The San Francisco call., 1899-12-11
BERGEROT NOW
CRITICIZED FOR
PETTY POLITICS
Accused of Misusing
His Office.
TEACHERS ARE INDIGNANT
BOND FIGHT BRINGS PHELAN
AGAIN TO THE FRONT.
he Effects Another Compromise With
the Gas Company and Lighting
Contracts GO Over for
Six Months.
TEACHERS ARE INDIGNANT
BOND FIGHT BRINGS PHELAN
AGAIN TO THE FRONT.

The attempt Of P. A Bergerot, Presi-
dent OF the Board Of Education. to make
postal card canvass of the School De-
partment, in order to fix himself moro
firmly In the good graces OF Mayor Phe-
Ian. has got the dapper little head Of
things educational into several different
temperatures of hot water. His fellow
members on the School Board. who arc
not out for Office, are giving him the
laugh in his discontinue. The teachers
among whom Bergerot tried to do his
politics, and the members of the women's
clubs who have been agitating the project
TO have Mayor Phelan appoint two women
educators to the incoming School Board
have risen in their indignation and are
hurting at the Bergerot head large and
well-seasoned punches OF criticism and
accusations OF varied character.
To the postal cards which Bergerot sent
out the other day, in which he demanded
that every teacher in the Department de-
clare herself either for or against the
proposition. Bergerot attached his official
signature as President OF the Board OF
Education. 1t was a clever device, for It
gave to Bergerot's private political aspi-
ratons the semblance OF official authoriz-
alton. The only drawback to II was that
every teacher who got postal discovered
the scheme and then got mad.
So far Mr.. Bergerot has received only
forty odd replies TO his list OF questions
and according to prominent teacher IN
the department who was speaking OF the
matter yesterday he can expect few more
Referring to the feeling against Bergerot
she said:
president Bergerot has simply used his
favor with Mayor Phelan. He has not
only done that but he has tried to mako
ms capital out OF us L hope he is sat
wants position on the next School Board
he has no right to attempt to use the de-
partment TO further his personal ends. II
we want women on the next board we
viii inform Mayor Phelan and not Mr..
Bergerot, OF whose appointment as the
Mayors agent we have not yet had no.
tice."
The forty and odd postals rece,ved In
reply to Bergerot indicate mixed desire.
Some FAVOR no women, others one woman
and others two women. Nearly all OF
them. however. agree that Superintendent
Webster should appoint a woman as one
OF his deputies. A campaign with that
object In view has been started and the
ment, which has already developed, is
strengthening. Kingsbury is in disfavor
with many of the leading lights of the
department and many wires are being
particular deputyship TO some woman
teacher. Otherwise the Board of Educa-
ton slate stands as when last announced.
Mayor Phelan's singular silence regard
ing appointments is worrying the job
chasers: 1t is already near the middle
OF the last month and the Civil Service
pendS, is not yet announced, and the
'.pollies," who have lately accustomed
themselves to a polish Of grammar and
simple arithmetic, fear 1t will all wear off
before they have a chance to use It,
The bond elections are dividing interest
with the main question and the fight that
was started against them has resulted in
bringing the Mayor into the arena, pam
handle In hand. to direct a counter cam
paign. Registration for the panhandle
election will close tomorrow night and
the sewer and schoolhouse bonds on
Thursday night Of this week.
Mayor Phelan has finally had a talk
upon the street-lighting contracts with j.
b. Crockett, president OF the Gas and
Electric Company, and in a letter which
he has addressed TO the Board OF Su-
pervisors, says that the company has
agreed TO furnish street lights at the COM
promise price fixed last June. until the
end OF the next half OF the fiscal year.
Mayor Phelan has agreed on his part to
have the late bids Of the company either
laid on the table or rejected until the rate
is regularly fixed by the charter Board OF
SuperyiSOrS