The morning call., 1893-04-02
SHOULD HE TELL :?
Director Carew Remains
Firm.
INTERESTING INTERVIEWS.
Ex-Director Woodward Tells How 1t
Was Done When the Price Was
Much Lower.
INTERVIEWS.

whose behalf the offer was made and
heroically endure punishment for contempt?
Mr.. Carew has added an interesting prob
lem and situation to the interesting bribery
mess now being investigated by the Grand
Jury.
Opinions will differ on what Mr.. Carew
should do, and he himself is still inclined to
hold his ground. A friend and a school
teacher will hope he Will
Opinions will not differ so much as to the
pTopriety ard benefit of the Grand Jury's
investigation. 1t seems likely to stir up
big and dirty mess.
EX-Direct0r Woodward who was men,
Der OF the board during he reign of Boss
Buckley, gives the interesting opinion that
the prices offered Clinton and Carew were
so Tidicuiously high that they make the
story improbable. The price used to be
500 and whereabouts.
School Director Carew maintains his
attitude of sphinx-like silence regarding the
name of the gentleman" who offered him
$1,000 to promote" teacher.
Il cannot divulge the name now" said be
last evening, "as 1t might appear strange
after refusing to do so before the Grand
Jury. have placed myself in the hands
of my attorneys, and unless advised by
them do not think I shall ever give out the
name. The gentleman who bears it has
been to see me once since this matter came
up. do not know the name of the lady
for whom he was acting.
"As far as l can see, this expose will have
good effect in school matters. At any rate
the present board will hardly dare 10 make
Venal appointments. Such appointm ents,
l understand, have been an open secret.
Other people have come to me to ask
for appointments believing that they
are only to be purchased. 1t was
only the other day woman came 10 me
here and spoke TO ME in that way. l don't
know her name e. Then the teachers are too
much badgerei and terrorized by senselees
rules, all part of the same system of money
rule as against merit. II DR.. Clinton'S reso-
lutlon recommending competitive system
of Rppoint had been adopted it would
have done away with much of this iniquitOus
business.
There is too much committee work, too
much scheming in the School Board" added
Mr.. Carew. IF these committees were cut
out or even partially. there might be some
hope, in this matter Of appointments
specially.
The next time appear publicly in the
matter will be in Judge CAREERS court on
Wednesday, unless the Grand Jury meet
Oh Monday and l am summoned to appear
before it, At present l have not been not-
fed to do so and in the meantime propose
TO abide by the advice Of my attorney and
not diyulge the name of the gentleman who
approached me. II | knew the name of the
lady interested l see no reason why l
should not tell it,"
Ex-School Director Thomas P. Wood
ward talked freely last evening of the ap-
pointment atmosphere" while he served.
II don't believe all this talk about CATew
being offered $1,000 to promote a teacher
and DR.. Clinton 500 for an appointment.
Looked at from its lowest point Of view
neither offer seems like business.
You see class teacher by promotion
could only receive an increase of from So
TO $40 month, and It would take a long
time to repay that $1,000. 1t seems to me
the phrase may have been uttered 10 Carew
In Jest. or as mere method of speaking
I would give a thousand dollars to get her
this place. etc. Then, again, who was
TO geIthe $1,000? Carew is in a minority
ana could not get any one an appointment.
Was it to be divided among the majority?
II this gentleman had gone to some member
having control OF the board and offered the
sum it would have seemed plausible.
LAS for DR.. Clinton's offer of 500 it
seems ridiculous. No such sums were of
fered. as far as l ever heard, and all my
information on this subject is, of course,
hearssy.
THE ordinary price mentioned was $500
or SSOo-never more.
Yes. this selling of places in the School
Department has been almost openly
There have always, in my experience,
been one or two men at least on each board
who would do this work OF had the reputa-
ton of it.
81 remember one member saying openly:
i can't see why you fellows became men,
bers of the School Board, you are so inde-
pendent; for poor man like me it is
different
why, we wers all approached with
money offers. Even John l. Sabin, the
f.af in ba world IN oh
an offer or even TO be thought of in such
connection, has told me that he had to have
woman shown out OF his Office for making
such an attempt
"Once l happened to see the examination
papers OF certain young lady, whom ! did
not know, and suggested that they had been
undermarked. The principal agreed with
me and corrected the mistake. Some time
after that / was asked to appoint this very
young lady, and, knowing her merits
did so. The next day after she was
elected her father came into my Of
fee bringing note OF thanks from the
young lady and then handed me long en-
VeiOpe, saying that was his own note of
thanks. [ stopped him and opened the en-
VelOpe, and saw at least 500 in green backs,
and handing it back, told him il was lucky
for him that his daughter was already
elected. He assured me that hH had waited
until she was elected, but wished to express
his gratitude in some substantial way. He
could not understand my rebuking him.
"The whole system is wrong where such
ldens can prevail.
"Once l appointed a janltress and she
came and intimated to me that could have
her first months salary. This amounted to
the magnificent sum Of $40 OF $50, and
said, as sarcastieally as l could, that the
amount was really too small, and # size had
said $1,000 l might have considered it.
Sure she replied, and / didn't know jan
itress' place was worth $1,000; but they all
has their prices
"For my own part" said Mr.. Woodward
''as soon as any applicant me ntinned money
that was my excuse to drop her. l said,
probably you have applied to others and
been refused and if l appoint you they will
say / have accepted your Offer l can't
dare not appoint you.'
"Many appoin ailments were doubtless
made in consequence OF a request of the
bosses, and were afterward credited to their
particular tools on the board. / know
was approached By that discredted boss,
Kelly, and on refusing him point blank, was
complimented for my bluntness, but threat
ened with being barreled at the next cleo
tion.
'Of course l have no doubt at all that
places have been bought and sold in the
School Department.
but 1t win be very difficult to prove,
because II Is TO the interest Of both buyer
and seller to keep their mouths closed. The
truth can only be got at in a roundabout
way.
II am very glad this matter is being VEN
tilated. At least Il will cause any one who
has anything tangible to bring up against
sellers of places to do so openly or else SUBJ
side altogether.
'In the meantime this board has no ap-
pointments in Its gift until next july but
Of course the early birds are after the worm
even as early as this.
hope this investigation will be thorough
and result In the election of honest men to
the School Board In future years"
Miss Agnes Manning, principal OF the
Webster Primary School and one of the
most experienced teachers in the depart-
ment, freely gave her views on the subject
believe that the most searching inyesti.
cation should be held" she said, land that
the persons guilty Of attempted bribery
should be summarily dealt with The dfrec-
tor who deliberately schemes to obtain
money in exchange for the gift of q position