The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-01

promised me that l should have certain
patronage Ior my constituents among the
teachers and particularly among the
mechanics, janitors and laborers employed
by the board. l saw that Mr.. Webb practi-
cally controlled the board and my dealings
were, therefore, principally with him. His
being chairman of tile supply Committee
made me know that upon HIM largely de-
pended the employment OF labor by the
board, and was anxious TO get ali the labor
ers employed from my ward that could. the
citizens OF my ward being largely laborlng
men.
Some time before the election of teachers
and janitors Webb told me that there
going TO be b!ackliS made up of principals,
and he was going 10 give 1t 10 AK Ell 10 go
around and see them and collect some money
from them. / warned him about TN $, that 1t
was wrong and dangerous, hut he said he knew
his own business and per listed in it. Whatever
said TO the principals about their positions
was said after Webb told me about the plan to
give the blacklist 10 AX,el,. He sugg Asted
that whenever anything was said bet ween me
and these principals whose names were on
! the blacklist should talk TO them in way
10 alarm them about their places and tell
them to see Axtell to get further Information
as to what TO do There was nothing definite
said bout what was 10 be done with the
money. l understood from WEBB that Axtell
was 10 pay the money collected directly to
| WEBB, and Webb said that he was going to
divide it around, but claimed that he would
have TO give the larger part 10 bartlett and
Dr: Mathus In order, as he said, 10 keep them
in line
webb also claimed that as he had had and
mechanics employed from my ward, that l
should be satisfied with this patronage and
should be willing to help collect this money 10
be used with the Others. During this time
Webb suggested to me that Cooper. the jani-
tor. ought TO be made TO pay months salary
TO keep his place and that AXtell should col
lect 1t. Webb said that should have a share of
the Janitor money or should have it made
up to me in patronage from my ward, through
his supply com mittee. After Axtell paid
CooperS 500 20 Webb Webb came to me and
said that he had got Cooper's money fro m Ak
tell but that he was in great need of money.
l didn't receive a cent OF that sum and have
never received any part of l don't know
any money having been received by any men,
Der of the board from any teacher or from any
janitor, except the Cooper money that WEBB
said he received.
This is the substance of my connection with
the matters that have been testified to in this
investigation. / have given my reasons for
getting into it, cannot say how repentAnt 1
am that snOutd ever have allowed self 10
become mixed up in matter of this kind.
In closing Director Adams placed mis-
resignation in the hands of the board.
Then Director Webb arose and in very
I'm presstve manner he pointed TO Adams
and said:
Gentlemen, there before you III that
| chair sits the monumental liar of the age
He has Just made what purports TO be
! confession. He has lied before he made it
and he lies now. l will prove it, No
charges have yet been made against me
! formally. l now ask that they be pre-
sented, and 1 will then proceed to nv de-
tense. l will show that l have been grossly
maligned and that ranS injustice
has been done me. l am ready to pro-
! ceed."
| An ad iournment was taken, but lot be-
| fore a majority of the board and the City
| Superintendent of Schools had signed a
document pledgIng all teachers or en-
| ployes who would testify that they
would not he disturbed in their posi-
| tons.
| School Director Bartlett is soon to be
| gridironed. President Nautilus denies tn at
! ne ever received dollar or that ANYBODY
ever talked to him of receiving money.