The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-01-15
POSITION OF
PROF. BOGART.
His Suspension Made Upon His Own
Suggestion.
He IS STILL SUPERINTENDENT
He viii Not visit the Schools, or Draw
Salary Pending the Proceedings on
Appeal-The Legal Status Of
the Matter-Prof. Cooper
Acting.

OF all the member OF the Board there were
six newspaper reporters in attendance, repre-
senting all the town publications. as well as
newspapers of Mahanoy City and Pottsville.
This unusual array of photographers was due
to the expectation Of interesting and lively
proceedings bearing upon the case of Super
intendent Bogart, but in this respect the
meeting was to a great extent Disappointing.
Under the order Of business of "%communi-
c%ations' Secretary Hanna held up three or
four letters which he said contained applica-
lions for the position Of superintendent
of the schools, should there be q vacancy.
President Price told the secretary to lay
them aside, as it was unnecessary to read
them at this time.
Among the communications read was the
following from Superintendent Bogart;
SHENANDOAH, Jan. II, 1897.
Board of School Directors,
GENTLEMEN being convinced, both by
what l heard direct, and by the opinions of
Others In a position to judge impartially. that
my trial at Pittsburg was unjust and unfair
also illegal in several respects, l have asked
for q new trial also because Of a concurrent
opinion of many disinterested members of
the legal profession and citizens of Pittsburg.
strangers to me, agreeing on the un~fairness Of
the trial, l feel justified in asking a continued
suspension of Judgment on the part of ell
fair-minded people until, at least, the close of
a new trial.
81 will further state that it is proper to
discontinue my salary during the interval
between Thursday, January 18th, 1897, from
the time Of the verdict, and the date of
granting the new trial.
Respectfully submitted,
&C. d. BOGART."
When the proper order of business arrived
President Price exclaimed, We'll, gentle
men, what do you propose doing with the
communication of Mr.. Bogart2"
A silence followed for almost four minutes.
Some of the directors whispered to each
other, others seemed to fall into profound
thought and others looked askance towards
their colleagues, but none ventured a step
during that time. Meanwhile President
Price awaited patiently with gavel in hand.
Finally Director Ogden arose slowly from his
seat, which was opposite the presidents
table, advanced deliberately to the reporters
table and, resting his hands upon the table
and leaning slightly over it, ard facing the
president as directly as his position would
allow, he broke the spell of silence by quietly
and with some deliberation, saying: "Imove,
inasmuch that Mr.. Bogart is foreman with
out pay, that further action in the matter is
postponed until the result of the motion for
a new trial is heard, Mr.. Cooper remaining in
charge of the school in the meantime.
Director Trezise seconded the motion.
Director Hanna arose and said that, in
view of all the facts connected with the
matter, and there could be no good end
gained by further delay, he would offer an
amendent that the Board Immediately de-
mand Superintendent Bogart's resignation.
Director Higgins seconded the amendment.
Director Lee asked, What position will it
put the Board in if it does demand the resig-
nation ? 1 want to understand this matter"
he added.
Director Hanna again arose and said, 81
fully determined to remain silent upon this
matter. There are certain legal steps that
must be taken and it is presumed that the
gentlemen who have sustained Mr.. Bogart
thus far are the proper parties to take them.
Under tho belief that they would do that for
the best interests of the schools, and all con-
cerned, the minority had made up their
minds to leave it in their hands. 1t will be
very uncomfortable for the minority to take
the steps that the majority should take. So
far as the assertions of Prof. Bogart are con-
cerned ! don't propose TO go into a discussion
Of the matter. All the SANDER has been
transferred from the shoulders of the mem
bers Of the Board to the Judge and jury at
Pittsburg." Mr.. Hanna's remarks be-
came very lengthy and he drifted into the
assertion that if any of the directors
had any manhood they would not attempt to
uphold Prof. Bogart any further, when Presi-
dent Price raped with the gavel and called
the secretary to order. Mr.. Hanna said he
was only expressing his fears and President
Price told him to avoid personalities and con-
fine himself to a discussion of matters before
the Board. Mr.. Hanna took his seat.
President Price then had his inning. He
said 81" have made inquiry into this matter
and | expected to have a communication
from the State Department in writing to
show the Board, but 1 have not received it
yet. But l have been to the State Department
personally, and have seen tho four men at
the head Of the department, and this Board
has no legal right to demand the resignation
Of that man. We can demand it, but he can
suit himself as to whether he will comply
with it, or not. The State Department has
nothing to do with the case while it is in the
court, and until the new trial has been re-
fused, or granted, we can do nothing with H.
unless Mr.. BOgart decides, of his own free
will, to tender his resignation. Therefore. il
would not be any more than right for this
Board to be cautious. The State Department
is in the same boat as we are. If a new trial
is granted it places Mr.. Bogart in the same
position he was in before the trial. If re-
fused, then, as l understand, Mr.. Bogart will
push the case still further. DR.. Schaetfer. the
State superintendent, and Mr.. Stewart say
they can do nothing for the present. L think
the suggestion Of Mr.. Ogden is as good as
anything we can do. When the courts are
done with him the State Department can
annul his commission.
A vote on the amendment was called. Mr..
Hanna wanted an aye and nay vote. but
President Price said q standing vote would
answer the same purpose, and it was taken.
The amendment was defeated by a vote OF
8 TO 8. Mr.. Ogden's motion was carried by a
vote of 0to @,
Among the other communications was one
from Acting Superintendent Cooper, in which
he stated that there were 1856 pupils absent
from the schools on account of the y%accina-
ton law. All but about ninety Of them arc
children Of the first and second primary
grades. A few Of them have been vaccinated.
but have lost their certificates and then
parents are too poor to pay for new ones. A.
an example, Mr.. Cooper cited the case Of q
woman ON Line street having four children.
Many parents object to vaccination in the
winter time.
Mr.. Edwards moved that the case Of the