The San Francisco call., 1897-11-21
Alleged to Have Levied Assess
mentS Upon Certain
instructors.
COIN DEMANDED TO PAY
FOR INFLUENCE.
Six Persons File Affid avits That
They Paid Money to the
Pair.
Special Dispatch to THE CALL

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 20.-The develop
ments that have arisen in connection
with the brokerage business Superin-
tendent OF School Buildings c. H. Axfell
was apparently conducting. selling places
in the School Department or arranging
for those who already had places to re-
tain them, caused a special me sting OF the
Board of Education to-day. Charges in
specific shape were filed by School Dl-
rectors Charles Cassat Davis and n. 2.
Conrey. They alleged that School Di-
rector Joseph +. Adams, the Populist
membe from the Seventh Ward, and
Building superintendent Axtell had
levied, or caused to be levied and paid to
them, assessments upon employees of the
department for supposed influence in re-
tanning or obtaining for them tleir places.
President Mathews presided at the
board meeting, and when it was convened
that deadly calm pervaded the me eeting-
room which foretelis the coming storm.
The charges made by Directors Conrey
and Davis and the attidaviis of five
teachers and one janitor in support OF
them were read.
Director Davis then explained why he
had ed the charges. He said that he
was in no way Influenced by malice, and
that on the other hand it was with the
utmost regret that he felt it to be his duty
10 take The STEP He said that he had
known OF the matter for some time, and
that he ad given Director Adams every
opportunity to clear himself, but he had
failed TO do so.
Director Adams then made a fiery
speech, in which he accused his two ac-
cusers Of attempting to ruin him by max
ing THESE allegations. He denied that he
had been notified that they were 10 be
filed, and said that before the investIga-
tIon which he intended 10 demand closed
it would be shown that a conspiracy ex-
listed 10 ruin him and to indirectly im-
peach the political organization which
had selected him as its cand date for the
School Board. He said per sonal spite and
malice also had influenced people IN urg.
ing the charges against him.
Director Adams explained that the FIVE
teachers from whom he was accused of
indirectly attempting to obtain money
were all appointed from the Fourth Ward,
represented by Director Davis, one OF his
accusers. He said that every member of
the board knew that he had nothing 10 do
with their appointment, and that his
wishes as to them never would and never
had been considered. AS far as Building
Superint .ndent Ax,ell was concerned, Di-
rector Adams said hat he had never had
any conversation with him as to appoint
ments. When the SPEAKER resumed his
seat he was overcome by the excitement
and the strain.
A motion to appoint committee OF
three mem beTs OF the board 10 investigate
the charges was carried.
Directors Webb, Bartlett and Poor were
named. The committee was given power
10 consult the District Attorney on legal
points, to subpoena employees of the de-
partment as witnesses, and to have all
testimony taken by a stenographer and
transcribed. The investigation was be-
gun at once.
motion to suspend Building Superin-
! tendent AxteIl, pending investigation of
the charges against him, was voted down
Elder j. S. Pltman is mixed up in the
unples SAINT affair He is an ex-mem Der of
| The board from the Fourth War and jan
itor Cooper alleges that he pail $65 to Pit
man to retain his place. 1t is understood
t at PIlman ad having received the
money, and claims that be paid $50 of il
t. Axtell Pltman is a local minister who
has been more or less EN- broi ed in politics
of late.
The only witness examined tc- night was
Janltor f. K Cooper. He swore that he
paid exSchool Director Pittman S65 to
retain his position as janitor, and that he
understood that the money was to go to
Axtell and Adams.
He also swore that when Pittman was
school director he gave him SIS at one
time that he attended PIttmans church
on Sunday and each time placed 81 in the
contribution box. His sal Try, he said was
$65 a month and on i. he supported his
wle and Ihree chi 'dren. lie foun these
sums ne felt compelled to pay out a h ,avy
tax on him. but he understood that he
was doing it TO hold his job.