The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-09
CHARLES MAY GO.
Rumor Says Supt. of Reform
School Will Be Dropped.
Board Not Satisfied With His
Management.
FOOD BELOW STANDARD
Also Claimed That Officers Live
in Luxury.
DR.. [. w. Clark Succeeds. DIR.
Newton.
GOD BELOW STANDARD

Superintendent H, w. Charles, of the
Boys Industrial school at Topeka, is
said to be likely to lose his place as
head of that institution when the state
board of control gets ready to act on
the appointment of some one to that po-
sition.
Members of the board maintain their
usual policy of refusing to discuss pos
s1ble changes. 1t is known, however,
that fight is being made on Charles
on the ground that his management of
the institution has not been satisfactory.
AT one time during the administration
OF Governor Bailey there was consider
able talk that Charles would be dis
placed, and many charges were made
against him. It seems to be 4 fact
that nearly all those who have at previ-
Gus times been employed at the Reform
school have some pretty harsh critic
1sIns to make concerning the Charles
administration. Among other things it
Is Is claimed that the boys at the institu-
ton have not been given the right kind
of food, and that the dainties and lux
uries have been reserved for the tables
Of the officials of the school.
No action is likely to be taken on the
Charles matter at present, however, as
E. B. Schermerhorn, chairman of the
board left today for Osawatomie where
he will make the regular monthly ex-
an1lnaClOn OF that institution. re-
quired by law.
At the session yesterday. the board
announced the appointment of DR.. I. w.
Clark of Edna, Labette county, to sue
ceed DR.. c. S. Newton, who was dismiss
ed from the office of superintendent Of
youths DR.. Van Nuys, who has been
in charge at Winfield since Newlon's
dismissal, will return to his place at the
Topeka state hospital.
arIx he inf fpT16 &c
highly recommended by many people in
Labette county, and is said to be a man
of high character. He has not been
mixed up in political affairs. and the
members of the board say that the ap-
pointment is not made for political rea-
| sons. There were a number of appli-
cants for the place, and the board Sc
lected the one they thought would best
handle the duties of the office.
Official announcement is made of the
appointment of Fred w. Knapp as
secretary of the board. Knapp has
held the position of executive clerk in
slated for the job of secretary of the
board of control, as previously an
nounced by the State Journal. Knapp
will Immediately begin the discharge
of the duties of his new Office.
F. A. Baker of Topeka is given the
position of bookkeeper of the board,
and Miss Edith Wood, one of the
stenographers in the last house of rep
| Ir6S6nCallNeS, Will De Sl6HOSIdpIeI 1OI
the board.
! Nominally, Mr.. Knapp will get a
salary of 81, 900 a year, and Miss Wood
/ will get $500. These are the only
positions provided for by the board of
control bill. 1t is understood, however,
that Knapp will relinquish $500 of his
salary and Miss Wood 5000 of hers,
and that the 500 will be used to pay
the bookkeeper. M. Knapp's salary
as executive clerk to Governor Hoch
has been $1,000, and he will therefore
be getting the same salary as secretary
of the board of control. The position
of secretary of the board of control is
considered a more desirable one, as it
is one which is likely to be of a per
manent nature, if the board is really
kept out of politics. as is proposed.
There has been a hard fight for the
job of secretary, and many good men
have been after the job.
Floyd A. Baker, the new bookkeeper
of the board, has been employed in the
Santa Fe offices in this city, and is well
qualified for his new position. The
next legislature will doubtless make a
specific appropriation for the salary of
bookkeeper( and will leave the pay of
the secretary and stenographer at
$4,000 and $500.
The work of the board of control is
now getting pretty we'll systematized,
and nearly all the blank forms which
are needed under the new system of
doing business have been prepared.