The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-02
CITY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS J. A FosHAY
OF Los ANGELES.

Ing misappropriations OF school funds,
wastetul extravaganza and conduct which
savors michtIy#oi being criminal, and
which is certainly extraordinary. -:
!: Director A. g. Bartlett who by the con-
iession OF Director Adams has been.
brought into the case as.one OF the prin-
cipal reel pients of the none V. to be raised
from The sments#Ieyied on princi-
pals is in the musical Instrument bust
ness. His establishments and that" OF
: Director Webb, who i s. in The stationery
line, arein=the same building An attempt
: will be made 10: show that lady teachers
were given touAderstand that.if they
wanted to hold their positions it would be
a good idea for them=to purchase piano
: of Director Baruett, it is asserted that
many otthcm did So buying on the in
stallment plan. Those VITO wanted posi-
tons first purchased an instrument and
then got an appointment. The board it,
self purchased twenty-nine pianos at $265
each. Director Bartlett and Director
" Webb, tits claimed, made a very neat
deal on this purchase. 1t will be shown
that the instruments purchased are Of an
inferior quality and not worth within 500
of the price paid for them. .:.. =. :.
:. Then there is deal made by the supply.
com mittee for Kindergarten desks which
will be probed TO the bottom for it Is al
+ legged that while the contract for these
desks was let at 81 75.a desk they were, as
a matter of fact, made for 81 % desk,
and This was all that was paid for them.
! Director WEBB was chairman. OF the sup
ply com mittee. -. :.//s5.<:5 s.. ~
:: Another expenditure that Will be in
quired into is a. $500 appropriation made
out of the public school fund TO send Di-
rector Webb to the National Educational
Association meeting at Milwaukee. Wis,
last June. This money: the board appro-
priated without warrant Of law. 80:
A mum Der of additional witnesses cam e
forward to-day and offered TO testify. they
are m ployes OF the department and as the
board guarantees them exemption they
feel free 10 tell what they know. Some
= very queer transactions are going to be
brought to the surface. .s'<..:.'
Director Webb, who has been accused
: in the confession of Axiell and Adams, is
. a young man and of some censidera Die
fortune. He has been a resident OF Los
Angeles for thirteen years and is promi-.
nent Spring-sireet business man.. Last
year, for the first time, he look a m ore or
less prominent part in politics. His cam
$ didacy Tor School Director for The Ninth
Ward was Endorsed by the League for
: Better City Government, and he was
elected by an overwhelming majority, =:
Every one predicted great things for
School Director-elect Webb. He was
young and bright and energetic, and they
all said that he would come 10 the front.
And he has come TO the front, but in a
most unfortunate way.
~ Webb started our. though, TO realize the
expectations of his friends. He organized
the School Board. He programmed his
action from the day it was organized up
. 10 the time the first exposure OF the black
mail he is charged With having levied on
the teachers was made.
Webb named every employe Of the de-
partment he desired 10 name. He had
perfected combination of five members,
with himself making six in ALL The tn zee
members not in that combination were
Directors Brady, Conrov and Davis. Webb
ruled with the power of an autocrat. He
had the entire department under his
thumb. and old stagers in the business of