The San Francisco call., 1898-07-07

The expose of the methods that nave Obtained in the conduct of the business of the buildings and grounds committee of the Board of Education, growing out of the charges filed against Chairman Burns of that committee by Director Gallagher. has resulted in a great deal of speculation as 10 the cause thereof. It was generally believed that very har- monious relations existed between the ac- cused director and his fellow committed man, Drucker, and this was correct; but it was not known that the latter gentle man since he has been a member Of that body has devoted no attention to the work of the committee, save to sign whatever bills were presented to him by Burns without question. The result has been that MT. Drucker finds himself in a very embarrassing position, and he Is not through bemoaning the fact that he placed so much confidence" in the re- liability and good faith" of his colleague.
 The awkwardness of his situation may be better understood by the statement of the fact that in the past fiscal year MT. Burns, in his quaint and quiet way, has expended over $l00000 without, as MT. Drucker declares, consulting him or ob- taining sanction therefor. If MT. Burns saw place wSere some money could be spent, whether it amounted to a few hun
 
 ordered it. and Mr. Drucker. on the state- ment of the chairman that it was ''all right automatically signed the Vouch- CTS and went about the professional pur- suit of defective molar1.
 Director Drucker, however, feels very grateful to Chairman Gallagher of the finance committee for discovering" the committee facts for him, although they had been passing under his view for eighteen months. Director Gallagher had served on the building committee previ- ously and knew what was going on. Hav- ing dehcit in view and Knowing that something would drop" when the time came to pay the bills he concluded to expose what h2 terms the gross mis- management and Illegal acts" of Chair man Burns. which he proceeded to do.
 Director Burns, during the trying two hours session, in which several of his fel- lOw-direCtOrs were jumping on his meth ods and shattering his handmade plans to improve the buildings and grounds Of the School Department, was literally speeches. and offered no comment on the proceedings or answers to questions. He ing to say, but he found his speech yes terday and very emphatically declared that the whole business was firstly tommy rot and secondly, was an ag- gravating piece of spite work" the wherefore of which he declined to state. He places his honesty and reputation against that of his accusers and feels that an effort is being made to manufacture a scapegOat out of him. Furthermore, he considers the source of these allegations and says they do not amount to anything for the reason that he has done nothing wrong and has only followed 9 precedent that has existed for twenty years" He had nothing to say in reply to Drucker's sudden bolt and had not made up his mind whether he will resign or go on about his business as heretofore.
 This whole matter is of no particular moment to me-" said Director Burns last evening, except that it is very disagree able to have your supposed friends fly in your face and try and cover you with mud. It is only a piece of spite work, may be made public. No, I will not say what the attack is due to, and these gen. tlemen may go on and make this state ment or that, 1 don't care what, but they know that they are not giving the true causes for their actions for the reason that what I have done as chairman of the buildings and grounds committee has been simply to follow a precedent that I have committed no dishonest act and my work will bear the closest investiga- ton. for 1 have had it done cheaply and well. Will l resign as result of this eX- plosion? Well, 1 have not made up my mind as to that. If these charges were true it would be my duty to do so, but knowing that it is only for spite and an effort to job me I may conclude that the best thing 1 can do is to stay with the game. Drucker's allegations can go for what they are worth, and that is not 0. concerned, there have been none held since the beginning of the year, for there was nothing to be done. That is all l have to say
 his composure yesterday, but still had a large portion of diseSteem for his erst- while friend. MT. Burns, and had no hesi- tatiOn in stating 1t.
 matters were brought to my attention by Director Gallagher" said MT. Drucker, when afforded an opportunity to explain his present position. = ou see, never attended the meetings of the committee, and there was none held until last Sat urday night after Mir. Gallagher filed his charges. In fact there nave era peGh mo nc never notified to attend, and knew noth- ing about them. Mir. Burns has done the whole work himself. Of course, you know that the chairman Of committee attends to everything. MT. Burns and have been close chums for the past two years. and knowing him as l dlu' | placed the utmost confidence Tn nm, pe- ing assured that he would not abuse this confidence; but l find that l have been grossly deceived and placed In very embarrassing position by one or my pest friends. It is unpleasant to say this of MT. Burns, but it is true, and l must pro- tect myself in a case like this, where my reputation for honesty is at stake Between Burns, Inspector O'Brien and Secretary Welch, l was nicely m1sled. When the vouchers, etc, were presented to me to sign, by either of the parties I was told that everything was proper and correct, and supposing that the mat ters had had the sanction of the board, always signed, not doubting for a mo- ment the truth of Mir. Burns statements l can't investigate these matters myself If I did 1 could not attend to my private business, although l do visit the schools occasionally. It fairly took my breath away when I realized that, after spend ing probably S150,000 last year, Burns had before the end of the first week in the new fiscal year ordered $20 900 worth of work done. and had arrangements to ex- pend $50 900 more, without taking the trouble to let me know anything about 1t. The worst part of 1t Is that a great deal of the work proposed was actually needless, while at the same time there is a vast deal of repairs the making of which is imperative. I am thoroughly disgusted and will have nothing whatever to do with such methods. MT Burns must stand by the record he has made for him. self. It is not mine."
 Chairman Gallagher was very subdued when discussing the situation yesterday. ana seemed inclined to smooth some of the rough places for the man he suc- ceeded in depriVing of his chairnanship powers and perquisites
 - Wlsh lt understood" :" said he softly
 that l do not accuse Mir Burns of dis, honesty, but investigated his conduct of the analrs of the committee and found that ne was going at pace that would result Tn a big deflciDpcV at fha and oF +bo