Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-25
Motion by Mr.. Macfarland.

One of the interesting features of the case
is that bids were called for by the board of
Education for furnishing the maps involved
in the present controversy. Mr.. Parker bid
5000 and Rand & McNally bid $3.50.
Conference This Afternoon.
Mr.. Duval the corporation counsel, con-
ferred with the District attorney this after
noon at the city hall with reference to the
prosecutions proposed by the Commission
ers. District Attorney Beach promised to
move in the matter at once, the first action
being to find a law covering the case. Inc
statute of limitations has year to run yet.
Reported Presented to Board.
The regular l. letting of the board OF
education at the Franklin building last
evening was devoted almost entirely to the
consideration of the report OF the commit
tee on text books in regard to the Irregular
payment of $500 to Miss Frances B. John
ston for Photographic work on voucher
for school maps issued to Mr.. John Z.
Parker. The transaction is fully explained
in the report of the committee. That re-
port. which is signed by Mr.. ]. Holds
worth Gordon and Mrs. Bette 6. FRANCIS,
the only members of the committee In the
city, is as follows:
ITO the Board Of Education
your committee on text books. to whom
was referred for investigation and report
the communication of the secretary Oh the
board. under date of June Is, l9oS, reIer-
ring to the alleged payment OF $6oo 10 Mr.
John c. Parker for twenty-five sets OF glope
series maps claimed to have been furnished
to the schools, which, in fact, had never
been delivered, would report as aollows tho
matter and find that Miss Frances b.
Johnston, under authority OF the former
school board, rendered services In prepar-
ing certain photographs to be used, and
which were used, as a part of the District
school exhibits at the Paris exposluon
The District records show that Miss John-
ston's account amounted to $l,!26; VI TINS
amount 5000 v.1s paid in July, 1899. and on
September 60 1899 second account was
presented by Miss Johnston in the sum or
S526 This latter account was not pald,
and when the present board came into ex-
istence the account was presented to them.
While the justice of Miss Johnstons claim
was admitted. it could not be ilquldateo,
because there was no fund aVallable from
which the same could be paid. The matter
was talked of and a deficiency item was
suggested to meet the same. This. how
ever. was not pressed, and the matter was
not further discussed in the board
Secretary Makes Requisition.
"On May %, 1901, a requisition was made
nv the then secretary of the board, Major
H. H. Twombly. for fifteen Q5) sets Of
Rand McNally maps, Columbia series, at
a cost of $3.50 and twenty-five (25) sets OF
Globe series maps, at $780, the same to be
furnished by Mr. ]. c. Parker of this city.
The reauisition. in the routine of the office,
was signed by the secretary, and. in the
absence of the president of the board. ap-
proved by the vice president, under our
rules.
Your committee have had before them
the papers in the transaction and hnd that
Mr.. Parker signed a receipt on June -,
1901 acknowledging the payment to him
of 81, $50 in full for the two sets OF maps
called for in the re,;-isition. We have also
seen a copy of the voucher signed by the
former secretary stating that both sets
had been delivered. AS a matter of fact
it appears that the twenty-five sets, or the
Globe series maps were not delivered MT
Parker appeared before your cQmmlttee
and frankly admitted that he had never
furnished the maps, but that he had en-
tered into an arrangement with Major
Twombly by which he (Mr. Parker) was to
be paid 5000 for the maps supposed to have
been delivered by him, and the amount so
received was to be paid Miss Johnston In
liquidation of her claim. Mr. Parker fur
Their states that the arrangement had been
voucher, had collected the 5000 and had
paid over the same to Miss Johnston's
representative and had the receipt of the
former for the same. which receipt was
taken by him on July 0, 1901, and was left
with your committee
.Mr Parker disavowed intention to do
wrong asserting that he was informed by
the secretary that the transaction had the
| approval of General Boynton, General Har-
ries and Mr.. Stuart. At the conclusion of
the statement made by Mr.. Parker the
| three last-named gentlemen, who were
present made statements in which they
declared that none of them had any knowl-
| edge of the transaction or were in any way
consulted by Major Twombly in the matter
of the proposed manner of payment of Miss
Johnston's claim.
Without Justification.
1.-The evident attempt to connect the vice
president of the board, General Hairless
with the irregular transaction merely be-
cause his name was attached to the requisi-
ton in approval thereof is without justifica-
ton and gratuitous The signing of our
requisitions is an act done by the president
of ..ie board. or In his absence by the vice
president, as an approval of the supplies
asked for. In the present instance the
| supplies for which the requisition was made
were such as are used and needed in our
schools, and the presentation of the requisi-
| ton by the secretary for approval would in
tho coI,Y of the rap1llar business the