The San Francisco call., 1898-07-07

Grant. For this they were denounced by the Grand Army posts or the city. The leaders of this gang controlled or ganization, w J. Wollcott and Major Starck, are political tricksters, who do the bidding of Boss Req among the old soldiers.
 In all probability Professor Smith will start a private school. Last week he had applications from over 150 of his old pupils. When the Board of Education failed to re-elect Smith the students of the High School voted unanimously not to attend school next term unless Professor Smith was re- instated. Since then they have repeated this vow, and the majority of parents have expressed themselves in sym pathy with their children. Influential people are taking up Smiths fight and the action of the board last night is but the beginning of a struggle be- tween the better people and the 'gang" which has been running school affairs to reward it's friends and punish its enemies.
 During tie past year the condition of affairs in tEe School Board has gone from bad to worse. Superintendent Russell's annual report shows that "a financial crisis has now been reached. The expenditures-teac chers' salaries,
 
 amount to $130,922, while the receipts for that year will only amount to $S1,- | S99. This will leave deficiency of S49,020 to be raised by city taxes. A levy of IS cents, same as last year, will raise but BPS, 800, and on June 30, 1899, there will be deficiency of $20, ,22O. Statutes prohibit the expenditure of more money in any one year than raised in that year for that purpose. | a nd yyil ha by taxes. The apportionment of $15, 900 for July, 1899, might be used, and yet the department would be expending l $50OO more than the law allows, and at the end of the year be $4000 worse off. l The July apportionment Is for main taining grammar and primary grades, and If that is used teachers would have to wait until December for their salar- ies. Before allowing another claim the | board should make a cut of from $10, GOO to $15,000 in annual expenses"
 It was shown that from 2,0O0 to | ,000 would be needed to finish and l furnish the new High School, while there is only $1471 in the board fund available. A 2-cent levy would raise sufficient funds to furnish part of the | building so it could be used for school purposes.
 This condition has been brought 1 dUOuL Dy lHc Olu DOdTU, Wnlcn rus tees Graham, Wemple and Kenyon were members. Yet in spite of this the board has elected Miss Mackenzie ! Supervisor of Kindergartens at a sal ary of $f5 a month and other unneces- sary expenditures have been made. The position created for Miss Mackenzie is l purely a s!necure and not needed as there are only seven kindergartens and seventeen teachers.
 Another unnecessary expense and one that has been the means of mulct ing the city in the sum of over 5000 is that of supplying the school house windows with Model" hinges. This was done at the instance of Trustee Graham. The Model Hinge Company is composed of Police Commissioner Carmichael and other politicians. Dur. ing the past year the hinges have been put into school buildings at a cost of sTS7, or $1 50 a set. These same poli- ticians had the same hinge included ir the new High School specifications thus adding over $500 additional cost tc thn hl1i16fOQ