Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-04-03
THE LIE GIVEN DIRECT.
Senator Phelan and Commissioner
 Loomis Talk to the Point.

| At the meeting of the board of ed-
 ucation last night Commissioners
 Loomis and Phelan had another run
 in and for few moments they were
 not a bit backward in expressing
 their opinions of each other. It was after the approval of the bills for the month of March when the discussion took place, and Commissioner Loo- mis started the ball rolling by say ing:
 It is a shame, the manner ;n
 which the majority of this board ig- ! nores the minority. AS an example,
 I speak of the case of Peter Law Tor, employed as painter in tile school department. He asserted to
 me that recently Inspector Slavin
 discharged him and when he asked for what reason the inspector re-
 piled that MT Phelan so ordered. In
 MT Lawlor's place was hired man
 by the name of Harris, who is not, as understand, competent paint CT. Lawlor was member of the
 union and considered a good man. The only reason that Commissions Phelan gave for discharging him was that it was a question of politics.
 Politics have been the ruination of this board. It is a deplorable fact when the public schools of Water- bury are subseryient to the senator ial aspirations of one of the mem- bers of this board"
 The republican commissioner talk ed in calm voice and while he was speaking one could hear a pin drop.
 Senator Phelan replied as follows: "I would like to refute the state- ments made by the gentleman across the table who says that I am using the schools for political purposes. The fact is, Lawlor was not hired by this board and he is not, what is more, competent painter. He was discharged by MT Chase and myself, the committee on hygiene, and you," he said, looking at MT Loomis, were asked to attend that meeting, but you did not. MT Asheim ask d you to attend the meetings, but you did not care to and now you come here playing to the grand stand. Mr Lawlor deliberately lied when he stated to anyone. that I mentioned politics in connection with his dis charge. When Commissioner Loomis or any other member of this board asserts that use my position for po- litical purposes I declare that it is a lie."
 For while everyone was quiet. Finally Mayor Thoms, who was in the chair, asked the clerk if it was not within the power of the commit tee on hygiene to discharge painters, etc. The clerk replied that it was.
 "Well, you have both had you: little say now, SO that settles it.
 Lawlor, 1t is understood, was ap- pointed with the understanding that he might have his position a week, a month or a year, but whenever a new man was to be appointed he was to walk. When he got bounced recently, although a democrat, he went to Commissioner Loomis and explained the case, consequently the last night.
 A communication was received frim the father of Leon Plant asking that the boy be allowed to go to work. Although he is II years of age he has not advanced far enough .o be allowed to enter a shop. Super- ntendent Tinker and his teacher at he Welton street school also fa- rored his going to work. The mat .ern was left 0ver until future meet ng.' The members seem to think hat the boy should be made to go to ichool until he is further advanced.
 The report of Truant Officer Dee