The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-21
HE WOULDN'T TAKE IT BACK
Mr.. Greenstreet's Insinuations Cause
More Trouble in the School Board.
President Conner Resigns, but the Majority
Refuse to Accept His Resignation, and
Thus Give Him Their Endorsement.

As the members of the School Board as
of expression prevalent that the session
likely to be somewhat more animated than
usual The report of the natural-gas committe
had been made a special order for the occasion,
and in connection with it. it had been stated that
Commissioner Greenstreet would be called upon
to explain his insinuations affecting Pres
dent Conner at the previous meeting when.
in referring to Mr. Conner as member of the
nasural-gas committee which reported in favor
CT contracting with the Consumers Trust. of
which Mr.. Conner is a stakeholder. he said,
'the intent of the resolution in making the
president of this board member Of the COM
mittee is glaringly apparent to ALL"
When the reports of special committees
called for, DR.. Jameson, the chairman of the
naturalgas committee, moved to refer
the committees report back to the mem
bers without any consideration Mr.. Loeper
thought that was an unusual proceeding and do
manded DR.. Jamesons reason. The reply was
that Mr.. Loeper had a right to demand an
answer, and the speaker had right to refuse to
give one. Mr. Bamberger was Immediately up
the floor with query similar to that of Mr..
Loeper's and Mr. Jane then explained that
his reason for not wishing the report discussed
was that there might be repetition of
the abusive language toward mem
bers of the committee that had been
used when the previous report
made. Nj. Kline moved that the matter be
taken out of the hands of the special committee
and referred to the one on heating and Ii ght,
where it properly belonged. The motion was
carried.
Mr. Frenzel then stated that he had resolu
81 1fa Pv of
that the integri ty of the president of the board
had been assaulted by of the members. The
charge, If allowed to remain unanswered, left
the president in a bad light before the COM
munity. which was aware of the imputation
and awaited further explanatory action. lie
then submitted the following resolution.
Whereas, At the last meeting of this board state
ments were made by commissioner rejecting upon
the integrity fidelity and good faith of president,
Resolved, That said statements uncalled for
with the subject under discussion at the time, and
that it is due to president to say that In the dis
charge of his official duties act has been performed
which not strictly in with the highest
requirements of his position as commissioner and
president of the board.
Mr.. Greenstreer asked for the charges which
he had made. They we're produced by the sec
rotary and he read the statement quoted above,
and said that he did not see anything very often
sive about it, and he asked Mr.. Conner, who had
vacated the chair Mr. Vonnsgut, to make
some expression regard to the matter
Mr. Conner, while ha ala not consider nlmSelr
guilty of any culpable action, said that the gas
trust was u peoples concern, and had intro
duced the unusual feature OF having among its
stockholders the man with $40 along with the
man with his thousands. Its operations were
those of 700 citizens and it meant cheap fuel for
ALL the commissioner who assailed him, among
the rest 1t had saved the city from monopolies
that stood outside its gates. When the natural
gas committee had been un unanimously appointed,
and when he himself had been unanimously
made member he considered 1t his duty to
amir. haro nf fha mi
he stated, had reported to him that other compa-
MES than the trust had not offered any terms, and
inasmuch as those of the trust were nearly 49,
900 less than ordinance prices, and would effect
a saving of So 900 over coal, le had reported
with the committee in favor of contract with.
the trust He did not know why the accu5a-
ton had been made against him.
Mr.. GreeDstreet stated that he understood
how the feeling had risen against him. 1t came
from old source, meaning, it is understood.
Mr.. Frenzel. His connection with the School
Board had been the occasion of many pleasant
remem ORANGES, but he had also excited i'll feel
ing and. in the language of prede-
cessor, he was happy for the opposi-
ton hs had evoked. He began searching for
document, which he failed to find but stated
company to heat school building No. IL at $l1
per room, which was ST. per room less than the
rate offered By the trust, and he was still una
BILE to understand why the committee had not
consulted with the Broad Ripple company be-
fore recommending contract with the trust.
Ii the board chose TO censure him for this, all
right; but upon similar occasion arising, he
would again express his surprise"
DIR. Jameson said that Mr.. Greenstreets
quoted words were not all that he had uttered
He had declared the trust monopoly and
monopoly of the worst sort. Mr.. Greeustrset
replied that in speaking before the board he was
in such trust company that whatever he
might say in allusion to gas companies was mis-
Interpreted. He had said nothing that he would
not say again.
Mr.. Conner asked Mr.. Greenstreet if, in his
he meant TO imply that he (Conner
in being made member of the committee,
would not act honestly. Mr.. Greenstreet replied
by asking Mr.. Conner if he thought he was do
ing his whole duty toward the schools in report
ing contract for the trust without consulting
all the other companies.
Mr.. Bamberger thought it was proper for the.
two members to come to an understanding with
out further action He believed in the strict
integrity of both, and was unwilling to see the
feeling carried any further motion made to
Mr. Kline, getting the floor, spoke in favor of
Their embarrassment. Mr. Conner stepped forward
and said be would make the first over
ture in that direction, and resigned from
the presidency. Some one called for Mr. Fren-
zers resolution, and it was carried, Messrs.
Baker, Vonnegut and Williams voting in the
negative. 1t was then unanimously voted not
TO accept Mr.. Corners resignation. Mr. Green
street, after making few thrusts at the gas
trust advocates called for vote which should
give the of the board as to whether the
resolution passed was censure upon himself.
Two motions were at once made TO adjourn. and
the session ended