paying
him a salary for four months without
warranty of law and in direct conflict
thereto.
In this DIR. Kurtz believes they did
right and thus agrees with them.
Second-That that ring believed they
found law to stop payment of the Score.
tary's salary, and il so law. abiding, will.
fully overlooked the law in the super.
intendents case; and, respecting the
Secretary's salary, DIR. X. believes they
also did right and thus again agreed
with them.
Third--That Dr. kurtz as u former
Secretary of the Board drew his salary
which, he says, he then believed illegal.
In this he should have stopped his sal
airy and Immediately ended the question,
but he continued to draw it and leave
himself liable, but ut all events he must
agree with them.
Fourth-That DR.. kurtz assisted that
riug in delaying the seating of the new
Board for the purpose of giving time to
the Superintendent to secure a certiti.
cate whereby he was ele sted teacherand
Superintendent at one and the same
time. DR.. KS action ON that evening
January 5-had every indication of
this fact.
In this he erred and thus agreed with
them.
Fifth-He expressed himself as not
wanting the place as President but that
they wanted him to take it. Who were
theyf He could not refer to me as one
for he never condescended to speak to
me OF his own accord respecting the or
ganization of the new Board, and |
therefore felt completely ignored, That
in this there appeared deceit, for then
(the ring) worked like Trojans to elect
him and were highly gratifed at his
election, more so than any of you, and
in this he agreed with them.
Sixth-That Dr.. X. has further ex.
pressed himself as wishing to discard
politics in our deliberations as members
OF the Board.
That in this he says one thing and
wants the opposite.
But he seems 10 agree with them.
Therefore, l believe that in all these