The morning call., 1894-10-04
President of the Board of Edu-
cation Under Fire.
HER ATTORNEY PLEADS FOR HER
But Seeing the Case Going Against
Him he Becomes Caustic and
Says Things.

| or Education last night, and was the occa-
sion OF rather interesting proceeding.
| The charge is general characterization, ~
and is preferred by the president of the
board himself. Mr. Hyde.
| Horace W. Philbrick. attorney for Miss
Fairchild. was present to deny the right of
the committee to dismiss his client, and
sought to prove this by no other witness
than the prosecutor. President Hyde, and
at the same time to prove malice on the
part of the president Mr.. Hyde was un-
der examination. direct and cross, for
nearly two hours, Mr.. Ames, chairman
of the committee. conducting the cross
examin alton.
Harriet NJ. Fairchild is the young lady
VINO brought suit against the Board of Ed
ucation TO compel that body to give her
the right to return TO the position of priu-
clpal teacher of the Potrero school, she
having been the principal for long
period. but, returning from leave of alb
Sence. found her place taken. She won
the suit, and has regularly been filing her
bill for salary. The board has appealed to
the Supreme Court and the appeal is pend
ing.
Last August she took trip to Boston,
and President HYDE heard OF it and
brought charges against her before the
Committee on Rules to have her dismissed
for nsubordination-the purpose being TO
cut all the ''strings" that she has on the
board. thus getting rid of her finally,
whatever be the action of the court.
Her counsel desired to protest against
this action, and it was this that caused the
enter ainment last night-for, though the
audience was extremely select, it was an
entertainment.
MIR. Hyde was required to explain In de-
tail the acts of insu bordination. which he
did by saying that Miss Fairchild was
rated as regular teacher on the lists and
not substitute; but while regular teacher
she was yet without school and was ex-
peeled TO report daily for duty-sny duty
that might be assigned to ber-like any
substitute. She had been assigned to
school Gin lower grade than she had oc-
cupied) which she took no notice of, size
had not reported for duty and had left ~.
city without leave.
Mr.. Philbrick by a line of questions
endeavored to show that as principal
teacher of the Potrero school, as the court
had said she was. she could not accept
ouy otbCl duu tudb as ouc was
prevented from serving as a teacher her
leaving town for period could not be in
subordination. Re then inquired as to
Mr. Hyde's motive for bringing the
charges against her, and this developed
remonstrance from Mr.. Ames. who thought
the committee had nothing to do with the
motives of the president.
But Mr.. Hyde said be did not wish any
suspicion of his motives to go unanswered
and made long statement to the effect
that he had no personal prejudice against
Miss Fairchild, but was acting for the
good of the department. Tie teacher had
broken the rules and he brought the
charges
Mr.. Philbrick wanted to know how far
the supervision of the board went with
regard to the life of teachers, and inquired
if the board would undertake to say that
teacher could not live within certain
streets. eff we thought it was for the
good of the department we have the right
to require any teacher to move" said Mr..
Hyde.
Mr.. Ames then took the witness" and
went over the ground to show that other
teachers had been treated as Miss Fair
child has and accepted it as regular and
without complaint
Mr.. Philbrick then addressed the COM
mittee at some length. He said that the
equities Of the situation-Mss Fairchild
having suit pending-required that the
status quo be maintained; that no
trckery be INDUCED in; that the
teacher was ready to perform
her duties when the board permitted; that
there was such thing as contempt of
court and of respect for the court and
| finally called upon them as men and
gentlemen to take no mean advantage of
his client. In quiet little peroration he
spoke of the dignity and courtesy with
which all the proceedings had been con-
Quoted before the court all in keeping with
that air which should and did surround
the Department of Education of this great
city and county for every attache Of which
he had most profound respect.
Then Mr.. Hyde took the floor, saying he
voted in good faith. without prejudice
against the teacher and according to his
view Of what was his duty in the premises
The board thought it was right in denying
Miss Fairchild's original claim. Miss Fair
child thought they were wrong, and she
was relying upon the judgment of the Su.
preme Court to sustain her. If the court
should decide that she should take hel
place where the board had put her, Their
in that case it would be well that she
should have no strings on the board
whatever" She was taking her chances
when she went 10 court. She had. in his
opinion, been guilty of INSTRUMENTATION
and the board could dismiss her for il.
Then Mr.. PhiIbrick arose, his eyes
flashing, and his whole respectful" de-
meanor changed.
'TheD, gen tlemen," he said. "seeing that
Mr.. Hyde insists upon pushing these
charges, wish to warn you of the result,
of your action should you do so unworthy
thing as 10 second them. Common man.
hood demands that this lady's case should
remain in statu QUO until the court has de-
cded finally for or against her.
Your acts will speak for you louder
than words. and if you should dismiss her
under these circumstances it will cause
tongues to be heard both loud and long.
Mr.. Hyde stands here and processes a
lack of prejudice, an absence of motive,
and at the same time presses for dis
missal. What would / think of man
who. processing deep friendship for NE,
struck me In the face, and when l went
into court abou; It argued hat he was my
best friend and struck me again? Gen.
4 w hot