The San Francisco call., 1897-11-07
Ex-senator Preston on
the Proposed lone
Investigation.
If Undertaken 1t Must Not
SmirCh Some and Shield
Others.
Intends to Learn at Whose Instiga-
tion Certain Appointm snts
We're Made.
Special Dispatch to THE CALL.

NEVADA CITY, Nov. 6.-Ex.Senator
E. M. Preston. one of the trustees of the
Preston School of Industry at lone, re-
ceived from Trustee Tyrrell of Sacramento
last night a letter in which the writer says !:
In view of the scandalous and specific
charges appearing in the daily newspapers of
this city and elsewhere relative to the man
agement of the Preston school of Industry.
and of the fact that 1 am being subjected to
the harsheit Criticisms at the hands OF my
fr1enos and others, l feel 1t obligatory upon
me- in justice to the school as well as to my
SET, to demand, in my official capacity as
trustee, complete and immediate lnvestfga-
ton into the truth or falsity OF said charges.
Trustee Preston has answered as fol-
lows:
NEVADA CITY, Nov. 5, 1897.
DR.. f. d. TyryelL Trustee, SacrdmeRt9-DEAR
SIR: Your esteemed favor OF the I'm inst. is
at hand; reasons for request noted. In reply,
permit me 10 assure you that while realize
that there has been aud IS just cause for some
OF the public criticisms OF the present disci-
pune and methods of conducting the school,
yet on the other hand, firmly believe that a
public investigation at the present time would
be ill-advised and Inexpedient, Tor the follow
ing reasons:
First-The board of trustees, its official
capacity, has full authority and ability to cor
rect and remedy any and all abuses OF disci-
pine and management which prevail at the
school.
Second-A united effort on the part OF the
trustees TO correct any and all causes OF mis-
management will be, or can be made to be,
effectual, and will be more conducive 10 good
government than public investigation, with
its necessary Generalization OF all depart
ments of the institution.
Third-The expense of conducting q thor
ough and honest inves tigation will seriously
impair the funds appropriated for main
tenance; and
Fourth-The rancor engendered by public
investigation may so demoralize the inmates
that line of sentinels will be REQ uired to pre-
vent q general stampede from the premises.
For the foregoing reasons am radl lcally op-
posed to such an investigation as is proposed
by yourself; but at the same time, IL ma
jority OF the mem bers of the board in their
wisdom, decide that an investigation is the
only rational way TO ward off further cr1ti-
csm, will consent to participate in the pro-
ceedings only on the express understanding
and assurance that the proce edings shall be
absolutely impartial, thorough and search
ing. We must be permitted 10 take testimony
from the State officers, each OF the trustees,
the expert accountant the officers and en-
ployes OF the school and such other reputa BILE
citizens as can give any reliable inform tion
as to the causes which have culmlna ted in the
alleged mlsmanagement OF the affairs of the
school. There must be no besmirching OF
some and shielding OF others
We must know at whose instigation changes
and appoin tments were made, and why they
were made. We must investigate the records
OF all the officers and Of each department t,
authority, delinquent in duty or otherwise
untitled for the positions occupied. We must
begin at the beginning of the dlficulties-the e
date of the reorganization OF the board in
May last--and follow the course of events
down to the present time.
II such an investigation is ordered and con-
Quoted in accordance with the foregoing con-
ditions assure you OF lny cordial support
and p edge, to the utmost of nv ability, 10
make our findings thorough and finai. Very
respectfully yours. E. NJ PRESTON.