The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-04-04
FOSS IS CHOSEN
TO The OFFICE
School COMMITTEES [" Turned
Down" James \. Barr.
BUT PRAISED HIS ABILITY,
final Vote Showed 19 Against and II For
BsH-A Red Hot Session
Held.
BUT PRAISED HIS ABILITY

Last evening the school committee
elected Mr.. Frank Foss in the place or
Mr. James H. Barr as superintendent OF
school property, ana later commended
the latter for the excellent services rem
dersd during his employment, passing
resolution to that effect when the an
nouncement was emade after a ballot that
Mr.. Foss was elected, the vote standing
~ for Foss and % for Barr.
Those who advocated the reelection
az Mr.. Barr for the position were very
strong IN their language during certain
intervals IN their addresses. charging rhe
Republican members with introducing
politics into the matters OF the committee.
aud acting as men with ropes around thel.
necks fearing that the last state ot
affairs would be the saIne an that known
TO exsist with the Republican machine
anc the liquor men. that even the tanitors
system in the schools would be reduced TO
a system OF tlibery, corruption, and de
bauchery.
Considerable amusement was caused by
the predicamsnt which Mr.. OConnor or
.he Second ward found himself in when he
arose 10 make a few remarks on tho
fitness OF MIR. Foss for the position rs
against Mr.. Barr. Mr. Comstock seemed
20 have oeen waiting for just sucn AN
oocosion for no SCORER had Mr.. OConnOr
sealed himself than Mr.. Comstock was on
his feet and asking questions tending 10
show tha. Mr. oConnor was not very well
acquainted with tho new candidate.
A CASE FOR RESCUE.
So fast did the questions come and 40
pointed were they that the Republican
members OF the committee had 20 rescue
their ally by calling for the question.
Among the questions asked were: How
long have you known Mr.. F'oss? Is he a
resident OF this city? n so, how long
since? Where did he get his training
for the position? and several others. while
the other members or the committee
broke into laughter
ro cap the climax, Mr.. Beagan gained
the floor and asked Mr.. O'Connor II he
had not shortly before the meeting an
nounced that Mr. Grant was the man best
fitted for the position. even though now
he had changed and was In favor Of
the nominee before the commttteef IL
was a timely rescue from a position that
was becoming ridiculous. when there
came cries OF Question, question, ques-
tion."
The committee was called 10 order
about $50 o'clock. and after the reading
of the call the speeches placing In the field
the two candidates were made. Mr.. Rich
ard r. Comstock was the FIRST TO gain
the floor and he isyed the opposing
members OF the committee in strong Ian
guage saying that he had nominated Mr..
Barr at the last meeting and did the
same again. IL any one member OF the
school committee could rise in his seat
and say that Mr.. Barr was incompetent
ne would refuse TO vote for him. If any
man voted against the nominee he did so
because Mr.. Barr was a Democrat Every
time the Republicans came into power
they turned every Democratic down, even
l.rt~a ar4 fAsA Natt tfA. ALI To-.
You. gentlemen. paraded me fact
that the committee ruled that all
OFFICERS be under the tenure of good
behavior. We, the Democrats. did IL and
you could not have done so without the
aid OF Democrats and their blotting out
politics.
THE position was promised TO a mem
hsr OF tho committee by the Republican
machine member OF the council left
his duty I'm that body to appear here,
leaving his interests in competent hands
there. You, by your votes last Friday
night, declared that you prefer 10 await
the benign pleasure OF the general as
eembly in selecting officials. / hear that
you are going to turn the whole school
system into a political scheme, even rul-
ing the teachers with politics
Bribery, corruption and dobauchery
was the case with the saloon men,. The
same is planned for the janitors OF the
public schools. The Republican party
has stopped at nothing 20 win and keep
its power In the state. Not a dollar OF
the three million distributed fell into the
pocket OF a Dcmacrat last fall
Forget politics for tonight and elect
q man not charged with delinqulncies
am weary OF being held up as introducing
politics into tho school committee II Is
you that have done so. by not allowing
q Democrat 10 hold n position.
If this committee docs not mean square
politics. then stand up like men and say
why you turn him down or say that YOU
don't do so because OF politics"
NOMINATION SECONDED.
Mr.. John W. Hogan seconded the
nomination. again saying: I'VE were told
that adjournment was desired because OF
the proposed action OF the registration.
but in reality II was for getting together |
and to count noses"
He then llkened the occasion TO n s1ni- |
lar one I'm the early history OF Connecticut |
when there was n certain resolution /
passed relative 10 land: Resolved that |
the land belongs TO the saints. and re- |
solved that we are ths saints So with 1
the partisans here.
lie then talked on salary and its basis
ara plead for shame. alluding 20 members
n the council saving that not only is Mr.
Barr Go 20 out treachery Is to prevail and /
another Is % 60 sso The public ought 20 /
know and should be Informed OF the true /
ftatc ~ affairs.
He then told of meeting OF the COM
riittee on Saturday. when a resolution
recommending Mr.. Barr 20 the school |
committees wss laid on the table by a
vote OF : 90 z
The committee felt JUSTIFIED IN doing
that because OF duty
IL n needless 20 Say how n number OF
us feei I'm tho natter. When Il comes 20
giving 1tr. Barr the position with his
politics. then there IL a gorge with most
or us. This is the example set for the citi.
xsns whom we reprtsent aud those whom
We are striving 20 educate We want the
bUbnc TO know about Il and how the plct-
IRE looks fr,'n the inside.
Whos rot the rope around the necks OF
this committee7 Who pulls the str1ng7
We mas have Sorns politics among the
D<mccrats. but not the ia "a no. cer,