The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-07-19
Hamilt0n's Performance
Continued from Page ~


question Of school athletics as men
toned in Principal Smiths report and
criticized the policy of debarring from
participation in athletics those pupils
who did not maintain n passing mark
in scholarship. Then he arraigned the
principal for publishing the names of
the pupils who had attained a rank of
so per cent. or better, saying that
had the list been reversed the school
district would have had lawsuit
ON its hands. AS to the honor system
in vogue in the high school DIR. Ilamil.
ton thought it nothing more than a
squealing system" and made no
bones of saying that honor pupils of.
fered to peach on their mates provided
the principal would increase their
standing in payment. Next the speak.
er took up the matter of the Austine
prizes, criticizing the committee for
altering the provision Of the will and
claiming that the prizes tended to
widen the gap between the pupils who
studied and those who didn T. lie
started to call the late Col. Austine to
account for not paying more taxes in
Brattleboro during his life time, but
was interrupted by w. II. Vinton who
protested strongly against bringing an
irrelevant matter into the discussion.
DR.. Holton then stated for the bene.
fit of DR.. Hamilton that the greater
part of Col. Austine's property was
in government bonds and DR.. Hamilton
apologized w. C. Horton disputed
DR.. Holton's statement, however. and
asserted that much of Col. Austine s
money was invested in savings banks
under the names of other people. The
moderator accepted Mr.. Horton s
statement and thus brought to a close
an entirely mcalled-for argument.
But DR.. Hamilton had not finished.
He next called attention to Principal
Smiths reference to the alumni asso.
citation as standing behind the high
school and wanted to know whether
the alumni or the taxpayers were back
of the school. Col Haskins thought it
unfair to misconstrue Principal Smith
and DIR. Hamilton agreed to stand cor
rected to a certain extent, although
he asserted strenuously that Principal
Smith was in the habit of talking up
his sleeve and making mental reserva-
lions. For the next few minutes the
doctor devoted his time to punching
holes in the report of the supervisor
of grades, and then stated that the
committee simply slapped the princi-
pal on the back, the principal slapped
the supervisor and the supervisor
slapped the teachers instead of giving
information about what had been done.
At this point Col. Miles protested on
the ground that the discussion had
nothing to do with the question under
consideration, and the doctor was
warned by the moderator to confine
himself to the issue, s. B. Emerson
inquired if Dr. Hamilton had any rec.
concentrations to make and received
the reply that the recommendations
would come later. Rev. Z. O. S. Os-
good suggested that the doctor ask
specific questions in order that the
committee might answer them spe-
cifcally. A. +. Schwenk amended the
original motion of Mr.. Pierce to the
effect that action be taken simply on
the report of the treasurer and Mr..
Pierce accepted the amendment in
spite of DR.. Hamilton s protests that
another motion was before the house.
Mr.. Vinton said he didn't consider DR..
Hamilton s discussion in order and
hadn't from the start; in his opinion
it was simply an exhibition of personal
spite against the principal and the
committee. Mr.. Schwenk s
amendment was then accepted by
viva voce vote. The moderator then
put the question of accepting and
adopting the report of the treasurer
but was interrupted by DR.. Hamilton
who wanted the privilege to discuss it.
This was granted. The doctor said
he did not question the actual figures
in the report but did not believe in
having $4,000 for the education of "
scholars. "I'm mad, mad clear
through" he asserted. (This caused
wave of surprise to sweep over his
Rev. Mr.. Osgood was next given an
to speak. He said in view
of the arraignment he had received
he felt almost as if he ought to be In
iail. but nevertheless he felt like say
ing word or two in regard to ms
work on the committee. He had kept
q diary and knew what time he mad
spent in school work. During the
nast wear it had averaged 80 days OF
10 hours each and for that he did not
consider his salary of $50 enormous
recompense. In regard to the super
visor. Mr.. Osgood said, she was now
receiving a salary of $3.50 and would
next wear receive $950-an amount all
too small in proportion to her ability,
On the whole Mr.. Osgood felt satlsneu
with the showing OF the committee
for the past year. H. nrr
Dental committee J. l.. Martin salo
that if ever a man had worked cheap
" Mr.. Osgood had, while l.. F. Adams
thought it an imposition to nave MI
Osgood's salary questioned. Coz. has
l,ins then moved that the discussion
Of the treasurer report terminate Ii
inst one minute. This brought an end
TO the wrangle and the report was ac'
oonted and adopted by acclamatlon'
On request of Mrs. Fremont iaihli Ia
the clerk read the minutes OF the lasC
rnorIar and adjourned meeting OF tne
IDOL meeting. Mrs. Hamilton IN
onired why it was that the sala a
tho adjourned meeting when its object
was ,no simply to elect officers according
W. was orticie 3. To this the moderator
ronI ia 5'V That the adjourned meeting
w5 p in reality a part of the regular ,sig ar
m mas M and any business eligible to to
be transacted at the hrst o coGnu
transacted at the adjourned session.