The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-12-23
AN IDAHO SWINDLE.
The Northwestern Bureau of Edu-
cation is a Fraud.
LYING CIRCULAR TO TEACHERS
False Accounts of High Wages Paid Teachers
"A Fee Exacted for Enrolling Their Names
Federal Grand Jury Investigating.

BOISE CRY, Idaho, Dec. 22.-TSpecial
telegram to The HERALD. No little ex-
citement was created in this city tonight
when it became known that the United
States grand juay had under their official
notice the affairs of an organization started
here last winter and known as the
NORTHWESTERN BUREAU OF EDUCATION.
In which former principal of Boise City
public schools, Fred Luceau Squiers,
Superintendent of Public instruction Har
rouna and State Auditor Silas w. Moody
were chief actors. 1t is alleged that this
bureau has had advertisements in
leading papers in the south and
southwest portions of the United
States calling the special attention of
teachers to the favorable field Idaho af-
forded for them and sending out circulars
stating that teachers were in great demand
IN Idaho; that wages were high, ranging
from SO 10 500 month and that
teachers who sent in a membership fee of
- would become members; their names
would be placed on the list and efforts
made TO secure lucrative positions in
which they were TO pay the bureau in ad-
dltlon to the membership fee 10 per cent
OF the first years salary.
1t IS held further that in answer to these
circular letters and advertisements letters
from
POOR TEACHERS ALL OVER THE SECTION
men toned containing money came pouring
through the mails into the treasury of the
bureau and that quite large sum, said to
run all the way from $500 to 81, 500 was sent
TO the organization. In some way one of the
letters that had been sent fell into the
hands ha in
schools here, who began making inquiries,
and called the attention of other teachers
TO the erroneous statements Of the circu-
lars. Postmaster Leonard also became
suspicious and called the attention of
Postal Inspector Watkins to the affair." who
quietly
COMMENCED A SYSTEM OF INVESTIGATION,
resulting, it is thought, in bringing the
matter before the federal grand Jury.
The affair created mach unfayorable
comment last winter on the part of the
press OF the state, but the facts were not
then fully known. 1t is said fraud is
claimed inasmuch as there is no great de-
maud Tor teachers in Idaho; wages are not
as high as claimed by the bureau. At the
close of the school terms last June Prof.
Squlers left for the east and was gone
several months. Returning to commence
the work of the new school year he was
confronted with this bureau of education
matter, the city board of education
CALLING HIM TO ACCOUNT
He wrote long article for the Statesman of
this city in which he attempted to explain
but the city board asked for his resiena-
ton which he sent in and left Idaho. Mr..
Moody said at the time he knew nothing of
the wording of the circulars or advertise
ments as he left all that to Prof. Squiers,
but that as soon as his attention was called
to the circulars he said that no more should
go out with his name attached. 1t is queer
how Mr.. Moody could be ignorant of the ma
ture OF the circulars when they were
printed in the Office of the Idaho Statesman.
of which he was then editor
HE DIscLAIMs ALL KNOWLEDGE OF THE
MATTER.
Postal Inspector Watkins has been tele-
graphed for and is expected to give the re-
suits Of his investigation. Much interest
attaches to the case and the action of the
grand jury will be eagerly watched.