The Indianapolis journal., 1894-03-14
TO KEEP OUT NUNS
A Pittsburg Society Applies to
Court for an Injunction.
Asks an Order Restraining the River
side School Board from Employing
Catholic Teachers.

PlTTSBURG, March 13-W T. Kerr
State councillor OF the Junior Order of
American Mechanics, and five others, men,
bers of the order, appeared before Judge
McClung, in the County Court, to-day, and
made application for an injunction restrain
ing the Riverside Public School Board from
employing members Of religious orders,
wearing the garb of the order as teachers
in the school. The bill also asks that the
Sisters now engaged there be not permitted
to remain in the public schools as teach
ers or otherwise, while wearing the garb
or their order, or in any known religious
or sectarian capacity. 1t recites further
that the Riverside board is maintaining a
private sectarian parochial school as a de-
partment Of the public schools in derogation
of the rights of the children, parents, citi-
zens and taxpayers, and in violation of the
law; that they propose to apply to the
Central Board of Education to obtain legal
authorization to ratify the engagement and
presence Of the sisters as teachers. Judge
McClung took the papers and fixed Satur-
day, March "a for a hearing.
Joseph F. Nimmick, a member of the
Riverside School Board, when informed of
the action taken by the Mechanics, stated
that the board would fight the matter to the
end and would carry it TO the highest court.
In the meantime, the sisters would be re-
tained until the matter was settled. He
had hoped that the trouble would blow
over, the residents of the Thirty-fourth
ward were nearly all Catholics. HID would
not be surprised if they were eventually
beaten. Secretary of the Board Madden
said the Central Board of Education would
be compelled to give them the additional
teachers when il was shown that the in
creased attendance required it, and it was
no persons business who they employed.
The question would be fought to the bitter
end. Rev. Father Cosgrove said the courts
was the proper place to settle the matter,
and he was glad that the action had been
taken.
day. and when asked what preciptated pro-
ceedings in anticipation of the central
board meeting said: Nothing save the fact
that 1 desired to have the matter decided
as promptly possible. You know a GER
tain length of time is required to serve the
necessary notices.
Upon what act is your petition based?'
1.-The petition is based upon every act
eracted for the public school system. We
alege, as you are aware, a violation of the
specific law against sectarian interference
with the public school system" Mr.. Kerr
said further that as the matter had been
Could do was to await the results.
At the meeting of the Central Board of
Education tonight a o ?lIti2n was
pay any teacher appearing n the public
schools in the garb of any religious order.
A request was then made that the central
board appoint FIVE teachers Cor the River
side schools. and the matter was iefel red
10 a committee to report at the mex; meet
ing.
The resolution adopted provided that no
warrant should be drawn for the pay of any
teacher, he or she has worn in the school
any garb or dress distinctive of and in
dicating any religious order, any
tachments or adornments to person SYM
bolc of such religious order or symbolic Of
any of the teachings of any particular re-
ligion or creed, the wearing of such garb
is in violation of the Constitution OF Penn
sylvania, which prohibits the appropriation
of money for the support of any sectarian
school.