The herald., 1898-01-27
Are Stretched and Ready
to Be Pulled
THAT "lR0N HAND" AGAIN
THREE DIRECTORS YET UNDER
ITS CONTROL
Interesting Board of Education Meet.
ing in Which the ex-Leader
Shows His Cards

Mathis from an adjourned meeting o
the board of education last night, wal
for T. Webb was enabled to get in hi:
work with his iron hand" in such
manner as to prevent the election of
secretary of the board and successor
to AxtelI, the deposed superintendent OF
buildings and janitors. The doctor has
been in san Francisco for several days
but returned yesterday. For some
reason he was not at the meeting. Had
he been there the result might have been
different. AS it was, the Webb ele-
ment while it could not do anything Sc
rious, prevented an election, and endeav-
ored TO have that matter deferred until
after the coming election in the Seventh
ward when Webb will rely upon the
support of Mr.. Bragg. Whether he Will
get it or not remains to be seen. but GER
tain is is that he expects it, and has made
an effort to secure from Bragg 4 pledge
of his support.
The meeting was an adjourned one
from the regular session held Monday
night, at which time no quorum was
present. The first business was the
consideration of the finance commit
tees report. This was approved except
that portion of it which referred to Ger
tain bills which the committee desired
the board to take further time to eX-
anime. Superintendent Foshay pre-
sented his monthly report.
The report of the building and insur-
ance committees in regard to the Fco
Heights school fire We're read. They
have been published heretofore. The
leases on the rooms now being used for
school purposes in Pico Heights We're
presented and referred to the building
committee, with instructions to exc
cute them.
Mr.. Poor brought up the matter Of
payinS the teachers in the public schools
for the weeks vacation at Christmas.
upon which the city attorney had re-
Gently, at the request of the board, given
an opinion that there was nothing H.
the contract between the board and the
teachers which provided for the pay
ment of that weeks salary. Mr.. Poor
secured the adoption of a motion to re-
quest the city attorney to advise the
board whether there was any legal way
in which the payments could be made.
Director Conrey brought up matter
of interest to all patrons of the Alpine
street school. He said that frequent
complaints had been made by teachers
and scholars of that school that the
noise and stencil from the oil wells near
the school disturbed them, and made it
impossible for them to do their work
properly. He said he and Director Ku-
l.. I
found that the proximity of the oil wells
to the schools was nuisance. He
moved that the city attorney be asked
whether there was not some way to
abate this nuisance, and if there was,
that he he requested as the attorney for
the city to take the necessary steps
This motion prevailed. Mr. Poor called
attention to the fact that no oil wells
We're allowed near hospitals or city
parks. He moved that the city coun-
Gil be requested to, by ordinance, pro-
hibit the drilling and operating of oil
wells within 500 feet of any school build
ing. After considerable discussion. this
motion was adopted. President Davis
stated that there was petition in circu-
lation asking the council to prohibit
the drilling of oil wells in the
block on which the Alpine street
school is situated. On motion of
Mr. Conrey President Davis and Secre-
tary Johnson were instructed to affix
their official signatures to this petition.
Director Conrey moved that the board
proceed to the election of a superintend-
ent of buildings and janitors. 1t was q
simple motion, but it started a clash
a al
AS soon as the motion was put Mr.. Nc
lnerny arose and objected to the cleo
ton. He declared that it was unfair
to DIR. Mathis to elect such an officer
in his absence. He preferred to have
the election when full board was
present.
Then Webb took hand in the mat
ter. In his old confident manner. horn
perhaps of long experience in running
the board as he wished. he arose and as
serted that he was opposed to an cleo
ton at that time. There will he an
election in the Seventh ward soon and
L think we should wait until that ward
is represented in this board before we
fill places by election" he said Mr.
Conrey asked him whether he did NOT
consider that the Seventh ward was ron
resented now. Yes and no" was
Webb's reply. What [ want is that tba
regular representative of that ward for
the long term shall vote. and I will on
pose an election until he is in the board !"
When the vote was taken a call of the
roll was asked for. Poor. Webb Rart-
lett and McInerny voted against the
motion, and Conrey, Braly. Kubach and
Davis voted for it. As the vote stood
four to four the motion was declared
lost.
Mr.. Conrey at once moved that the
board enter into the election of q eac-
retary. This was met with the Same
objection on the part Of Mr.. McInernv
Bartlett also opposed the motion. usina.
the same argument that Webb had usad
with reference to the previous motion
Webb also repeated his position. The
vote was the same and the motion was
lost.
1t was moved by Mr.. Conrey that when
the board adjourn it be until next Mon
day night Webb wanted to know the
purpose of q meeting then, ana Presi
dent Davis state that among other
things the election of officers might be
entered into Again Webb kicked. H.
wanted it understood that he would OD-
pose an election until Nh Bragg. the
nominee from the Seventh ward. was
a member Of the board. He moved that
the matter be postponed until the first