The herald., 1894-06-01
THE SCHOOL BOARD ROASTED.
A Red-Hot Report Made by the
Grand Jury.
The Combination Held Up to Public
Scorn as Corrupt.
Grand Juror Stein Member of the
Beard-The City Bank Cause.-The
City Attorney Compliment
cd and Criticised.

Yesterday afternoon the grand jury
presented another partial report to
Judge Smith, in which the city board of
education is handled without gloves. 1t
is needless to say that School Director
Stein, who is also member of the
grand jury, did not join in the report.
The report explains why the grand jury
has not returned indictments against
the City bank officials, and first compli-
ments City Attorney Mcfarland. and
then criticizes his attitude against GER
tain corporations. Foreman Day init
mated that the grand jury will make its
final report today or tomorrow. The
report is as follows:
We have given the affairs OF the de-
funct City bank thorough investiga-
ton. In our opinion, no conviction
would follow the prosecution of any of
its officers.
II the directors had been required to
make frequent examinations Of the con-
dition of the bank. the disaster of last
summer might have been avoided.
We think there should be state law
i'm posing this duty upon bank directors
and giving more powers TO the state
bank commissioners.
THE CITY ATTORNEY.
The city attorneys report shows that
out of 81 litigated cases 66 were decided
in favor of the city. This is remarka-
BILE showing, considering the fact that in
suits whore large corporations are OPP
posed by individuals the latter usually
aA tho frll hanaAt ~ do,
The report shows that the present in.
cumbent has prosecuted in the police
court 1868 cases for violation of city or
dinances; that $40, 7SI has been collected
in the way OF fines, and the number of
days OF imprisonment was 28,033. He
has prepared 1900 ordinances OF all kinds,
and also the proceedings relative 10 the
issuance OF $374,000 of internal sewer
bonds, 100000 OF school bonds and
1896, 900 Of outiall sewer bonds, and all
contracts for the construction of these
extensive works, and has rendered the
legal advice necessary in settlement.
The city attorney lie an officer in hose
hands rest the framing and enforcement
of contracts between individuals and
corporations and the city. Besides that,
he has an important influence in draw
ing up all franchises. IL was in evidence
before us that in some instances both
he and his first deputy have accepted
business and favors from persons and
corporations dealing with the city.
While no harm may have resulted from
this practice, it subjects the Office to
suspicion and should be discontinued.
CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
We have met with unusual difficulty
in our examination of the business Of
the board of education of Los Angeles.
Many witnesses we expected to call
sbsented themselves for considerable
periods. Some Of these persons &C
Qnainted with the methods of the pres
ent board, like r. W. Abbott, a teachers
agent, have departed without leaving
their address, and have not returned.
Many of the witnesses called were re-
luctant or evasive, and we cannot pre-
sent the following summary of testimony
without stating it to be our opinion that
this is but superficial showing OF the
want of principle characterzing the pro-
ceedings of the city board OF education.
INSURANCE.
We regard the amounts of insurance
on many Of the school buildings as un-
necessarily high. A valuation OF the
buildings should be made and the insur-
ance adjusted accordingly. These opin
ions are endorsed by large number of
the leading insurance men OF the city
who have appeared before US.
We have conclusive evidence that
political favors are bought with insur-
ance premiums. and that a strong ma
jority of the board kept these powers to
themselves. About these and almost
all other business transactions of this
majority there is an atmosphere OF Of.
forts to get pickings out of their offices
that shames the whole community.
SUPPLIES.
Tie purchase, receiving and use of
supplies have been without sufficient
check or system. Paper bought by a
weight standard has not been weighed
until agents of this jury weighed such
few reams as could be found. All OF
these were found 20 per cent short in
weight. Sometimes a janitor and some
times teacher receipts for goods for the
schools. Rarely do they have samples
to guide them or statement from the
board to show what quantity or quality
they are to receive.
The law limiting the amount OF pur-
chases OF supplies without advertise
ment and bids to $500 has been fire.
quently and tlagrantly violated.
There is testimony before us that COM
missions on supplies have been solicited
by members of the school board, and
sometimes agreed to and paid by mer-
chants.
The curtain purchase, touching which
so much was said in the public print,
first attempted through book sellers and
afterwards consummated through fur
niture dealer, was frustrated in its ex.
tortionate features by the vigilance of
the city auditor.
Such other peculiar purchase as the
buying of sapolio of plumber. at rate
of about rs per cent higher than the or
binary grocer's price. was brought to
our attention.
In the transactions OF the school board
with Gardner & Oliver we found that
in many cases the prices charged the
schools were in excess of the ordinary
retail rates. During the period when
such bills were being approved by the
school board, this firm was under con-
tract to furnish stationery supplies to
other departments of the city govern
ment at very moderate figures, and did
so furnish them. The school board adj
vertised for one lot of stationery, which
Il -