New-York tribune., 1902-02-24
Ihen. and who will be the immediate enn,ove

the re TDr,fo7
| OF the board
Inc Board Of Education" said Mr. Kenny.
consists Of four members. two Of whom Mr..
Ooosan and Mr.. Mclaughlin, are in favor of
aPPoIhunS custodian. but Mr. Heelin who
mas peen appointed a policeman since this
iouole oegan' and Mr. Duffy are opposed TO
uOh an appointment. Otherwise Mr. Grace un-
I'uoteuly would be quickly relieved of the bur
uen OF oelns custodian of the school fund"
treasurer Grace some time ago made state
iheht mat the Board of Education had over
-i1"h us account. In reply committee Of the
"odIo' AFTER exhibiting figures says: TT will
ne seen that the statement that the Board Of
Iuucation has overdrawn its account IS abso-
4uteIy untrue" The report continues:
although repeatedly requested to do so the
custodian CGrace) of the school fund has fauad
~ Send report to the Board of Education and
- aod 10 the sighting OF this board. he has
'Hiough the newspapers and through other
'oN oes and TO the Common Council made state
'naI were as contradictory as they were
numerous and he has unlawfulIv. unIus+I,, ard
without reason refused to nav bills for taacbers
saIarles and for other claims ordered maid nv
enls board: and he has in other WAYS mani
rested his contempt for the represen+ati,,as Of
the people IN this board in a manner thar would
'io' oe tolerated in a subordinate in anv brs;
TepOQldtPn
'ie inerbers Of this board. According to the
statements OF Mr.. Grace as nuhIisbad 4, H.
e"Spapers' he has unIawfully misappropriated
"'a'e school money; unlawfully transferred
oeNooi moneys sent by the State Of New-Jersev
''i oush Mr. kinsley. county superintendent
~ilhout the knowledge or permission Of the
BOARD Of Education: concealed a SHORTAGE or
40-'OiO III schooi accounts for years. while YEARLY
-0poitS from the treasurer's office reported the
-o'0es stralght and all right and unlawfuIly
ana unJustly withheld teachers salaries u,biIa
-A0HeS sent by the State was in his hands and
ayailable" ''a''uS ana
Inc foregoing report made on Decer,ha- %
L'ol' was signed by Mr.. Coogan and Mr. Nc
+11uenlih' and upon the strength Of n Mr.
Ne'iiy was appointed counsel for the Board of
Huucdtlon. As counsel said Mr. Kenny u
maze peremptory demand upon Mr. Grace and
oo'aihed the payment OF teachers salaries for
me months OF September October and Nova,,-
oei' aIthough Mr.. Grace had previously said
ne uld not have the money because he
mad paid II TO the bank with which he had CON
tracted loans. In an interview with mo AZ
grace said that he had borrowed money fror,
the pahks and in later interview he said he
Iau borrowed money on the teachers warrants
"hlch he had deposited as collateral"
Another peculiarly interesting feature Of +bA
treasurers career in public life IS that. after
directing the town counsel. Michael J. Barrett
to apply 10 Justice Collins for the appointrnent
OF an expert accountant TO examine the school
accounts Of Mr. Grace. the Common Council. at
a meeting held on December 2S. 1901. voted
to increase the treasurer's salary from 50 500
TO $500. At the same meeting petition signed
by thirteen property owners asking for an ex-
animation of Treasurer Graces accounts which
mad been urged by the treasurer himself was
reao' out nothing came of It. although the
Common Council. at a previous meeting had
adopted a resolution declaring the school fund
to be in dangerous condition. and suggesting
that an examination be made. Thus it will be
seen that the capability of the Common Council
Of the town Of Harrison for reversing itself and
for other astounding proceedings has rarely
been exceIled.
At a meeting OF the Board OF Education held
on January 2S. 1902. the following letter from
Treasurer Grace read: II am now engaged
IN preparing my annual report for the year be-
ginning January 1. 1901. and ending December
81. 1901. When the same is completed It will
be presented to the Common Council only and
in the same manner as has always been done
heretofore. 1t Will show the receipts and ex-
penditures Of all accounts. including the special
school tax and tie State school fund. If your
honorable body desires copy Of the same when
completed and received by the Common Council
you can obtain copy from the Town Clerk
refuse positively to render a report. I hope
and trust that 7 have made myself under
stood"
Now. the law" said Mr. Kenny expressly
provides that at the close of the school year
the custodian Of the school fund shall transmit
TO the Board Of Education of the district a re-
port showing the amounts received and dis
bursed by him for school purposes during the
year, and shall file duplicate Of such report
with the County Superintendent OF Public
Schools. The defiance by Mr.. Grace of the
School Board is, therefore, too evident to need
comment The penalty for failure upon the part
of the custodian TO make a report to the County
Superintendent of Schools on or before August
IN any year is $40 day for each day there
after until the report shall be made. Under
this section OF the statute Treasurer Grace ap-
parently is liable to this penalty since August
!, 1901. and IL ought 10 be clear that he has
made himself clearly understood"
In view Of the foregoing and Of other circum-
stances. there is strong public sentiment that
an application should be made to the Suprems
Court without delay for the appointment Of an
expert accountant to examine the books OF
Treasurer Grace, and nothing short of such an
examination apparently will be satisfactory 10
the people Of the town of Harrison
SUSPECT WIFE or MURDER. |