The San Francisco call., 1897-01-30
THE AUDITORS
ANSWER TO HYDE
Broderick Repels the Ex-
School Directors Charges
Against Him.
He Says His Accuser Is a Poll
tician Who Does Not Know
the Facts
School Director Waller Charges Tha,
the Ex.Director's Figures Are
Wrong and Misleading.

The controversy set in motion by Attor-
ney F. A. Hyde, ex-president of two
former school boards. bids fair to result in
thorough Grand Jury investigation of
matters pertaining to the School Depart
ment.
Mr.. Hyde attacks the present board and
its predecessor with accusations of extrav-
agance, nepotism and violation of the
law. He plainly states that the Board of
Education is band of political plunder-
ers and says, furthermore:
II thrown down the gauntlet and chal-
lenge them to deny my accusation. They
may call me crank, and such men as
OConnor may issue circulars against me,
but care not for pamphleteers il, they can
not com bat my facts"
There is one among the accused who has
decided to come back at ex-Director Hyde
and fight him with his own weapons, and
that man is Auditor Broderick, who has
been charged with gross violation of the
law. He first said he did not care to enter
the lists as combatant, but, became rest
less under fire and consented to notice
Mr.. Hyde's charges. To CALL reporter
he said yesterday:
l dislike to enter into what might seem q
discussion d DOul my aCIS as d OIHcl al
with those who are not in public positio
and with whom have no public dealing. Of
course do not mean by this that l object 10
giving the utmost satisfaction to any citizen,
no matter who he may be, if he desires to
understand the reason OF any public act of
mine.
The discussion between Mr.. Waller and Mr.
Hawley might have been confined to them,
but you insisted upon my figures as TO the con-
ltion of the school fund, and now you are
asking me what have to say as to what Mr..
Hyde says about me and my figures. One of
the most notable things in San Francisco
political affairs is shown in this request of
yours 1t is to be regretted that the press of
San Francisco is SO open, but perhaps it
swers good purpose.
Mr.. Hyde at one time had good deal to say
in school matters, but he is not so situated
now as to be able to have voice To me 1t
some times seems that when sensations are not
at hand those who hold public Office must
allow themselves to be made ubjects for sem
sational comment. Mr.. Hyde's interview, to
which you call my attention, and on which
you request my views, has many things in it
that are cor rect; but it has much in it calcu-
lated to mislead. 1t should be borne in mind
that we have not heard of MIR. Hyde in public
school matters for some time, and l think he
gets into q suspicious position when he at
tempts to knock the heads of Hawley, Waller
and myself together, as he does in the first
paragraph. MIR. Hyde is wrong in saying that
the 5000, 900 is set aside as a separate fund
1t is but segregation or part of fund set
aside for a spectre purpose and must of ne
The Board of Supervisors has law enough for
doing this in the ordinance passed by them as
to appropriations and their uses. They have
ordered and published an allowance of 81
000, 900 for school purposes and 5000, 900 for
til e Mission High School, That is law enough
for an honest Board OF Education and an Audi
tor that will act under its spirit
In the second paragraph of the interview in
THE CALL Mr.. Hyde is right about the teach
ers' salary or halfsalary retained but he is
sadly wrong in all else he SAYS about the de-
ds ha1d mt tr0m ha
cause of the overdraft of $18, 900 that was
caused by the auditing OF the teachers De-
cember salaries in full. Mr. Hyde does not
view the question from the right standpoint
He is an ex-School Director, not the Auditor
and therefore is under no responsibility that
might call for his spectacles.
The reference in the third paragraph to the
last board is a little severe, but perhaps he is
right He says: "The Auditor must know, for
he has been in Office long enough to know,
that he has no right to withhold the payment
ton, provided the one-tweIfth act is not vio-
lated" OF course l have been Auditor for
some time without any assistance from Mr.
Hyde or politicians of his class, and he speaks
from personal experience on this subject for
he tested my powers on bills allowed by the
Board of Education very fully when he was
president successfully refused to ardit sew
eral, however, to his displeasure and vexation,
and my action was sustained by law and
court decisions.
The teachers, think, can collect their back
salaries if they place themselves on record
right; but they must take no chances on the
advice of enthusiasts. l beg leave to differ
from Mr. HYDE in his placing contractors and
others VINO may have claims against the
school fund, based upon the discr elton or or
ders OF members OF the board, in the position
teachers hold. If such parties find themselves
tangled up in the meshes of the constitution
and one-twelfth act the result will not be
pleasant. 1t Is not long since a Board of
Supervisors made contracts and ordered ma
terial, supplies and labor equal to about nine
twelfths of fiscal year appropriation before