The San Francisco call., 1897-05-16
POLITICS N THE
PRESTON SCHOOL
3. Carl Bank, Superintend-
ent, Removed for Par
tisan Reasons.
E. s. O'Briep, a Democrat of
Merced, Appointed by the
Board of Trustees.
E. M. Preston, Founder of the School,
Says This Is the First Introduc.
tion of Politics in the School.

The board OF trustees of the Preston
School of Industry, at lone, held three
sessions yesterday at the Grand Hotel in
TINS City. In afternoon secret session
they removed E. Carl Bank, faithful su-
perintendent, for purely political reasons.
Mr.. Bank has been superintendent of the
school since it was opened, in 1893. In
his place was appointed E. s. O'Brien OF
Merced. Mr.. O'Brien is a Democrat and
wanted the place.
The trustees also removed Assistant Su-
perintendent Wood, and appointed in his
place e1-Chief of Police Timothy Lees of
Sacramento, a Democrat in need of an
office.
The removals were accomplished by the
votes of Trustees L. ]. Maddox of Mo-
desto and DR.. F. d. Tyrrell of Sacra-
mento. The latter was recently appointed
on the board to take the place of Fayette
Mace of lone. His appointment made the
board Democratic. Ex-senator E. M.
Preston, the founder of the institution,
voted against the displacement of the
capable and experienced officers, but the
majority was against him.
At the Grand Hotel last evening Mr..
Preston said: This is the first time
that politics has entered into the man
agement of the school. A few days ago q
canvass was made of the employees at the
school, and it was found that as many
Democrats as Republicans were employed.
Yes, l suppose that other removals or
designations will follow. I regard it as
unfortunate for the school and for the
State. do not know that the newly ap-
pointed superintendent has had any ex-
perlence in the manage ement of reforma-
tory institutions. l think that question
was not considered"
When asked if any charges Of incapa-
city or misconduct had been preferred
against E. Carl Bank, the removed super.
intendent, Mr.. Preston replied: mo
charges were preferred against him.
There was no discussion as to the merits
Of his successor. The vote was simply
taken on the proposition to remove Mr..
Bank and appoint Mr.. O'Brien."
From other sources it transpires that
an active fight against Superintendent
Bank was make by the secretary of the
board, M. r. Barnard.
The slate prepared yesterday morning
gave the SUPPLEMENTARY 10 e1-Chief
Lees OF Sacramento. and the place of as.
sistant to ex-Sheriff O'Neil of the same
city. Later in the day a change in the
programme was made, and O'Brien was
slated for the first place.
Governor Budd was in town during the
sessions OF Inc DOarQ, Dut ulQ not exercise
his right to attend the meeting.
The morning session of the trustees was
devoted to an inspection of plans submit
ted by, architects for the annex and two
cottages. Nine competitors appeared with
architectural plans. as follows: Cuthber;-
son e. Banks, San Francisco; Percy &
Hamilton, San Francisco; Cunningham
Brothers, Oakland; w. w. Oates. Stock
ton, and Havens & Toepke. J John NJ. Cur
tia and William Corlett of San Francisco
and Fitzpatrick & Goddard of Los Angeles.
At the evening session of the board
plans were discussed. After acceptance
of plans by the trustees, the Governor and
Secretary of State and Treasurer must
give their approval.