The San Francisco call., 1898-11-28
SALARIES OF
 TEACHERS CUT
 ALMOST HALF Many Dismissed at
 San Jose. REA'S BOARD USES THE AK COST OF CORRUPT RULE IN
 THE SCHOOLS.
REA'S BOARD USES THE AK
COST OF CORRUPT RULE IN
 THE SCHOOLS
Having Squandered the Peoples Money It Is Found Necessary to Dispense With Mum
 Der of Instructors.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SAN JOSE, Nov. 27.-The corruption of San Joses School Board has culmi- mated in serious financial injury to the teachers and in their consequent gen. eral demoralization. The board became so deeply indebted that it was almost { impossible to carry on the schools, and, as was predicted in The Call a month ago, the Trustees last night abolished the kindergarten system and cut the salaries of all teachers about one- third This action was taken at a star cham Der session of the board So afraid were the members that some one would be present and see them Wield the ax that they held the meeting at Trustee Lang ford's house. Besides the members not a person except, probably, Req and the Mackenzies knew such action was to be taken.
 There were present Trustees Graham. Kenyon, Wemple, O'Neil and Langford The business had been previously ar ranged, and they at once settled down to work
 The Kindergarten system was abol- ished, thus dispensin~ with the super visor of kindergartens, sixteen teach CTS and six janitcrs, effecting a saving of s1295 a month.
 Special teachers of physical culture, music and drawing were dismissed, which saves s1S5 a month.
 In the High School the biggest reduc- tion was made and salaries were cut almost in half, saving the department $465 a month.
 The aX was then used on the salaries of teachers in the grammar grades Forty mine teachers were reduced from as high as SIS to $70 month. This will save $643.
 The salaries of janitors were made $65
 tl1
 The action of the board reduces the running expenses of the City Board of Education S239S a month, or $23, ,980 for the school year of ten months. There was but half enough money on hand at the beginning of the year to conduct the schools, yet the Board of Educa- tion conducted things in the same old extravagant way. It created the posi- ton of supervisor of kindergartens for Miss Belle Mackenzie, sister of Boss" Rea's lieutenant, at salary of $75 month. There was no need of such of- flee, and 1t was simply sinecure. As the schools were being run there would have been an indebtedness at the end of the year of about $35, 900, and the big cut made last night will not keep down a deficiency The Board of Education knew months ago it would have to take the action 1t did, but 1t was postponed until after election In order to keep the teachers and their friends in line for the gang" and thus secure votes.
 Trustees Graham, Kenyon and Lang ford have been most active in ruthless ly expending the peoples money, and the former reluctantly voted for the curtailment. O'Neil and Wemple have tried to check the raid on the city treasury, but unnecessarily. During the past year the schools have been al- most wrecked. Politics caused strike in the High School, and about 150 of the city's pupils go to Santa Clara High School, and in the grammar schools and kindergartens there has been trouble The people have been aroused, and the three officials who take Rea's word az law have been strongly con- demned and the citizens have been on the verge of asking them to resign.
 The reduction of salaries goes into effect on December 15.