The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-04-01
SCHOOL BOARDS
ADJOURNMENT
Prevented Election Of Superln-
tsnd0nt Of SchsO| Property.
The SESSION WAS VERY LIVELY
Several Of The Members Locked Horns IN
Debates on Questions Of Rules
Of 0rdar

Tor the first part of the meeting OF the
school committee last evening at, tho
r-tms In the Classical high school the
tuahiess was OF the routine order and ex-
-ept for the tense undercurrent OF feeling
/. Aed upon the expectation OF what was
10 ccme up later, II was a most quiet and
delibsrtive body trapsacting the business
Of the meeting.
When the question OF the election OF tho
sup. rin ntendent OF school property came up
for consideration. however. the electrical
ly charged atmosphere fairly snapped
with vitticism and eloquence as each man
mado public his desires as to the election
f.irg considered There were charges and
counter charges veiled and open before
the motion to adjourn was put 10 a vote
ana carried
A PARTY VOTE
II was almost not wholly a party vote
that decided the matter the Republicans
winning IL day. The meeting was called
to orcer by President Reuckert at $40
O'Clock Superintendent Small recommend
ed the appointment OF s. Elizabeth Otis
pei manent teacher OF the primary and
grammar grades. which was accepted and
approved
George r. A Beape reported that the
coDmittee ON accounts had audited 81 ac-
codpts, TO the Amc uDt Of $4422 96. and the
% counts were lllownd and ordered paid
Mr. Beane also reported the unexpended
bs s.sEces OF the school department. In an
swcr to a question asked by Richard B.
Constock Secretary Rose stated that aor
count are likely to be rendered with
" a month
DIR. p. Francih Walker reported for the
COZ naIttee on evening schools as to the
case oS Helen NJ Evans, who was recent
ly cropped from the teaching stan. The
committee sustained the action OF Super
ttendent Small.
rvr the executive committee President
Rueckert presented a report made by
Superintendent Srr,all with relation to
Mr. Small's receat visit 10 Indianapolis
and ether westera cities. his report being
cred printed
Prof George u. Wilson reported a reso-
l. non authorizing an edition OF jack
sons Electricity and Magnetism" a new
look, to the list OF books in use In the
JecS meal high school The book was or
| dereo.
MR.. BARR RENOMINATED.
When IL came time for new business TO
be considered tia election of superinten-
dent OF school property was put before
the body by Richard b. Comstock. who
placed in nomination the present holder
of the position James II. Barr. making
a eulogistio speech as 10 the qualities of
tho nominee.
The nomination was seconded by John
W. Hogan, stating at the time that It was
the duty under the bylaws to elect at
this time. He also advocated the placing
OF the Office so as TO subject the holder
10 the tenure OF good behavior. as was the
case with all the other school offices.
This. he said. had been emphasized by
the action OF the committee in a resolu-
ton adopted In 1901
In continuing. be said that should this
action not he taken the committee would
be stultifying itself and be placing itself
IN the position OF not doing what IL
recommended The committee, he said,
was assembled as an existing body and
should do right by the oaths and the
people who elected them.
MR.. WATERWAYS REMARKS
Mr. Waterman then gained the floor
and said that II was not wise TO conduct
the election at the presept time. because
the incumbent would hold over till his
successor had been chosen and because
there were signs that something would
be done in the assembly relating 70 the
committee. Pending the action OF the
general assembly on the matter he
thought II would be wise could the. cleo
don be deferred Till the next regular
monthly meeting.
Mr. Coms took called for the election at
this time and asked for counter nornina-
tons.
MR. CoMSTOCK DIRECTS
be referred 10 the committee on school,
houses. Mr.. Conrstock. however, took
this as q means OF lodging the issue.
saying:
1--WE have heard good deal lately about
our not being competent, that the school
committee is Incompetent 20 handle the
school affairs. and now are you going
70 admit that by waiting for the leefs-
lature TO take your power away be-
cause you are Incompetent Is IL that.
or what Is n? The gentleman from the
Fifth ward has dire forebodings of some
thing that the assembly Is going to- do
and for that reason he wants TO wait
for the legislature 10 confirm the asser-
ton that we are Incompetent But really
now Is II that, or rs II something else
that is In the wind7 Isn't II that Someone
Is already promised the job7 That some
political worker is slated for It? have
been given TO understand that a public
man. a politician. when asked today about
this matter. said that he could not vote
for this man or that one because he had
promised To vote for Mr.. Grant. and be-
cause Mr.. Grant was going TO get the
position. sure. Come, admit It, Saw tina,
either you are incompetent or that some
political scheme is being hatched What's
the use OF this goipg around circle by
referring ~ To committee that can't
do anything with IT."
ANOTHER NOMINEE
There was then a season Of parlisnen-
tsry debating. In the midst OF which Mr..
Prescott nominated Frank s Foss for
the position. This was again referred
70 as the absurd way OF handling the
matter by Mr.. Comstock. Air. Hogan
then arose and made a lengthy speech
on the attitude Of the members Of the
committee. telling them that they were
stamping themselves az catering 20 pol
tiles or acknowledging the fact that they
were Incompetent 10 transact the business
for which they were elecf@f He said
/ ha CANA fbara fo ma r-rord