The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-20
FRENZEL is AT 1T AGAIN
This Time 1t Is the Assistant Secretary
of the School Beard Who Must Go.
Vote by Which Miss Ridenour's Salary Was
Increased Reconsidered- The Rules Msnip-
ulated by Frenzel-Pariisan Methods

job 2. Frenzel president of the School
Board. will soon have acquired as big a
reputation as an official executioner as
General Adlai Stevenson. Immediately
upon bis elevation to the presidency of the
board he. with the aid of his new elected
henchmen. secured the removal of building
and supply agent Hendrickson. Last
night, through resolutions introduced in
the School Board by his man Roth. he laid
the foundation for the removal of Miss Ride
nour. assistant secretary. whose position
he wants to ill with some man whom he
can control.
The first step in this direction was taken
last night, when Mr. Roth, chairman of
committee on revision of rules, and con-
veniently so, submitted his report. The
only changes made were those affecting the
work of the assistant secretary. Here
tofore Miss Ridenour has signed warrants
and bills in the absence of the cretnry.
AS revised the rules no longer give her that
authority. In preparing his report Mr..
Roth had stricken out, at the dictation of
the president the few lines giving to the
assistant secretary the supervision
of the Offices and Office work. Mr..
Loeper. the secretary, moved the adoption
of the report. but Mr.. Coffin lnterposed an
objection. He saw q teep-laid scheme, in
what was apparently an innocent change
In the rules. Mr.. Conner said that, as chair
man of the committee on supplies, he could
say that, without any detriment to the sup
ply agent, he had always found the assist
ance of the assistant secretary Invaluable.
Immediately Frenzel and Roth began to
explain that the striking out of the words
alluded to meant nothing: that the duties
of the assistant secretary were fully defined
elsewhere.
IF striking out those words cuts no q e
ure then" said Mr.. Coffin, why not leave
them inp
Neither Frenzel nor Roth answered this
question satisfactorily but kept up jab-
Der to the effect that the rules as amended
would not change the duties of the assist
ant secretary. Thus the discussion went
on until Mr.. Coffin moved to amend by in
sorting that the assistant secretary shall
have supervision of the office work."
WHAT FRENZEL SAYS "GoEs."
81 move to amend that amendment then"
said Roth, "by making 1t read the assist
ant secretary shall have supervision over
her Office work"
Mr.. Coffin was willing to accept this
amendment. but Mr.. Roth in few minutes
recalled it, and insisted on the report being
adopted as read. This, of course, was done,
as it was Mr.. Frenzeps wish, one that he
had evidently formulated while Cd his
vacation. The animus behind the
very plain to the minority members.
FrenZel wants to control everything in
sight. When the office OF building and
supply agent was done away with, three
new Offices were created OF which Mr.. L. j.
OMeara holds down one and he finds HIM
self without sufficient TO do TO even make
bluff at working. By restricting the
duties of the assistant secretary some of
the work formerly performed by her will
be done by OMeara and be will have
supervision over the Office work" That
means that one of frenzePs creatures will
be In control of the office.
In glancing over the new rules MIR. Coffin
discovered that Mr.. Roth had omitted (of
course 1t was an oversight) to stipulate the
usual bond of $500 for the superintendent
of buildings and grounds. Mr.. Coffin made
O motion. which was adopted, that this
functionary shall give a bond of $500.
1t was about this time that Mr.. Roth In
troduced a resolution that threw consider
able light on the changes that had been in
1t was to reconsider the vote. which was q
unanimous one, by which the salary
of the assistant secretary. Miss
Ridenour. had been increased to 81. 500
year. MIR. Vonnegut was on his feet IN an
instant. he had evidently been expecting
the economic Mr.. Roth TO make such q
move.
ROTH EXPLAINS.
This resolution means, said he, chat
Miss Rdenour's salary is to be cut $500. /
want to serve notice that'that is it's object.
We have lost already $1,000 in interest that
we might have saved if the treasurer had
given his consent, but that Is not consid-
cred. Money is TO be thrown away on
banker while Miss Ridenour's salary is
"All / )ant,n said Mr.. Roth, lis to have
this maler go before the finance commit
tee and see if she deserves or earns what
she gets. Mr.. VonDegut would not pay
S1.So0 year for work that he coul4 get
done for $1,000. want TO see if We can't
get somebody to do this work for less
money"
IF this MEANS said Commissioner Con-
ner. taking the floor, that IL is step
toward the reduction of the assistant sec
retary's salary, shall very much regret il.
have been a member of this board for
eight years, and know something of the
duties of the office. don't like the sug-
gestion of Mr.. Roth that some one else
might be employed to do the work for
81 200. think Miss Ridenour ought to be
paid $4,000 instead of s., 800 for her services
lt is the character rather than the amount
of work that we want"
HAS the people a right to know what
she doesi" interrupted Mr. Roth. Il am
asked every day what she does. want TO
know If she earns what she gets"
Il am trying to enlighten the people now
about what she does" said Mr.. Conner.
"A great deal of the work of the finance
committee devolves upon Miss Ridenour,
and her information and assistance are
sometimes inv aluable-"
Mr.. Conner's talk is all very nice"
again interrupted the Watchdog" of the
School Board funds but want to say that
If the work of the finance committee has
devolyed on Miss Ridenour, Ihave not seen
1T equaled except by Tom Harrison and
Phil Gapen."
This most uncalled-for remark, to say
the least. was ignored by Mr.. Conner, yet
Roth went on making illusions to the bad
management that had characterized the
School Board finances and took occasion
to say that, with Mr. Russo as chairman OF
the finance committee. not very much of
it's work would devOlve upon the assistant
secretary. When he got q chance, Mr..
Conner stated that he had not meant TO
convey the idea that the assistant score
tary had done the work of the finance COM
mittee. but that the latter had gone to her
for information.
That's just itr' broke in the Roth.
You've been -takin' somebody's word for
it. want to get at the facts" He then
moved the adoption of the resolution. ana
Mr.. Conner NOV ed that 1t be laid on the
table. The motion of Mr.. Conner was lost
by the following vote:
Ayes-Conner Coffin and Galvin-3.
Nays-Roth, Russo, Adam, Vonnegut, Frenzel
and Loeper-6
Roth's resolution was then adopted.
ERENxFI WANTS HER ION