The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-14
STILL AFTER OGDEN.
School Board Withholds ex-See-
retary's Salary.
He ANSWERS THE CHARGES.
Accused OF Negiectfne HIS Work. He
Tells the story OF His Removal
Dispute About New Desks.
He ANSWERS THE CHARGES.

The board OF education yesterday ,ol-
lowed up .ts summary dismissal OF F. u.
Ogden, the former secretary. by deciding 10
Withhold his salary warrant and by repu-
dating some OF his acts which ne claims
he dsd by the order OF the former board.
The meeting was held IN President Church
MS Office, all the members being present
except George II. King, who has been a
consistent supporter Of Mr.. Ogden. The
bills for November, which were audited
by the committee on the night OF Deem
Der L. were passed upon and warrants
Issued fer their payment All were ap-
proved except one preferred by the Allen
Printing Company. for blanks and sup
plies. amounting II sl0250 and Il was held
back for Investigation.
The minutes OF the meeting OF Noverl-
Der IL were read and approved, with the
exception Of the one relating 10 the pur-
chase OF 100 school desks The entry OF
Secretary Ogden reads as follows. "Pur-
suant 10 motion, the secretary was in
structed 20 purchase 100 No. (. desks"
This was objected 10 by DR.. Churchill on
the ground that II was. incomplete and
should read thus: Pursuant 10 motion
the secretary was instructed TO purchase
100 No. desks. at $3.50 each, from the Sc
attic firm" referring to Chapman Bros. &
Co, from whom fifty desks had been pre-
yiously purchased.
Censures for Ogden.
Ex-Secretary Ogden then came IN for
general censure from those present on the
score Of neglect and inability. Secretary
Guernsey stated that no entries had been
made in the book since November -, and
that $50 warrants issued had not been en-
tered on the warrant register. He said he
had seen Mr. Ogden and asked him 10 COM
plete his work, but the latter had replied
that II would take at least two weeks, and
he had no time. Secretary Guernsey fur
Their informed the board that a part of the
clerks duties was 10 visit the schools, and
that may OF them had never seen Mr..
Ogden's face.
Mrs. Thomas moved that Mr.. Ogden be
requested to finish his work as a condition
OF his receiving a warrant for his full last
months salary. The motion was carried.
In regard TO the school desks IL was de-
cided to ignore the purchase made by Mr..
Ogden from c. F. Weber & Co. OF Port
land, and Mr.. Chapman. OF Chapman Bros.
a. Co, who was present, was instructed
TO fill the order given on November Is for
loo No desks. The board did not con-
slider itself legally responsible for the mis-
take made by its clerk. The desks already
purchased. which have arrived. are stored
in the basement Of the Central school
building. and are regarded by the board
as Mr.. Ogden's personal property.
The matter OF putting deodorizing ma
chimes in the schools was referred 10 the
committee on buildings and grounds for
investigation. Dr. Churchill. who brought
the matter up, said q would be saving of
almost half in the water bill.
Ex-sccretary Ogd ems Answer.
In speaking OF the action taken by the
board relative TO the Withholding Of his
salary as clerk until the completion of
back work. Mr. Ogden said 10 Post-Intel-
ligencer reporter yesterday: AT the reg
ular meeting Of the board on November
15 IL was decided to install a. A. Guernsey
as secretary, on January /, 1896. which
would give me forty-seven days 70 clean
up my books. At later meeting held In
DR.. Churchi,rs office. the application OF c.
A. Spriggs for a position as janitor was
brought up. His recommendations were
signed by the executive committee of the
A 7. A. and by the municipal advisory
board OF Seattle. ell under the official seal
OF the A. p. A. These recommendations
were given to DR.. Churchill and ordered
filed Tho next morning they appeared in
the Post-rnteligencer and certain MEM
bers OF the A. p. a. holding me responsible
for their publication. openly boosted on the
street that they would have my scalp at
the next meeting OF the board.
"A special meeting of the board was cali
ed on November g. Before the meeting
was called to order DR.. Churchill asked me-
II A. \. Guernsey had filed his bond. l
told him had received a letter from White
& Munday stating that the bond was in
their office and giving the names of the
sureties. On the strength OF this letter the
board approved the bond. which has never
been before It. Immediately after the
president announced that the bond had
been approved. Mr.. Chilberg discovered
that the board had put itself in an unfor-
tunate predicament since by reason OF
the approval of the bond Mr.. Guernsey
could now demand the position OF secretary
and IL his demands were not granted. he
-. - coll p t. ~, H. Il
rectors then stated that the board was too
poor TO pay the salaries of two secretaries,
and they would give Mr.. Guernsey the po-
s!tion on December l, instead of January /.
which would leave me only three days TO
finish Up my back work Before a vote
was taken, | stated TO the board the exact
condition of the office, but the members
did not seem 20 deem Ii Of any importance
at that time and were evidently reserving
Il until later I told them that from No
Der I3 10 November 6 ! was physically I'M
able 10 attend 10 the clerical part OF my
duties. owing to a severe Inflammation OF
my eyes The fact IS. the approval %
Guernsey's bond was simply a trick on their
part 20 facilitate my removal from Office,
for learned later that they had previous
" consulted a lawyer and were well aware
that should they approve the bond. they
would have 70 give him the position Of
secretary.
The Order for Desks.
I'm regard 10 the school desks. there was,
nothing said in the motion regarding where
the desks should be purchased nor the price.
and the record as Il appears In the book ia
exactly correct. There was considerable
desultory discussion beforehand in regard
20 Chapman, but Il was not brought out in
the motion. In spite OF this fact. II was
my intention TO place the order with the
home factory and 7 endeavored several
times TO communicate with Chapman Bros,
bu: could not find them. After six days
delay gave the order 20 the Portland firm.
as the desks were urgently needed"