St. Paul daily globe., 1893-06-02
School Inspectors Adopt a
Course That Leaves the
Public Out.
Hearing Of Evidence in the
High School Row Behind
Closed Doors.
Principal Carman Evinees De-
cided Dissatisfaction on
Being Barred.
Supt. Gilbert Insists He Has
No Bad MotiveS--Promi-
nent Witnesses.

That is question that several inter-
ested people are just now trying to ul-
ravel The complication gathers as IL
progresses, as the rolling SNOWFALL IN
creases in size as the enthusiastic Schoo
boy revolyes the sphere along. But 10
give tine public graphic rehearsal OF
the phases as they develope is TASK IN
volving vast amount of conjecture.
The board of school inspectors is in the
very throes Of an investigation OF the
moral and other conditions of the high
school: also its conduct and manage
ment, and it appears to be the especlal
aim of the board to maintain the most
profound secrecy thereupon. In line
with this policy, the meeting held at the
high school building yesterday AFTER
noon was of the star chamber species.
The doors were closed, and the report
ers were left to guess what was done.
A statement of the case was pretty
fully given in these columns FEW DAYS
since. Supt. Gilbert, of the public
schools. presented charges to the board
against Principal Carman, and recon-.
mended for the health of the school
that a new principal be Installed.
Among other things the superintendent
recommended that better discipline be
maintained and that there be a reclasSl-
ficaEion as well as general reorganiza-
ton of the school, and also that the
domination of the teachers be more pro-
nounced.
At Yesterdays session, in star-cham-
Der style, the board took up the thread
of the sensation right where IT was
dropped at the last previous meeting OF
the board. The plan was to EXCLUDE
the accused, Prof. Carman, from the de-
liberations, and to hear the testimony
that the teachers had to give touching
upon the charges that the superintend-
ent had furnished the board to act upon.
Carman DIspIeased.
Mr.. Carman was not 10th to express
his disappointment at this mode or
procedure. He claims that it places
him entirely in the dark. While he is
prepared in a way to defend his regime
as principal, and to undertake to prove
that the moral atmosphere that sur
rounds the precincts of his domain is
above ordinary criticism. he feels that
heshould be at least allowed to listen
to the testimony that may be given,
which may III certain contingencies De
construed to be in sense damaging to
his interests. He accentuateS the point
made at the meeting when the initial
step was taken, and which has set the
educational functionarIes at SKIES and
sevens, that the inception OF the crusade
against his administration had It's origin
in the tempting offer that was submitted
to him two years ago to accept the pres
idency of the SWarthmore college, IN
Pennsylvania, at a compensation con-
SiderabIy i'll excess of the amount that
the school board here could afford to
pay.
At the instance of Albert Scheffer,
who was the president of the school
board when this interesting episode &C.
Cured, and of B. I. Wright, then the
chairman of the committee on schools
of the board, Prof. Carman's salary was
increased from $1,000 to $4,000, and to
fortify his cause against any possible
inuenio, he had the gentlemen men
toned called to testify before the ses-
sion of yesterday as to these occur
renceS.
Mr.. Scheffer gave evidence that the
increase in the salary was voluntarily
proffered by the board without the inter-
position of Mr.. Carman. All this was
brought out to dISprove the implied
charge, which Mr.. Carman feels had
been made, that he used fictitious
offer to whip the board into giving an
unreasonable salary.
Mr.. Wright corroborated all this, and
then the teachers of the school were
called III. Some half a dozen were In
terrogated, and the board adjourned
until this evening.
Nothin' at All to Say.
To the reporters the members of the
board proffered the information that
there was no Information to be made
public. They stated that the board had
been in the committee of the whole, and
the reporters are still wondering how
the committee of the whole should have
been such a secret affair and how teSti-
mony should be taken in that way. But it
does no good to wonder. The board mem
Ders maintain silence as to the things
that were developed, and the public
may still wonder concerning the moral
atmosphere that pervades the precincts
of the high school.
Daring the progress of the star cham
Der arrangement, Supt. Gilbert was
given an opportunity to testify, but the
purport of his evidence is as much of a
| problem as is good deal of the residue.
L
| ticence when questioned as to the tenor
| of their evidence. Still, the information
seems to be pretty reliable that there
was really nothing especially damaging
| developed to the interests of Principal
| Carman. 1t is stated that he is held in
| high esteem by the majority of teachers
| in the school, and no anlmuS will lead
such to do him particular harm.
| Supt. Gilbert emphasizes the position
| that he has assumed from the very first,
| that he is not actuated by any personal
or ulterior motives. He is warm; per-
| SonaI friend Of the principal, and had
| no desire to precipitate the drastic in
| QUESTION that has developed. A mem
Der of the board had demanded report
upon the condition of the high school
| and certain recommendations for the
future, and he insists that he has simply
complied with this demand, as it was
incumbent upon him to do. He says
that he trusts that the trouble may be
amicably and entirely satisfactorily set
tied.
The session this evening of the board
will in all probability also be a star
chamber affair. 1t is the purpose of the
board to sit as grand jury, if the COM
pariSon can be employed in this connec-
ton. When it is all over the members
of the board assure the reporters that
the Secretary will supply the report that
will be given publicity.
How's This?
Straw Hats. Low Prices. Hat de-