Waterbury Democrat., 1901-12-20

Whether the new school board will make any changes or not is something that will not be known for some time, probably a month or so. The charter provides that the mayor shall be chair man of the board, but in order to pro- vide for occasions when the mayor cannot attend, the board elects chair man of its own, who presides at all sessions when the mayor IS absent. It is undertood that this honor will be conferred upon Dr Russell.
 Will Inspector Edward McGrath be removed after the first of the new year? That's a poser. Some say he will and others claim he will not. Why he should be does not appear quite plain to those on the outside, ex- cept, perhaps, that someone else may be anxious to get his job. Some con- tend that MT McGrath is rich enough and that the position should go to some man who wants what there Is in it for his immediate needs instead of giving it to a man who has his mark made. These and few other things of that nature, none of which Is dis creditable to MT McGrath in the opin- ion of men who don't object to a man because he is not spendthrift, are be- ing offered as to why he should not be retained. So far as can be learned he is a very competent man for the po- sition he holds and although it was predicted when he got the appointment that he was sure to make trouble among the janitors, still it seems he disappointed his enemies in this re- spect by getting along splendidly with them and others who came fn contact with him about the schools. MT Nc Grath is a blunt. honest fellow, whose principal shortcoming consists in tell ing people what he thinks about them before their faces instead of behind their backs. Of course this doesn't pay, but McGrath is built that way and can't help it. This is not used with a view to strengthening or weak ening Edward McGrath's grip on his job. The new board has the right to choose a man of it's own liking provfd- ed it is not satisfied with the present incumbent and in case it so decides. 1t is question whether anyone will find fault. Several equally good men are looking for the position and if one of them secures 1t there won't be. any thing wonderful about it. If Me Grath goes he is entitled to the credit of having done his work we'll and no matter what people may think about him the man who would 6eny him what he has earned has a queer sense of justice and wouldn't make a very creditable showing on jury.
 There is little doubt but that the clerk, John J. Fitzgerald, will be reap pointed. He is competent, agreeable official who. in addition to performing his work creditably, manages to make friends wherever he goes.
 Walter Geraghty. superintendent of supplies. has a rival in the person of Benjamin Witowski. MT Geraghty has helu the position for the past few years and has it reduced to science. There is nothing in connection with the office that he does not thorougEy un- derstand and being reliable in every particular it is extremely doubtful if the board will care to try an inexperi- enced man, no matter how deserving, in his place. MT Geraghty under stands his business, wants the job and no one should think of taking it from him.
 Truant Officer Hurley has demon strated his ability to cope successfully with the duties of that office and in consequence it seems to be generally admitted that he will be reappointed without opposition. He can run like deer and has become almost as much of a terror to the school truant as Jeremiah Fitzpatrick used to be in the years that are gone.
 It is safe to predict that there will be no change in the janitorships. They are all good men and so long as they keep up their present records of eff ficiency it Is not likely that anybody will interfere with them.
 So much Is being said about the other boards the public seems to be all most unmindful of the fact that we have board of health, though. to be sure, it is one short since Dr HolbrooIz left town. The present members are B. J. Finn. T. F. Conway, F. E. Cross and Dr Frost, the latter city health