Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-27

o0e Of the members. stated that the Amori-
can Book company had beaten this city OUT
of about 100000 that IL owned more su-
pCrutendonts and school boards than any
other company, because 1T had gone down
into it, Golfers and bought them, and for
that reason IL Is now being paid FIVE or six
times more than any other company for it's
books by this board; and that he had per-
sonal knowledge that members OF the board
were owned by the American book company,
by which language said Van Glider intended
to charge that members of this board had
been bribed by the American Book company
to favor the adoption Of its books for use iu
the schools OF this city; and
Whereas. The charges made by said Van
Glider are indefinite ana uncertain in thai
ne ala not state the names of members
charged with bribery and corruption, thereby
casting a rehecton upon the integrity of
every member OF the board; and
Whereas, Said Van Glider has upon divers
other occasions and al a humber OF other
meetings of this board made similar charges
and assertions in the same vague. indefinite
and uncertain manner and
Whereas There are current rumors now
being circulated, some OF which have been
published in the newspapers, touching the
official conduct and integrity OF members
of the Board OF Education; and
Given Until Tuesday.
Whereas, The tendency Of such assertions
is to bring the board and all of its members
into disrepute and to interfere with the
board in the exercise of its duties in the
management of the affairs of said school
district and in carrying out the trust i'm
posed upon the members of the board by
the people of Omaha in placing the affairs OF
the school district in their charge; now
therefore,
Be it Resolved. That to the end that the
charges made by the said Van Glider afore-
said may be established or disproved and II
any member of the board is guilty of the
agf.s Inr tIa+ ,lxN,
punished, or If said charges are untrue thai
the same may be known and the cloud cast
upon the board and the members thereof be
removed,
Resolved. That said ]. f. Van Glider be
required by this board to make his charges
specific definite and certain by reducing the
same to writing and stating the names of
the member or members whom he claims tc
have been bribed or corrupted by undue in
fuence by the American Book company, or
any other person, and sign such charges ami
file the same with the secretary of this
board on or before noon of Tuesday, Jan
uary 81, 1899; that at this meeting the presi
dent of the board appoint a committee con
slSting OF three members whose duty ii shall,
be to investigate the charges made by Mr..
Van Glider and any charges by any other
person and also to investigate any other
matters touching the official conduct or in
tegrity of the members of the board or any
Of its officers and that said committee be
authorized and empowered to eXpend what
ever reasonable sum may be necessary to
make a thorough investigation of any such
charges aud report it's findings to this board
Resolved, That il said Van Glider fails to
make his charges in writing and file the
same with the secretary of che board on OF
before the time heretofore stated that his de
fault in so doing shall be deemed as an
admission that his statements are unfoundeo
in fact.
Van Glider Stands Pnt.
Van Glider seconded the motion to ADOPT
the resolution. and the question was put
without debate. All voted in the affirmative
except Trey and Johnson who were absent
Hess suggested that it would be advisable to
designate three OF the new members as the
special committee, as they at least had not
yet been contaminated President Penfold
accordingly appointed Hayward, Black and
Teal. On motion OF Hess the committee was
submit certified copy Of the evidence with
its report. The charge relative to the alleged
offer on the part OF one member to accept a
piano as a bribe for securing the purchase
OF twenty rve pianos for the kindergartenS
was referred to the special committee to-
gether with the communication from Mr.
WedgewooG.
Van Glider stated briefly that he will file
his charges as soon as he finds it convenient
He said that he will go outside of the alIega-
tions that he made In his speech the other
night and exploit a number OF other matters
that have come up in connection with the
transactions OF the board. The board then
adjourned without further discussion.