Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-07-31

If Bernard Donohoe, member Of the
Board of Public Education from the
| Second ward, follows up the remarks
made By him as the meeting of the
board two weeks ago by making
charges in writing under oath those
charges are to be Investigated by
Robert G. Frainl, DIR. John Palmer,
John Burton, LAWS b. Morrow and
William G. Baugh, q committee APP
pointed by the board for the purpose,
which Is authorized to summon wit
nesses and have oaths administered so
that their testimony can be taken
under oath.
The major portion of the time at
Mduday's meeting Of the board was
deynted to q heated debate resulting
from an effort on the part Of President
| Shortlidge and some Of the other mem
beers to induce Wr, Donohoe to either
prove or Withdraw charges which they
claimed he had made AT tho nieeting
| TWO weeks aga On account Of sick.
ness in his family President Stortlidge
| did not attend the meeting on July
| l4th, but he had read the newspaper
reports and brought the matter up at
| AoAdayis meating. 81 was unable
| to be present at tine last meeting, on
account of sickness in my family he
said, after tine other business had been
/ disposed of, ''but | was panied to
notice in the newspapers the next day
! that Mr.. Donphoe had made serious
charges against this board Now ii is
due tho beard and due the pepple that
Mr.. Donohoe follow mp those charges
| by giving substantial evidence thereof.
| We do not want any hearsay evidence,
i but We want substantial proof. y
MIR, President Mr.. Donohoe re
| piled, since you have seen tit % call
| attention to this matter from the chair,
| must say that through all courtesy
| decline to produce any evidence until
| the matter is brought before this
board 50 that it can be discussed at .
| wider range,
'tAt the last meeting,'' said Mr..
Morrow, the member made serious
charges. He also said that there was
something mysterious about the boiler
contract. He spoke Of other contracts
and said that the board had swiadled
the PEOPLE out Of $1,000 or 81, 600 in
one Of the clntracts. | move that the
member be required to either prove his
charges or withdraw them and that he
be given an opportunity to do so; that
he be given the privilege OF the floor for
the purpose. The motion was carried.
This is q rather strange position to
place member in. . said Mr.. DonohGe.
You have placed yourself in this
position, the president remarked.
4 "Oh, nc" said MIR. Donohoe. ~
made no charges. II any charges had
been made 1 would think il the duty
Of this board OF some other body ia
investigate. | read in one OF the papers
few days ago where it was an easy
matter TO make charges but not SO easy
to prove them. There might be certain
differences drawn from that. Let the
public draw their own differences. In
reference to this motion | would say
that the gentleman from the Fifth ward
Mr.. Morrow has over estimated OIL
over rated what | said at the las
meeting. In discussing the bids fol
boilers | protested against the com
mittee awarding the contract until i
should report at the next meeting O
, this board. 1t was matter of abou
} Il, go aud do not think the reques
, vas unusual. The charge made wa
that the board had been defrauded il
a certain coal contract You knoy
and | know that We have heard othe
members in meetings and out of meet
ings speak about coal. / think it i
time for somebody to speak out il
/ meeting. Al recent meeting one o
the members spoke Of deficit o
+. $40, 900 for the last year What wa
the repiys | think the chair said W
: would have to economic during tn
$ coming year, but we have started gu
I in the same lines as werc followe
$ last year. These committees are as
Stunning the right TO spend money. I
one of the school committees wants (
purchase some new tincups it is re
ferred to one Of the other committees
Such small matters as that are re
n ferred to the public building or othe
commuters. After we have cpnsideFe
4 the vast amount of money spent las
: year We find deficit Of $40 0U0. | TEL
q you, gentlemen, it looks like very ba
. financiering and think the create
{ part OF the loss can be attributed I
, the loose manner in which these con
0 mittees have awarded contracts.
S ''Fhat is not the point,u remarke
i President Shortlidge. I'VE did nc
come hero to listen TO lecture q
y tinanciering tonight, although We d
z not object to hearing such talk. Bt
b what we want now is proof Of thos
g charges which have been made =
s .tlf this is to be gag said Nj
q Donohoe, but he did not finish, beiu
" interrupted by President Shortlidgt
Z who said; Ii is for you to furnish Il
y evidence to back up those charges y
AIe you through, Mr.. President?
Mr.. Donohoe asked.
I'VE want 10 get through with va
le in this matter" the president repliet
y What are those charges" MIR. Don
u hoe asked.
II Il cannot recall just now y ii
4 president replied. II had a paper
Ne home with them in it, hut left it {
e my desk.
= Mr., posiles, who was also absent
! the last meeting, also wanted to knp
ne what the charges were,
he Mr.. Rau2h said ha thought Il
o, proper way to handle the matter wou
= be To appoint g committee, with pow
2; TO summon witnesses. President ShoI
au lidge said that would he the prop
course if the board saw fit to ado
that plan.
ed The charges which Mr.. Donoh
~ have placed upon q certain coal deal
in and certain enmmitte6s, - said II
ng hTantz, chairman of the committee
he heat, fuel and ventilation, we
n, brought about on the motion to ava
"a the contracts for boilers at Schoc
nd Nos. and 5. Mr.. Donuhoe made t
Ia assertion that it lnskel very suspicio
II. thas but one hid had hesn received |
IT, the haileFs. As chairman OF the hes
~ fuel and ventilation committee aud
w member Of this hoard | will give v
Il such Information as is in my pows