The Washington times., 1901-08-07

Comptroller seeks More Information
No Documentary Proof of Roder-
icIS's ippoinrneBt-Vieyv of Grp-
eraI Baynton and Major Tyyombly.
The question as to who is entitled to the
salary of the Secretary of the Board of
Education for the month of July is still
held in allegiance, as the Comptroller of
the Treasury mas requested further in
formation TO enable him to reach an
equitable decision. The general public
interest in the matter has oeen aGded 10
by letter from Gen. IL. V. Boynton.
President OF the Board of Education. to
Commissioner mcfarland. in which the
former seeks to explain away Major
Twombly's claims.
The case of the rival claimants to the
salary was submitted to the Comptroller
by the Commissioners a few days ago.
Major II. II. Twoinbly, the former Secre-
tary, had presented to the accounting
officers of the District his voucher for
months pay, basing his claim upon the
action taken by the board on June %,
when his resignation was accepted with
thirty days leave Of absence.
With their request for decision upon
the question, the Commissioners trans
meetings of the Board of Education for
June 20 and %, together with a statement
made by Major Twombly. Yesterday the
Comptroller asked for additional records
and information.
In response to the Comptroler's request
for copy of the original commission or
order appointing Mr.. Roderick Secretary
of the Board of Education, the Commits
sioners replied yesterday that there is no
document of the kind asked for in exis-
tence. They state that they are inform
ed that Mr.. Roderick was appointed at
meeting of the Board of Education held
on June %, but that no documentary GER
tificate of the appointment was ever giy-
en- him. With this letter were transmitted
certified copies of the minutes of the
meeting at which the action referred to
was taken and of the oath of office ad
ministered to Mr.. Roderick
1t is thought by some persons CONVEX
SAINT with the facts that the failure of the
proper authorities to notify Mr.. Roderick
of his election, and at the same time to
notify the Auditor and the Disbursing
Officer of the District, will complicate the
matter and furnish another fine point
for decision on the part of the Comptrol-
Ter.
In addition 20 the above letter. Com
| missioner Macfarland. President of the
Board, sent to the Comptroller yesterday
| a portion of a letter received from Gen.
II. Y. Boynton, President of the Board
of Education. which the Commissioner
thinks ought to be considered as part of
| the case submitted to the Comptroller.
| General Boynton says:
The leave of absence with pay, voted
| upon my motion, and upon the major $
| personal request. was with the express
| understanding that 1t was contingent
! upon the Auditor deciding that he could
| lawfully allow this extra pay without
! affecting the pay of the new secretary,
| whose term of office was. by formal vote.
! ordered to begin July l. This was per-
! fectly understood by Major Twombly. as
/ shown in his statement to me that the
! Auditor would find some way to pay ii,
4 probably from the contingent fund.
| The Statement in the minutes of the
meeting that such leave had been grant
! ed was not approved at the following
meeting. but action on the question of
approving it was postponed and made
! contingent upon the Auditors decision.
! Subsequently. the Auditor stated infor-
mally that he could not pay both, and,
! thereupon, by agreement signed by ev-
/ cry member of the board. the action
| granting the leave was formally rescind-
! ed.
Since in the first place. it was granted
/ contingent upon the Auditor deciding that
]
/ luton for leave with pay virtually fell
without further action on the part of the
! board. but in order that there might be
! no room for doubt as to its intentions, the
( signed agreement was made part Of the
/ record. This method was taken to avoid
calling members of the board who were
! absent from the city back to Washington
| merely to act upon this case IN formal
meeting. There is not the slightest foun-
| dation in equity for the claim Of Major
| Twombly.'
| The letter of General Boynton was
shown u Major Twombly last night. and
/ the former secretary expressed some sur
| prise at its contents. He declared that
/ General Boynton's statements were not
] in accord with the records Speaking of
/ the action of the board Major Twombly
/ said:
General Boynton very kindly called at
{ teution of the board to the fact that |
( had served 1t faithfully, working a great
! deal overtime. and had received no leave
during the year. but Dr. Kingsman made
| the motion granting me leave for the
| month of July with pay. which motion
| was unanimously adopted by the board.
! .'Dr. kingsman followed this motion
| Immediately after its adoption with the
motion that Mr.. ROdericks appointment
| should date from July ]. l know it was
| the impression Of some members of the
| board that Mr.. ROderick was only to act
| informally as secretary during the month
/ Of July.
"As an evidence of DIR. Kingsman's in
! tention in making the motion granting
| leave of absence to me, he and Mr.. Rod
erick on Monday, July ]. a few minutes
previous to the last meeting of the Board
OF Education. proposed to me that Mr..
| KOderick turn over to me his Government
Printing Office salary for July-abOut Sl25
which he had already received. and that
! should relinquish all claim to the sal
airy Of Secretary of the Board of Educa-
ton for the month of July. amounting to
Sl6S.
While knowing l was entitled to the
latter salary. | stated to DR. Kingsman
and Mr.. Roderick that in order to relieve
| the board of any embarrassm in the
matter l would accept their proposition.
The next morning, Tuesday. July 2 Mr..
! Roderick informed me that he had recon-
| sidered the proposition. and said that he
| believed he could draw both salaries.
! thereupOn informed him that he wouldn'
| IL | could help it.
! 1t was noted yesterday by one who has
| followed the matter carefully that Gen
| eral Bcynton'S letter puts an entirely
| new phase upon the matter. Some per-
sons expressed the opinion, however, that
| it might be merely i convenient after
thought to solve a difficult situation.
| Major Twombly insisted in his former
| statement to the Commissioners that a
| legally constituted body. the organic act
| of which provided for certain number
| of meetings during the year. could not
rcScind its action at a regular meeting by
the mere signing of paper by individual
members Major Twombly was of the
| opinion that if such Il body was clothed
| wi he ot