The herald., 1894-06-12
THE SOLID SEVEN ONCE MORE.
They Ignore the Minority in
the School Board.
A School Superintendent Elected
Under Gag Law.
The Intelligent Educational Foundry,
After Caucus and In the Face of
Powerful Petition, Get in
Their Deadly Work.

Inc D0Rrd OF oducatiOn, or rhtnor Lne
solid seven, treated Mrs. Hughes and
DIR. Wills to a surprise last night by
electing a superintendent without CIV
ing them chance to say more than 10
words. Superintendent Brown, while
admittedly good superintendent, is in
bad company. The session opened by
the designations OF Ida M. Meyer and
Annie @. Murphy being accepted. The
application OF Mary Rogers for a posi-
ton as janitress was referred to the JAM
itors' committee.
Mrs. Hughes presented petition from
300 taxpayers, as follows:
We, the undersigned, resident prop
erty owners OF Los Angeles, beg to call
your attention to the following facts:
Frst-That the state law provides that
superintendent of schools, when elect
ed by the city board of education, shall
be elected for term of four years.
Second The manifest injustice OF
placing the superintendent OF schools,
who is an employees OF the
board, in position whore he or she is
independent Of the board as to his or her
term of office, is such that the state law
IL
Third--The present school board
wisely RETAINED from electing asuperin-
tendent under this law, but secured the
services OF superintendent Tor shorter
time by a special contract.
Fourth-The welfare OF the public
schools will in our judgment be much
impaired by the election of superin-
tendent under this law.
Fifth-The fact that the schools have
been managed for the poet year without
such an election demonstrates that it is
not necessary.
Sixth-The fact that a superintendent
elected at the present time would serve
through the term OF the present board
OF education and through the entire term
OF the next board. and partly through
the next succeeding board, lie sufficient
to show the undesirability of such an
election. We therefore respectfully ask
your honorable board to refrain from
electng a superintendent of schools at
this time for q term of four years.
The petition was received and fled.
Mr.. Wills offered q resolution to the
effect that it be deemed mad visable to
elect a superin tendent for four years, and
that contract for less time, similar to
that of last year, be made with a suit
able person.
Mr.. Stein-I move that the resolution
be laid on the table.
DIR. Wills-I would like to speak op
the motion.
President Pepper-A motion to lay ON
the table is not debatsble.
Mrs. Hughes Common courtesy
would demand that DR.. Wills be heard
on mis- motion.
A vote was taken on Mr.. STEMS mo-
ton and il was carried. President Pep
per then announced that the date had
arrived for the election of a superin-
tepdent and assistant superintendent O
schools, and Mr.. Trask moved that the
board proceed to an election.
Mrs. Hughes-This is an important
question, and six members OF this beard
have held q caucus and cooked up this
matter, and have not been consulted.
DR.. Wills-How long do you intend to
elect Mr.. Brown for? This is star cham
Der business. demand to know how
long he is to hold office. Mr.. Chairman.
President Pepper-The law prescribes
the term OF office.
DR.. Wills-I am informed by attor-
neys that we cannot elect superintend-
present time, as the former period of
four years of Superintendent Friesner
has not expired.
Mrs. Hughes--If 1 was going to vote
for a superintendent would be cour-
sgeous enough to say for how long he
was to be elected.
A vote was taken, aad Superintendent
Brown received seven votes and DIR.
Wills voted no, and Mre. Hughes de-
clined to vote. Mr.. Forshay was unani-
mously reelected. Charles r. Axtell
and Ct. o. Sator were nominated for SUI
perintendent OF buildings. and Axtell
received seven votes and Sator two
votes. Mr.. Charlton was reelected as
sistant superintendent of buildings BY
seven votes.
Superintendent Brown reported the
following summary OF school statistics
for the month ending June 9th, which
was received and fled:
Total number of days present, 1853. 700 1;
total number OF days absent, 1907 !;
number OF boys enrolled. 4765; number
OF girls enrolled, 5047; total number en-
rolled. 9Sl2; average daily attendance,
8642; per cent OF attendance. a. num-
Der of new pupils, boys, 32 number of
new pupils, girls, 81; total number of
new pupils enrolled, 80.
The superintendent reported that
owing to the spread of diphtheria in the
neigh borhood of the Hays-street school,
he had deemed 1t advisable, after consult
ing with the health officer. to close that
school building for the time being.
Mr.. Trask moved that the president of
the board be authorized to sign q con.
tract for sewer at Hays street, which
is now being constructed on that thor
oughfare by private contract. Adopted.
Adjourned.