Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-07-16

Board Of Education getting the best sys-
tenn obtalnable with the money at their
disposal.
We have expressed the opinion that the
Smead system in use In the Jefferson
school, is not a good one, as far as re-
CARDS the dry closet system. The agent
of the Smead company admits that 1t Is
not perfect, and has offered to perfect IL
without expense to the school district
All Of our expressions Of opinion were
based upon the Smead system used here.
Our desire was to lay before our readers
the best information we could gather in
regard to the dry closet system, and we
considered the opinion Of the person who
attended to the cleaning OF the school
rooms, good one on this subject, as the
janitress had the best of opportunities TO
ascertain whether foul odors, dangerous
to health, were emitted by IL and entered
the class rooms. We interviewed the
lady on the subject, and last week gave
her opinion. We believed then, and do
yet, that she stated truth In regard TO the
manner the dry closet system worked.
For telling us what she believed was the
real condition Of the dry closet system,
the janitress was bitterly denounced by
Prof. Norton, in public speech at the
Opera House, Friday afternoon. His re-
marks were as follows:
"An article appeared in the ARGUS from the jan
itor in which she described that system death
dealing monster. 1t astonished me when read
that article. have been superintendent for the
past four years. and couldn't understand it. Last
night at the Board of Education Mayor O'Brien
made statement that a short time ago-before that
article was written--he visited the building and
she went around with him and told him that two
thought they detected something wrong In one of
the rooms. But since have known how TO man
age II there has never been any trouble. Her state
mentS are utterly unworthy 81 consideration at all.
She was always complaining; it was on account of
the work she had to do. II after that lady has
made those statements to the Mayor OF this city, if
she says after that, then your minds are different
from what supposed they were, or from those Of
common people"
The superintendent of the city schools
used strong language towards woman,
and why he should feel impelled to call
woman liar before public gathering
of ladies and gentlemen, is beyond our
comprehension. We can not understand
why he Is 80 eager to rush to the defense
OF the Smead system, and use such Ian
guage as he did in his remarks toward a
woman. 1t Is not very creditable to a
superintendent of the public schools of
this city to make such statements. We
expect more gentlemanly conduct from
person in that important position, than
to get into rage and brand hard work
ing widow as being liar. II the jani-
tress had made two different statements
in regard to the dry closet system, there
was more gentlemanly way Of stating
the affair.
The janitress did not bring her state
ment to this Office. A representative Of
this paper sought her and asked her opin-
ion. She Is the first person there in the
morning. and, before the doors and win
dows are opened to let In the fresh air,
she can readily detect whether foul odors
permeate the class rooms. We wanted
the truth. We believe she gave IL to us,
and II the dry closet system sends its
death dealing, disease laden fumes into
the class rooms, IL should not be placed
in the new Central school building.
This question ought to be settled ra-
tionally and without prejudice. II the i'm
proved Smead system is all right, then the
school district wants it, provided better
can not be obtained. There is no need
of factious fights, or of superintendent
of schools calling women liars.