The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-29

"eh' what ABOUT the case OF Prof.
He resigned early last summer"
Was not the board led to believe
by Mr.. Morey that Freeman wanted
to resign?"
Yes; Prof. Freeman sent in a letter
to the board So, expressing himself"
Did he not Immediately after try
to secure his position again?"
+ Wen, no, not Immediately. He did
hlled. He claimed that he sent in his
letter with misunderstanding
Things had been rnisrepresented to
him.
do you know what the trouble be-
tween Prof. Freeman and Mr.. Morey
WASP" %
Yes. No. I don't housekeeping
1t might have been; well, perhaps it
would be best for me not to say"
why is it that, when the board
passed resolution regretting Prof.
Freeman's resignation. that Mr.. Morey
was the only one who voted against
it?"
You will have to ask Mr.. Morey
about that"
rs Mr.. Freeman still an employee of
the board?"
IT think not
els it not generally believed at WI
mona that Mr.. Morey or Mr.. Shepard
quietly ousted Prof. Freeman from
the school?"
81 think not"
WHY DID FREEMAN QUIT?
rs it true that the board was wholly
IN the dark as to the cause Of Prof.
Freeman's resignation. but merely ac-
cepted it on recommendation Of Mr..
Morey?"
HE stated in his letter that he would
not again be candidate for Fe-elec-
ton. and we selected another man."
What salary does Mr.. Shepard,
president Of the Winona school,
draw?"
Two thousand five hundred dollars"
How often does he draw that?''
Il am not sure whether it is quar-
terly or monthly
I'm how many equal installments ?"
Il don't know whetherit was divided
into twelve parts of S20S each or nine
parts Of $3.50 per month
Did he ever draw anything addi-
tional?"
Il don't think he did"
Did he ever try TO draw any more
with the consent Of the boardT"
II believe not"
We'll, how about this letter." and
the reporter handed Supt. Pendergast
the following: MN
TELL-TALE OPINION.
st. Paul, June 3, 1S9S.-Hon. R. G. Dunn,
State Auditor-Dear Sir: l beg to acknowl-
edge receipt OF your communication Of the
18th ut, in which you desire my opinion as
to your authority to pay to the president
OF the Winona state normal school eompen-
sation for the current year in excess OF the
$3.50 which he has already received as sal
airy for the current, year.
BY General Laws 1891, chapter los, section
4. subdivision Z, an appropriation of 5000
for the purpose Of maintaining continuous
sessions of the said school during those
years. The same section closes with the
provision that no teacher other than the
president shall teach more than nine months
in any one year in any normal school where
continuous session is established"
The normal school law General Statutes
1894 section SSSs) provides that '4n no case
shall the salary Of any principal exceed $3.50
per annum-"
1t is insisted on the part of the normal
school board in effect that the act of 1897
modiies the said section 1893, so far as to
permit the board to authorize compensation
in excess of 81. 500.
l regret that I am unable to subscribe TO
this view. After a careful investigation of
the question and, viewing IL In every con-
ceivable light. I am unable TO reach any
other conclusion than that the normal school
board is prohibited from contracting with
the president for compensation which shall
exceed SZ,5o0 per aHnan | call attention
In this connection to the view that the said
section does not fix the salary of the presi-
dent but leaves it discretionary with the
board to fix the amount thereof subject to
the limitation of the maximum amount pre-
scribed by the law. l assume that the board
have allowed the full amount of s.. 500. and IL
hausted.
If the legislature in 1897 had intended to
erect so marked change in the earlier law
1t Is reasonable to assume that II wouId hsvs
been expressed in unambiguous terms an,
very truly yours,
H. W. Chi!ds. Attorney General
REFRESHED HIS MEMORY.
Mr.. Pendergast read the letter close
ly and said:
Now that you mention II I have
heard that he did try to draw some ad
d1ttonal salary Now I don't want Won to
say that said that he tried to draw the
| extra salary, as / merely heard that
ne did. He should have consulted me
as l knew what the law said ON the
matter"
Did his attempt to draw the addi-
tional salary have the sanction of the
| board?" lc
Il am sure it did not. and want to
say here If the board had ANYTHING
whatever to do with it, II was on the
part or one or two members of the
board"
Would you say who those members
IL were dDIS 10 guess who IL was.
| 1t would hardly be the thing for me
as a member of the board, to give II
| out"
Would you say whether it was Mr..
Morey?"
mo, 1 would not
DO you know that the parties in
| terested wrote State Auditor Dunn in
| the name Of the board asking for
! three months additional salary for Mr.
| Shepard?"
We'll. don't like TO criticize any
| member of the board, but have heard
! that such a request was made. but I
| would rather you would get that from
| Mr.. Dunn"
MORE SECRET BOARDS.
This star chamber work extends
down the line with as little excuse as
| Prof. Pendergast could give for It.
Some OF these boards may at times
! have something to discuss in secret.
but what does the state prison board
! do that the public shouldn't know
| about? Why should the newspapers be
compelled TO use the carefully censored
| reports furnished by Warden Wolfer !?
| Wouldn't 1t be just as we'll for the
! public to know at first hand what sales
| he had made of advantage to the
| farmers" and how he had Saved the
! state money by his purchases of raw
material? The excuse Of the board Of
| prison managers has always been that
| they may want to parole prisoners. ard
I 1t is unfair to them to publish the
| fact to the world. Is II any worse for
! an inmate OF the state prison to have
| paroled than It was to publish the fact
! hot ha fhdro ~,