The San Francisco call., 1897-02-01
HYDE REPLIES
TO THE AUDITOR
The x-Director Supports
His Position Regarding
School Finances.
He Discusses Nepotism as an
Ofense Common in the
Last Board.
Mission High School-A Claim That
Contractors Are Taking Des.
perate Chances.


In re finances OF the School Department.:
did not know until l read the Auditors
statement that was engaged in any personal
controversy with him. In my recent inter-
view with CALL reporter stated my views
on cerlsln legal points and the Auditor makes
per'onal attack on me in his reply am
quite willing to meet it:
He states truly that he refused to audit sew
eral bills contracted by the Board of Educs-
tlon OF which l was president, which 1 had
approved as such and tits q fact that his &c
tlon was to my 'displeasure and vexation" so
Iar as ellQWed myself TO be displeased or
Vexed by the combinations that were persist
entity obStructing the efforts OF the board TO
reform school affairs in this City. The mat
terS 10 which he refers were TO the best OF my
recollection, as follows:
There are over seventy five schools in this
City, in charge OF as many different princi-
pals, among wnom, as a whole, there was no
uniformity OF standard nor unity of action.
Each principal had his or her own interpreta-
tlon OF the course of study, and, in late years,
no EFFORT had been made to bring the depart
ment up TO modern standard, or TO keep pace
with other cities in improved educa tional
facilities. The Board of Education, with
view TO getting the latest and .Dsst that there
was IN such matters employed Professor
Yoder, who had high commentators from
Eastern normal schools and educators, as q
scholar, lecturer and teacher, and he was ap-
pointed Teacher OF Methods" the idea being
that he could interpret many new ideas to
our principals and teachers, and assist in ele-
waiting the whole educational tone OF the de-
partment.
Then there was the case of Miss Ball, who
was employed as a teacher of drawing She
had had extended experience as supervisor in
Eastern cities and came very. highly recon-
mended. At one time the department had
wasted good deal OF money in the employ
ment OF drawing teachers, who went from
shool 70 school as class teachers. Very little
good was comphshed because of the limited
amount OF time that could be given to any
one pupil or class. The board thought tn at
the work could be done by the regular teach
ers, but, as it was new to most of them, it was
proposed that one supervising teacher be en-
ployed, who would direct and systematize the
work, and that ii would be a good deal
cheaper to Instructive teachers, and through
Them the children, than to proceed under the
old system.
The employment of these two persons ex-
cited the opposition OF certain class of teach
ers who persistenly opposed every effort of the
board to bring the depar tment to any state of
discipline, and who had had their own way
so long without supervision that it was ex-
tremely irKsome for them TO submit to au-
thority. The majority OF the School Directors
paid no attention to these complaints, but
when the warrants of Mr.. Yoder and Miss Bail
came before the Auditor the ma contents had
better success and he refused to sign them.
He was not sustained therein either oy the
law or the decision of the courts. He pro-
fsssed 10 find authority for his action in de-
cision of the Supreme Court, in the case OF
Barry VS.. Kennedy, wherein the court decided
that the School Directors were not authorized
10 employ inspectors, their authority being
limited 10 the employment of teachers but it
wasi perfectly evident to any un biased person
that the Barry case was not authority, because
Mr.. Yoder and Miss Ball were not Inspectors
nor superintendents, but were engaged daily
in teaching.
Neither one of them, however. could afford
to go into the courts TO maintain their rights,
for it meant considerable expense and long
delay. So Mr.. Yoder was elected principal Of
the Normal School and Miss Ball a teacher OF
drawing therein, and the unprogressive selfish
and vicious element In the department
triumphed.
Astrict and literal construction of the deci-
sion IN the Barry case Will stop the pay of
every principal in the department. in schools
OF eight classes and upward, none of whom
teach classes.
Another warrant that the Auditor refused
to approve was that OF Mr.. Beanston for q
compensation OF $50 month clerk of the
standing committees of the board. If there
was ever a righteous and worthy appropris-
tion OF money il was in this case. The Auditor
was sustained in his action by rigid and
very technical construction of act of the
Legislature, but were he to construe the
various provisions of the consolidation act
and other laws governing the administration
OF municipal affairs in this City as closely he
did in the case OF 'Beanston hundreds of en-
ployes could not receive their pay.
When 1t first decided to pay Mr. Bean
ston this $50 month the mater was sub.
mitted to Auditor Smiley, who decided in
favor thereof; and, later, when Mr.. Broderick
followed Mr.. Smiley as Auditor, he. too will
lingly signed Mr.. Beanstons demand, until
Mayor Ellert took umbrage at some remarks
that had made concerning him and called
into question thevalidity of the boards action
in paying this compensation to Mr.. Beanston,
after which the Auditor refused to audit the
Beanston warrants.
do not now remember any other warrants
that he refused 10 audit for claims approved
by me as president of the Board OF Education;
but il he did l will say tn at they were equally
meritorious, and the Auditors objections
equally frivolous. 1t he had been as particu-
lar in his dealings with the last Board of Edu-
cation there would have been some check on
their prodigal extravaganza.
AS TO THE PRESENT BOARD.
Mr. Waller says that the construction of the
Mission High School has already been COM
menced and that there is therefore a neces-
sity for the appointment of a supervising in
spector. was not advised that the work had
been begun, and If it has then lam willing to
concede that some one should be appointed to
supervise it: did not know that / was talk
ing for publication when I discussed that
matter with THE CALL reporter.
NEPoTIsM IN THE LAST BOARD.
Think that did ex-Director McEirov an in
justice in singing him out as an. example of
nepotism in the last board. The fact is that he
was only one OF many offenders in that line.
One Director had two daughters appointed as
teachers, another had his sister appointed an
other had his son appointed, another had his
nephew appointed, another mad his sister-in-
laws salary raised from $50 to SI25 a month
and appointed her TO two other positions
drawing salaries, which gave her a raise from
$3.50 TO $500 year-that is to say, she is re-
ceiving pay for three different positions. do
not mean TO say that there was corruption in
such appolntme 1t is possible that these
appo1ntees were all worthy and capable peo-
pie. know nothing against them personally
and am making no charges. do not, how
ever, approve of the system. The last Nom
Partisan convention exacted pledges from al
nominees for the position OF School Director
that they would not appoint any relatives nor
vote Tor the relatives of any other School Dr.
rector. But the Non-Partisan party will have
very little to say in this present board.
THE AUDITOR.
bovo ba
am not aDle to determine just what he means
to say about the segregation of funds for school
purposes He does not, in terms, claim that
he. or the Board OF Supervisors or the Board
OF Education has that power. He says: sThey
(meaning the Board of Supervisory have
ordered and published an allowance of
$l,O0O, 600 Tor school purposes and 5000 OOO
Tor the Mission High School. That is law
enough for an honest Board of Education and
an Audi tor that VIII act under lis spiritn -
education. Does the Auditor mean TO saw
that he or the Board of Supervisors can nre-
vent the Board OF Education from spending
the entire appropriation In any manner that
u pieases, which is not contrary to the lawP
The TACT Is, as l have already stated, that the
the Board OF Education now money shall ba
spent. III is true that, II the Board of Super
Vlsors requested the Board of Education tn
spend IL In a certain manner, an "honest
BOARD Oh Education and an Auditor that will
act under Its spirit may use the money for
lne speclhc purpose Tor which 1t was appro-
priated; but, If the Board OF Education is nor
honest within the meaning of the word as
used Dy the Auditor, then the Auditor is holm
less; ana, IL the Board of Education is