The herald., 1898-02-15

had entered into Johnson's actions,lI
could not and did not vote for him."
Johnson suddenly pushed his chair
back and was about to take issue at
Mr.. Davis remarks, when the latter said
that the matter was not worth debate,
and johnson subsided. The other MEM
bers then began discussion of what had
been done year ago. when Johnson was
elected. Some Of them declared that
the Office had been declared vacant and
the former secretary had been ousted be-
fore Johnson was elected. This other
members denied. and all of them gave
what they remembered of the manner of
Johnson's election. Then Webb tried to
spring surprise which he thought would
be in favor of his protege. "This mat
ter was all the result of political trade"
said he. Hogan was chosen building
| superintendent, and through that choice
new secretary was elected, enough
votes to do this having been secured by
trade" A crowd of his friends in the
lobby applauded this remark, but it did
nothing toward solving the question be-
fore the board
Mr.. Conrey asserted, after quoting
from section of the city charter, that
the board had the authority to choose a
new secretary at any time, and that the
secretary only held office at the pleasure
of the board. "Since he holds office at
the pleasure of the entire board" said
he land it is manifest that his presence
in the office is not with the approval of
the board even though only minority
do not desire his presence, 1t will be i'm
possible for him to continue in the office
and still advance the interests and well
fare of the schools. His position Is not
a legal one, and his contention that the
office was not vacant at the time that
his successor was chosen is not logical.
The fact that he entered into that elec-
tion removes all doubt as to that point"
For half an hour or more the discus
sion continued, much of it being com
parison of the methods employed to
choose a secretary this year with those
of a year ago. A motion of Mr.. Nc
Inerny to postpone action one week
failed of a second. That member then
stated that it was a question that should
be referred to the legal advisers of the
city. Webb moved to lay Mr.. Conrey's
motion on the table, which motion was
lost by tie vote, Poor, Bartlett, Webb
anu pIdB6 NOtibS III liiC civ
McInerny not voting. Mr.. Bragg ex-
planned that as the matter was new
one to him, and as he desired time in
which to consider it he would have to
vote to lay the matter on the table so
that he might have an opportunity to
examine it. The vote on the original
motion of Mr.. Conrey that the new Sec
retary take his Office was lost by tie
vote, Messrs, Conrey, Davis, Mathis
and Braley voting in the affirmative and
Mr.. Bragg declining to vote.
Mr.. Braly moved that when the board
adjourned it be to meet again tonight.
This motion was debated for twenty
minutes, those opposing to 1t arguing
that it would be impossible to secure an
opinion from the city attorney in that
time Webb offered as an amendment
that the next meeting be held next Mon.
day night, which amendment was car
ried by the votes of Bragg, Poor, Bart
lett, Webb and McInerny. Webb then
moved to declare Johnson the secretary
of the board pending the next meeting
of the board, but afterwards changed 1t
as follows:
That Fl. G. johnson is recognized as
the secretary of the board of education.
BRAGG'S POSITION
Mr.. Braly caused some amusement by
turning Johnson's argument against
this motion by saying satirically, "The
office has not been declared vacant as
yet" In spite of the efforts of the MEM
bers who have opposed the Webb rule
in the board, Webb's resolution pre-
vailed, Messrs. Bragg, Poor, Bartlett,
Webb and McInerny supporting it.
In casting his vote Mr. Bragg explained
that IL the motion was voted down the
board would have no secretary until
the matter had been settled. He did
not seem to realize that the board had
duly elected secretary at its last meet
ing. President Davis suggested that
some motion to refer the matter to the
city attorney be made. This caused
Webb to geefully declare that such
course was not necessary, as the board
had decided to recognize Johnson. Mr.
Mathis made the motion suggested by
Mr.. Davis, but substitute was made by
Mr.. Braly simply changing the phrase
ology of the motion, Then Webb offered
another substitute in which 1t was pro-
vided that the city attorney be asked
for an opinion as to who was then Sec
retary of the board. 1t was finally de-
cided that the entire matter be referred
to the city attorney for an opinion.
All this had been but preliminary to
the business of the regular session, and
President Davis called for the reading
of the minutes of the previous meetings.
The minutes were read. When the
minutes of the last meeting were read
they were found to contain the declara-
ton that Mr. Averill had been declared
elected secretary of the board. This oc-
casioned no remark, for it was a true
record. Johnsons friends did not see
that it had any bearing upon his fight
for the office, and the minutes were ap-
proved without change. This approval
of the minutes will have the effect of at
least clouding Johnson's title to the Of
flee, If he has any title to it. Soon
afterward Mr.. Conrey took advantage
of this by making motion that as the
minutes declared Mr.. Averill the secre-
tary he be directed to take his seat in
that office. This motion was lost, how
ever. on a tie vote, Messrs. Conrey,
Davis, Mathis and Braly favoring it.
Mr.. Bragg refused to vote.
ROUTINE BUSINESS
Webb wanted the letters which he had
received from Professors Foshay and
Ennis regarding the standing of GER
tain former teachers who had not been
reelected spread upon the records of
the board, saying that they We're part
of his resolution presented at the last