The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-10-08

i
| meeting OF the board thereafter he chafeC
and fumed and objected to the system Of
| expenditures which the board adopted
add 10 which they unanimously adhered
| from the date above mentioned.
| Whereas, heretofore, McElrOy had beer
| superintendent OF the school, steward OF
the institution. making all purchases, hir-
| ing aud dischargicg all help and acting az
a sort OF autocrat or I50h-Bah, the board
| found IL necessary, ss the foregoing rec
| ord shows, TO take from under his charge
not only all the help employed about the
| grounds, barn, laundry aud boiler house,
but also TO take from under his supervis-
ion all the maids and help about the build.
| ings, including cooks and servants OF
every kind. His powers were so limited
| under this resolution and action OF the
board that at times he seemed conyulsed
with passion, constantly finding fault and
Directing 10 the arrangements and appar-
| emily harhoring more spleen and venom
against me than any other, he knowing
that the resolution adopted and the pol
icy inaugurated was at my suggestion.
Had II not been for this meeting and the
action then taken, the relations between
McElroy and myself would doubtless
have proved pleasant until this day,
provided had meekly and mildly con-
seuted TO allow him at ali times and under
all circumstances 10 shape the policy OF
the institution and Determine everything
for it
uE WANTED HIS OWN WAY.
His idea Of the board Of control OF said
institution was that IL should ratify what
ever purchases or arrangements he in his
mighty wisdom had seen fit 10 make: but
! was not built that way; neither were the
other members OF the board, and IL con-
sequently kept the bride in place as long
as he remained in charge of the school.
The steward chosen at this meeting,
Mr.. J.. c. Butter, and Mrs. Butler. who
was chosen as the matron, were, however,
constantly harassed aud annoyed and diff
ferences were constantly referred 10 me
as the referee named in the resolution
above quoted.
You will notice that in order TO avoid
friction between the new steward aud SUI
perintendent in the conduct Of the work
Of the school, the board took great pains
TO carefully define the duties of each, as
above, and also as quoted above, that
when any differences arose they were to
be referred 10 the resident member of the
board for decisioE-I being the resident
member.
You will notice also In the record above
quoted from that 1.-The board decided TO
discontinue the use OF the water from the
well OF the institution and 10 at once
make the necessary connections with the
water works system OF the city,"
IN explanation OF this determination OF
the board l will state that although the
institution at this time was paying n
stated amount per anuum 10 the city for
all the water IL desired. certain tanks in a
tower from which the supply pipe led
were not connected with the city water,
and consequently Mr. McElroy, without
regard 10 expense, insisted upon keeping
man most Of the time Juggling water
from the well TO his cottage, and 10 the
kitchen OF tho institution, whereas it
could all have been readily had without
expense by simply change OF water con-
nections. McElroy objected strenuously
TO this, insisting that the city water was
not good, and that the well water was
school. This in face OF the fact that the
citizens OF Lansing were almost without
exception using the public water and gen
orally satisfied with IL.
You will notice IN the minutes Of the
above meeting also at WAS decided 10
close the laundry as soon as possible aft
er vacation begins" This order was
found necessary to be made by The board
for the reason that McEiroy WAS disposed
to retain the help and keep up the ex-
pense OF maintaining the laundry dur
ing the vacation for his own personal
convenience and that OF his family.
You will notice in the above record,
"The board decided to discontinue at the
close OF the school the use OF the electric
light and not use it again during vacation,
and the treasurer of the institution was
instructed tc procure what oil and lamps
may be necessary for use in the buildings"
This order the board found necessary
10 make for the reason that the electric
light was furnished 10 the institution aud
the superintendent cottage by an Edison
electric light system established by the
board on the premises which when run
ming required steam TO be kept up on the
boilers and a man employed in attendance
on the engine. McElroy's idea was to
keep this up during the summer months
in order TO properly light his cottage aud
lend better effect to soirees aud other
social entertainments held at his house
at the expense OF the state. The arrange
ments above noted seemed particularly
distasteful 20 McElroy, aud as tho reso-
buttons were drawn and suggested by
myself he seemed TO feel an especial
antipathy 20 me. Allthis. however, made
no difference in my conduct and no differ
ence ia my determination 20 conduct the
business principles and economics. 1t
would have been easier for me personally
to have allowed the thing to drift along
aud avoided all friction and unpleasant
ness.
THE PURCHASES OF MATERIAL.
It is charged that was guilty of many
Irregularities in the purchase of material
and various other disbursements for &C
count OF the school. On this subject |
desire TO say this: At a meeting of the
board, Dec. Z, 1880, (see public record of
the institution, on page IL, The following
was adopted:
EcsolUcd, that all acquisitions upon tho
for money appropriated by
the legislature for this institution shall be
signed by the president or president pro TEN.
of this board, and that the correctness of
each individual voucher and receipt shall DO
certified 10 by the superintendent of the in
stitution, etc.
You will see from the above that IL was
ordered, and tho public records of the in
tt 'tution will show that the order was