The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-11-27

tiun as n second assistant.
These successive acts on the part OF the
High School committee in renominating
Mr.. sherman TO his old position in June,
1896. in presenting the resolution In re-
gard 20 his salary in June, 1877, anu IN
assigning him as above stated TO the sal
airy within their power to grant, should
demonstrate To any fair minded inuiviu-
ual that this committee so FAR from De.
ing adverse TO Mr.. Sherman. has ut oil
times been actuated toward him with
the kindIi 3st feelings.
Your committee do not feel that their
refusal TO retain Mr.. sherman In the
position OF first assistant this year shouiu
be assigned To any antagonism TO MIN. or
any other sinister motives on tho part OF
the committee.
In conclusion the report says: Your
committee. therefore. for the reasons
stated. while holding no unkindly feeling
toward Mr.. Sherman ana regretting that
what in their judgment is proper iegard
FOR the best interests OF the schools mas
required reorganization To be eiIectou
which worked To his financial disadvant-
age. cannot recommend that his salary
be increased above the maximum nxeu Tor
the position which he holds.
During the last month the High school
committee submitted the case In full 10
the city solicitor for advice as 10 the
Mr.. Sherman's salary. In reply he said
inspart: - :.
plainly the granting of gratuity. The
500 il not proposed to be paid in consld-
Grafton of work which the teacher In now
performing, or for the position which he
now holds, Dut in consideration OF his
reduction from tho rank, which he for
merly had, and for his service In which
his salary has already been paid him.
" Your communication does not state in
what form the resolution proposes that
the sum should be paid. III it is in the
direc. form of n vote to pay s4OO in con-
sideration of his reduction in rank. the
resolution would plainly be unlawful.
"If IL were proposed by the schoolicom-
mittee TO increase the salary or the oilicer
ia question, or any ouner officer to take
effect at any present or future date. do
not sec but such action is entirely within
the jurisdiction OF the school committee.
"If, however, 1t is proposed 70 pay &c
the officer in question, sn additional sum
of 500 above the regular salary OF officers
i'm the same rank, upon the ground OF his
reduction in rank from first TO second
assistant. ! do not hesitate tosadvise that
such additional pavmenb is in the way of
gratuity. unauthorized by law"
Mr.. s. o. Edwards promptly moved
the rejection OF the report. He said that
the comu ittce plainly had the right 10 in
crease salary of Sherman, and that the
High School committee was not fair
when it asked the city solicitor If they
could give $i00 in consideration of
teacher being reduced in rank. Plainly
they could not. 1t was not tha question.
Mr.. Barker asked If Mr.. Sherman was
doing any work that any teacher OF the
second grade might not be called upon to
do. superintendent Tarbell replied that
H.. mt
more they saw of certain criticisms OF
the school committee in the papers the
more pleased he was with the action OF
the committees.
The committee always worked for the
best interests Of the public schools of
Providence aud IL was highly unjust TO
try to bring any personal questions into
it
Mr.. Smith said that the High School
COMMITTEES had always been very friendly
to Mr.. sherman, that Mr.. .Joslin had been
criticised more than the rest OF them, but
as fact he had voted for Mr.. Sherman
every time vote had been taken. Every
man on the High School committees has
| n friendly feeling toward MIR. Sherman
| and were surprised that the first motion
| to give MIR. Sherman $500 failed To pass
| the full committee. lie said that the
| Ugh School committee had promised Mr..
| Sherman to try to get him $1,000 Tor this
| year.
air. Manchester said that the way he
understood il was that Mr.. Sherman had
| agreed To accept $500 and get more If he
| could, and that Mr.. Edwards was now
| trying to get that more for him.
Mr. Mccarthy thought there had been
| n misunderstanding on the first vote last
| spring.
MIR. BiuknelI favored paying the $500
| TO MIR. sherman, and was glad to know
| that no alleged considerations had In
| fluenced the High School committee.
On the question to reject the report
| there were II ayes and IL noes.
Ayes-Messrs. Bicknell, Carter. Gran
| ston, Devenish, Edwards. kayanauRb,
Mccarthy. Metcslf Rafterv. Smith,
| White, W. r.. and Mrs kendrick.
Noes Messrs. Barney, Gardiner, Gill
rain, Hill, .loslr, Manchester. Barker.
| Barton, Mason, Massie Pepper, RedtieId,
Reuckert, San Souci, Stark, Walker,
White ii. G.,
The report OF the HiRh School commit
tee was therefore adopted.
The resolution of the Text Book COM
mittse to adopt DR.. Blaisdell's series Of
Pbysiologies was adopted. % to 2.
The resolution of the committee to
change the ordar of the bylaws was
unanimously adopted.