The San Francisco call., 1905-04-13
KIRK adds FUEL
TO THE FIRE.
Takes Up Charges of Shlne
and Ansa0eys ShaybIy.
State Board of Education
3 A70ardS Many Diplomas.

Thomas J. Kirk, Superintendent Of
Public instruction, at a meeting of the
State Board Of Education, yesterday,
added a chapter TO the controversy be-
tween himself and ]. H. Strine, late
secretary Of the State Textbook Com
mittee. By fling a printed statement
IN which he branded as false an init
lnstion by Strine that Kinks course
had been taken because strine failed
70 report favorably upon the text mat
Ter OF books published by any par
ucuiar book company"
1 am compelled" so sets forth Kirk,
70 brand such a statement as abso-
lutely false and to say that no one
better than the secretary knows il 10
be false
This hot shot was followed I'D by
another, in which Kirk reported that
Strine in his letter 10 the several
members OF the State Board of Edu-
cation misrepresents my actions and
motives in the various conversations
with him regarding text adoptions."
Stlll again Kirk asserted: The sec
retary draws upon his Imagination, or
the fertile one OF some one else when
he inumates that I ever designated
any members OF the State Board Of
Education over whom the American
or does that or any other book com
pany or agent have the slightest con-
troll over me in the discharge Of my
public duties
SUrine has fled charges before the
board. Kinks printed communication
vas addressed 10 the people Of Cali
fornia and. more particularly 10 my
colleagues Of the State Board Of Edu-
cation" The board did not take up
he = h. s-lx
cation, holding that the matter was
IN the hands OF the textbook commit
tee Some statements contained in
Kinks communication are as follows:
STRINE Is ARRAIGNED.
The secretary Cstrine) lacked decision Of
character or ability 70 reach q conclusion upon
anything submitted. He proposed 10 travel
about the stare snd attend eatcafionsI ssti,s~-
tngs, al the expense OF the STATE and prepare
teachers for the favorable reception OF the
published BY the State. The committee per-
Dirted The secretary 70 take with him the
ssrlous texts n resoing' some rfteen or more
sets and go 70 his home IL Southern California
70 read. examine and report his judgment He
vas gone two months and on his return had
his return he asked Kirk. II be CKiri9 was a
candidate for reelection and Kirk thought
that be fstrine) did not have his mind and
thought fully on the work IN hand for which
~ was employed.
one particular instance wherein he states
t-e- ? -HNpTtQ TIE Le1le O the Alnerlc61
Book Company OF combination OF cyr.
Stepping Stones and Baldwin Readers lei me
say that Il was the combination thai Profes-
Eor T L Heaton had Just recommended. but
which report cane n late hour Heston
IS The one whose Judgment on text
5oolzs both d. Brown and myself value very
highly I merely said in reference 20 this
recommeucstion that Il would be well for US
IN thoroughly consider 81 There dis
satisfaction fn the COMMITTEES. because this
c1nIbiusrfon was not adopted
I 90 not wish 10 do thiE man the slightest
injury injustice Mr.. str1ne knows that I
reiuctZutly gave ny consent 70 have the sal
s-v - fhs office raised from $3.50 per year,
or s1e5 pr month. 70 $500 per year payable
ont 4 the general fund. and that 1 never
consented e-S thst aid not know until the
measure wa " tor nns1 vote in the Senate.
having psseec the Assembly. that il was 70
- made payable from the schooioook funo.
T1e knows that payment out OF this fund az
the present time is Inconsistent, II not unlaw-
fuI. tie law IN force up 70 this tine spe-
ctnczllv confines ths cost OF State books 70
The items of printing, binding and such other
Printer II manufacturing books that 10 pro
vide the salary from said fund the State
Printer rrust first take Euch item into ac-
count in making his statement OF cost and the
STATE Board of Education must fix prices Of
bools 50 as 20 cover this additional item OF
cost
Nv contention. 70 which the secretary al
fu6ee 81 reference 70 determining the relative
~oet hv rhe State Printer of manufacturing
the Cvr and The Stepping Stone series Of I'VE
readers was ir the interest of fairness de-
sired that the coior pages for the purpose OF
corrpsrsson he rot considered and while the
State Printer may not have Needed ny sug-
Eesrfon. he 6ic heed the same nom the Cow
er-or without ny request and The cost of The
two ss-s q books was estimated alike IN black