The San Francisco call., 1898-12-06
It Will Reach Nearly
 $3OO,OOO.
GALLAGHER CALLED DOWN
SCHOOL DIRECTORS DIPPED THE
 GRAND JURY.
Noe Valley School Lot Deal Again Brought Into Prominence by ,t the Searchlight of Jury
 man Irving.

The Grand Jury met again last evening to give further consideration to the du- bious doings of the Board of Education, and the little row that has been on for the past week between S. C. Irving, chairman of the school committee of the jury, and Director E. J. Gallagher was given a pretty thorough airing.
 A few days ago Irving applied by letter to Gallagher for certain facts in connec- tion with the Finance Committee of the Board of Education, of which Gallagher is the chairman, and for answer he got a curt refusal to comply with any requisi- tion made by Irving personally. Irving notified the jury, and Chairman J. D. Me Kee communicated with Judge Belcher, who sent to the jury the following terse communications:
 SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. ,, 1S9S
 Gentlemen of the Grand Jury: l understand that there is some friction between MT. Gal lagher of the School Department and Mir. Irv- ing chairman Of the school committee Of your body, and that MT. Gallagher refuses to permit Mir Irving and his authorized assistants to inspect the School Department records without the authority of the Grand Jury for that pur-
 You must stand by Mir. Irving. He is doing his work faithfully and his efforts have my entire approval. l assume that Mr Irving has already your authority to proceed, as he IS chairman of the school committee, but if there Is any doubt about it you will reauthorize him, with the fullest powers, to proceed with the sxauination into inc proceedings of the School Department and matters pertaining thereto that you have under investigation It Mir. Irving meets with any further obstruction he will make an affidavit setting forth the facts, and will report to your grand body and your grand body will at once report to me in open
 The matters pertaining to the School De partment l expressly submitted to you in my shall not be patient with any obstruction to the fullest examination by your grand body or any authorized member thereof.
 I expressly direct you not to take up any new business whatever. but to devote your active time to the School Department matters.
 EDWARD A. BELCHER. Presiding Judge
 Pursuant to the instructions of Judge Belcher, Chairman Mckee issued the fol- lowing mandate to Charles l.. Barring ton. president of the Board of Education: Charles L. Harrington Esq. President Board Of Education-Dear Sir; The Grand Jury ot session is in receipt of a communication from F. j. Gallagher declining to furnish certain information in regard to the financial condition of the Board of Education to $. C. Irving, chairman of the Grand Jury committee on the reo1iest did not come from the Grand Jury
 You will hereby take notice that MT Irving has the fullest authority to act for this Grand Jury in matters pertaining to the Board Of Education investigation.
 The officers and employees of the Board of Education are hereby instructed by resolution Of this Grand Jury to furnish to MT lrVlng narticuiarlv the information requested by him in his letter of December l. addressed to F.: j.. Gallagher. chairman or the Hudhce COhilnletee of the Board of Education demand for which is heFeoy fe"e"eu' ]. D. MCKEE. Foreman Grand Jury of the City and County
 of San Francisco.
 President McKee's letter had the effect of bringing about a more apparent feeling of co-operation on the part of the rampant Gala agher and MT. Irving has so far pro- gressed with his investigation that he was last evening able to report to the Jury that the actual shortage that will lace the new Board of Directors foots up $271, ,S43 70.
 The investigation of the jury has again brought into prominence the Noe Valley School lot deal. No announcement has ever been made that the lot had been bought and the matter had dropped out of mind until Mr. Irving discovered that a warrant for $12 600. drawn in payment of the absurd price that was asked for the property. had reached the Auditors of fee. Irving immediately sought Superin- tendent Webster and Deputy Stone, whose signatures were necessary to make the warrant operative. and both of them de- nied having signed it. He has not deter mined yet whether or not the warrant has got into the Auditors hands without be- ing signed, but if it has it is forgery upon the word of the two men whose sig natures it Is supposed to bear.
 Just what the teachers will gain by any suit they may bring against the Directors to enforce the payment of their November salaries is not clear to see. IS Professor Kilpatrick'S report shows that up to Oc- tober 31 the department had spent $558. .00C of the $600 900 that Is allowed for the half years expenses, leaving a balance or hand of $42 900 with which to liquidate two months salaries and about $SO,0OO ot