The San Francisco call., 1899-01-28
Secret of the Plot by Which the
Commercial Departments Of
the Mission High School
Were Abolished.
Members of the Board of Education Will
Do All in Their Power to Reconsider
the Vote of Abolition = Slows
Part in the Scheme -Indig-
nant Citizens.

three months leave of absence from that
institution and will act as a deputy in
this office during the rush of work in rev.
olutionizing the School Department. He
was chosen because of his fitness for this
work. Only because of that and nothing
more"
The legality of the diplomas of the pres
ent normal class is another irritating
question. The opinion has been advanced
that after this month the city, normal will
be private school, supported by the pri-
yate contributions of the pupils. Will the
diplomas of the graduates be accepted
by the City School Department as teach
ers certificates? II the two normal teach
ers are employed by the pupils of that
school between the dates of February l
and June 80, 1899, will they lose their
ment? is another vexing query. However,
Miss Fowler and Mrs. Fitzgerald may OBJ
tam a i've months leave of absence with
Ihe stenographic class of the Business
Evening School on Bush street, near
stockton, are up in arms protesting
against against the proposed dismissal of their
teacher, ii. A. ByrneS. They claim that
ne is a practical stenographer, and under
his instruction they have made rapid ad-
VaIncement: The proposition to put an
other teacher, Miss O'Mally, in his place
mas stirred them up and they threaten to
leave the school in a body. committee
OF the class will visit Superintendent Web
ster with their protest to-day
1t was stated in the report of the We'd
nesday night meeting that the board had
WlthdraWn Its appeal in the Kirkpatrick
case. Such is not the case. as the Oues-
ton was argued in the committee meeting
or the board and it was decided to let the
case go ahead.
School classes will be abolished. One of
these will be closed in the boys and two
in the girls school. There is one teacher
on record who does not complain. This
phlIosophlcal educator is NJ. Doyle, draw
ing teacher of the Lincoln School He
says 1t is all right, even ii he does lose
his position, and believes in the greatest
good for the greatest number
Director Armstrong of the Building and
Grounds Committee, has submitted 30
page report on the dilapidated school
and yards are in a miserable condition.
Roofs are leaking. walls are shedding
plaster and the plumbing is unhealthy.
Part s of the fa It o Is bagps atb. on 6s
on the school property, that it may be
fitted for occupancy.
After being deprived of their salaries
for three, months, the teachers in the
public schools have become desperate
and yesterday their attorneys. CARRIER
Creswell & CARRIER and Olney &, Olney,
that the court modify the injunction here
tofore issued at the instance of Oscar
Moses, on behalf of the merchants and
ment, and allow them to draw their
salaries for the month of January. They
did not ask that the salaries due them
cember be paid, but nevertheless the petit
tion to modify the injunction met with
opposition at the hands of Attorneys
retained by the merchants and other
creditors to prosecute their claims.
On behalf of the teachers it was claimed
claims, and that they were suffering great
injury by reason of the injunction. 1t
was contended on behalf Of the mer-
chants, however, that there is still in the
treasury to the credit of the School De-
partment, the contention being supported
by affidavit, the sum of s24S,717 81, which
of the teachers, and aver that in the
event this amount is paid out the law
will prevent them from recovering after
another appropriation has been made, as
all obligations arising out of contracts
must be paid out of the funds of the
fiscal year in which the, contracts were
teachers stand in the light of preferred
creditors is resisted by the merchants
attorneys, and they quote from recent
decision:
Salaries are not liabilities against the
treasury which rest upon any authorize
ton or contract by the Board of Super
fixed by law, and are not subject to the
control of such officers. They are payable
out of the general fund, and are not
limited to any particular part of that
fund which the board may choose to set
apart for their payment"
The argument on the various intricate
| QuSSllOHS VI law dTlSlIlB occupied the en-
tire day, and the case was then sub
mltted. A decision will be handed down
in few days.
A mass-meeting under the auspices of
the Mission High School Society was held
| last evening in Native Sons Hall. Seven
teenth and Valencia streets, for the pur-
pose of protesting against the action of
the Board of Education in closing the
commercial classes in that school. DR..
| c. A. Clinton presided over the gathering
which was composed of many of the most
prominent citizens of the Mission district
A resolution was adopted asking the
! board to reconsider its action in the mat
ter of the abolition of the business depart
ment of the High School and that COM
mittee from the society be granted a hear
ing at the next meeting of the board
which will take place next Monday even
| ing.
Notice was given by DR.. C. A. Clinton
| that the executive committee of the Mis-
| sion High School Society would meet in
! Native Sens Hall this afternoon at 2
o'clock, and also at S22 Guerrero street in
1 the evening The committee will attend
the Board of Education meeting Monday
night.