The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-11-04
CLIFFORD SETTLEMENT
!. EXPLAINED By BOARD

Produce Figures That Show Exoner-
ations Allowed Were Several Hun
dred Dollars Less Than Were
Granted in a Number Of Years.
Explanation Made by School Board
in Answer to Criticism from Some
of the Papers--other Board Busi-
ness.
"There has been some mlsapprehen-
sion as to the settlement Of the Clinord
duplicate" said School Director p. f.
Hughes. at last nights meeting or the
board, "and in justice to the board, be-
fore the taxpayers, deem 1t prudent
that we make it clear that this settle
r1ent was the best which the school
district has secured from any collector
in several years.
"'rhere has been some. criticism in
some of the papers but which, / think,
is due 10 there not being clear UNDER
standing of the settlement. This mis-
taken criticism will be acknowledged.
think. when we point out the difference
between this settlement and prior set
Elements with the boards collectors.
Now. all the eNoneralions asked ior
were not granted continued Mr..
Hughes. directing his voice towards the
newspaper men present. ut was the
impression. I believe. that all OF Mr..
Clifford's exonerations had been grant
ed prior to this settlement. This was
not true: only Il portion. all that he
had asked for: but there We're NUM-
Der to which he was entitled, but for
which he made no application. The
surety company applied for eNonera-
tions amounting to $l.Oi34S. and were
granted of this sum Sl.O.l.OS. Now. the
total generations were S2.r!iJ6. This
is the least sum of generations allowed
in years. II is several hundred dollars
less than allowcd Mr.. Moore or Mr.
Seaman. 1t Is rare that the eXoncra-
tons do not reach $500 1t will be
seen. therefore, that the settlement was
a better one than was effected in sew
eral years. As ! stated before, this eN-
ptanation was due in justice to the
board. and to remove the criticism
which arose from not knowing the
facts"
President kerWn verified Mir, Hughes
figures by consulting the records, and
he stated. in further explanation. that
the fun commission due tn. surety
company was not allowed. ON" hun-
,dred and nnetY-four thousand and
forty-nine dollars was allowed. less
than 3ia per cent. the commission
given Collector Clifford. The commits
sion allowed My. Clifford was S962.5O.
The amount of the duplicate WAS
$4,000
Superintendent Cars monthly report
showed that eleven teachers had been
absent from one To four days during
the month. This led Mr.. Hughes to oh
serve that the absence of teachers was
abnormal. I'VE shouldn't mind one or
possibly two days. he said, but when
1t extends to three and four days, and
so often, we should know the reason fol
the Absence
This led to the board deciding that
hereafter Superintendent should specify
the reason for The absence in each case.
This has not been Il rule of the board
heretofore.
Petitions asking for the opening of
night schools We're read. There were
names OF persons among the ninety
who have no children to send to the
schools which they requested to have
oDened.
ITS my belief that some teacher who
wants Il job teaching night school gets
up IA petition and seeks the names of
any one in order to make his point.
move we defer action"
The petitions were put over until Sat
urday nights meeting, until they could
he inquired into The same course was
followed with reference to Il petition
presented by Mr.. Evans from Salem
avenue taxpayers, asking that trees be
planted about No. l and No. > schools
The board adjourned until Saturday
evening.
1t was stated at the meeting that the
voucher from the Fidelity Surety COM
pany, OF Baltimore, Md, in settlement
of the Clifford duplicate, was expected
today 1t has been DELAYED hy the
president of the company bein. away
from Baltimore