The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-08
Charges Against Him Filed
With the School Board.
HEARING SET FOR FRIDAY NIGHT
City superintendent of schools De-
mnnds an Immediate Investiga-
ton of the Accusations Which
Stigmatixe Him as n Ehief-0f-
ncers Elected for the Ensuing
Year-Insurance Reduced $50.O0O.

Charges against the city superintendent
OF schools, Frank J. Barnard. were tiied
last night in regular meeting of the board
of school directors and a hearing was set
for Friday night at $50 o'clock. The oppo-
sition to Barnard as defined by several
votes on minor matters comes from Wells,
Chilberg and Lamb. while his supporters
are Van Houten and Brewer.
Superintendent Barnard exploded a
hombshell in the school board when he an
Hounced that the board was incriminated
by the charges preferred. as well as him.
self, because It would be impossible for him
TO overdraw his salary 800 without the
connivance of the auditing committee. the
president Of the board and the secretary.
through all Of whose hands his salary war
rant must pass. He ridicuied the idea of
the members of the board sitting over him
as judge and jury to convict him of steal
ing what they had previously declared to
be his property.
The Charges.
The charges We're preferred by DIR. III. F.
Titus. They had been drawn up by Prose-
cutting Attorney McElroy. whose signature
as notary was attached. There are in
and malfeasance. The first has to do with
the overdrawing of salary, already pub
lished In detail. Second that the superin-
tendent took an active part in the election
of school electors for the years 1898, 1894.
1895, 1896 and 1897. receiving from Prof.
Pagan and Prof. Curtis money for cam
paign purposes. Third that he attempted
to control voters through the teachers.
Fourth. that he had neglected his duty.
Fifth and sixth. that all such acts were in
violation of a rule adopted by the board
May 9, 1894, and we're unprofessional.
All members of the board were present.
and in attendance also were Prosecuting
Attorney McElroy. Superintendent Bar
nard and DIR. Titus After the charges had
been read. and McElroy had given as his
opinion that the first step was their rejee-
ton or acceptance, Barnard arose and said:
Demands n Hearing.
II demand that these charges be accepted
and that be granted a hearing. My honor
and integrity are attacked. l am branded
as a thief and an embezzler throughout
the country. My wife and children must
hide their faces in shame at being stig-
matized the wife of thief: the son Of
thief: the daughter of thief. / want to
show this board this community, this
state. that the charges in that document
are absolutely, utterly, entirely and COM
overshadows all the rest-that Is the one
Of embezzement. If I am an embezzler
then the members of the school board are
embezzlers. do not certify to my pay roll
What is the secretary 10 say. and the presi-
dent, and the auditing committee?"
Barnnrd's First Defeat.
Following upon his remarks Brewer
moved the acceptance of the charges, and
it was decided that the hearing be set for
Friday night. A contest here arose as 10
whether the board should authorize plant
III and respondent to cite witnesses. Bar
nard claimed that he wanted no witnesses
to dispose of the first charge. which was a
matter of record. and that any other wit
nesses he wanted would come for the ask
ing and need not be bulldozed into attend
ing. He asked what the position of the
board was TO be, and what the attorneys
part in the case Was it to be a prosecu-
ton or an investigation?
II want to know the truth" responded
Wells.
Van Houten said he hesitated to proceed
further until he learned the position of the
prosecuting attorney. He is attorney for
this board" he said. 'yet he seems to be
identified with the petitioner"
McElroy explained that he had merely
drawn up the papers in legal form on infor-
nation furnished by Titus. He declared
petitioner, or withdraw altogether. II was
immaterial. AS far as the power TO cite
witnesses was concerned. he agreed that
Barnard had a right to ask that such power
should not be given and recommended that
the case rest where II was until Friday
night
Titus insisted on being given the author
ity OF the board to cite witnesses as ne
feared that otherwise some of the teachers
he call mis-
through fear of Barnard.
A motion by Lamb that the secretary be
instructed to cite such witnesses as wero
asked by either party in the case was car
ried by vote OF 3 to 2. Van Houten and
Brewer dissenting.
1t Touched Chi1berg.
The board then adjourned to allow the
auditing committee time to audit the sal
airy roll OF teachers and janitors for No
vember. When Barnard's salary was
reached, Wells refused to audit 1t, declar-
Ing that his refusal was based on sug-
gestion of the prosecuting attorney. that
the warrant be withheld until the invest!-
CATION should be decided.
Chilberg was noticeably agitated over
the determination of the committee not
to pay Barnard's salary for November,
and 1t was learned that he had already adj
vanced Barnard the money.
Wells Elected President.
The election OF officers for the ensuing
year was the business which opened the
meeting OF the board Nominations for
president OF the board were called for. and
Van Houten named Brewer Lamb NOM
mated Wells and Brewer nominated Van
Houten When the vote was taken Brew
and Van Houten voted for each other.
Wells received the votes Of Chlberg and
Lamb. and when his own vote was called
for named himself tipping his supporters
a quiet wink at the same time. dead
lock for which Brewer and Van Houten
were working was thus averted.
Brewer was elected vice president. the
vote being practically unanimous. he
casting complimentary vote 20 Chiiberg.
The election Of a secretary was proceeded
with Van Houten nominated Charles y.
Evans. Chiiberg named A A. Guernsey,
present incumbent OF the office. Guernsey
was reelected by a vote Of 10 /.
Standing Committees.
The following committees were chosen:
Buildings and grounds-A. J. Wells. John
Lamb and r. c. Van Hou.en-
Purchasing-John r. Brewer. John Lamb
and 4. J. Wells
EducatIon-Joh Lamb. A. ChiIherg and
A. J. Wells.
Finance-A. Chilberg. John r. Brewer B.
&. Van Hogten.
Auditing-B G. Van Houten. A Chliberg
and John Lamb.
Insurance of Buildings.
The committee appointed az the last reg
ular meeting 10 readiuss the Insurance on
school buildings. reported last night as fol-
lows:
Central school cost Of building So 20
insurance $40 90. South SCHOOL cost S6i go,
a -