The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-06-01

The school committee last evening
unanimously indorsed the appointment OF
a joint special committee 10 take up the
question OF readjustment OF the salaries
of teachers and officers OF the Providence
schools. The committee Is 10 be compos-
ed or the members of the executive COM
mittee, committee on high schools and the
committee on grammar and primary
schools.
The action taken was the result of pc
titions from the high school teachers and
the kindergarten teachers for increases In
salaries, and OF report from the commit
tee on grammar and primary schools. re-
commencing an increase and reclassifica-
tion Of salaries OF grammar school prin-
cipals.
The meeting was enlivened by a passage
at arms over the report made by the ex-
ecutive committee on Mayor McCarthy's
resolution for an investigation OF the sys-
TEN of purchasing coal for the school
department The mayor was taken to
task by Orsmus A. Taft. who is connect
ed with the Eastern Coal company. for
what Mr. Taft considered reflections In
his remarks upon the coal dealers. Mr..
Taft defended the coal men with some
vigorous remarks. In which he intimated
that the dealers were already suffering
from more than due share OF popular
prejudice, and referred 10 a community
poisoned by newspapers and lawyers"
Mayor Mccarthy was quick TO disavow
any Intention OF rejecting upon their pro-
bity and Richard b. Comstock supported
his honor in his argument for an effective
system Of weighing and inspection.
The committee on accounts. certified
through Mr.. Beane that 1t had examined
and found correct So miscellaneous ac-
counts for total OF $s93s. - accounts
were allowed and ordered pa.~.
The committee on evening schools re-
ported resolution for the adoption as
a textbook Of Moore a. Miners "Practi-
cal Business Arithmetic" The resolution
was adopted
THE COAL QUESTION.
President Rueckert, as chairman OF the
executive committee. presented the report
called for by the mayors resolution.
adopted at the April meeting. on the
method observed in the purchase. weigh
Ing and inspection of coal furnished TO
the school department, and the kind,
quality and quantity used at each school
during the past year. The report stated
that lots of coal were from time TO time
sent to tho city weigher without notice
10 the dealer, and that his scales showed
no difference from the weights certified
by the coal companies. except in two
cases. where the city scales showed more
coal actually delivered than the dealers
card called for
The mayor said he did not want any
thing he said to be taken as a reflection
on the coal men OF the present day. One
dealer had already called upon him, he
said, TO request that he specify anything
he wanted the dealers to take notice Of
in the present system, and he didn't want
to be regarded as assailng them. IIe
was convinced, however, that the city
should adopt some method of weighing
and inspecting all the coal II paid for. 1t
was not good business practice not TO do
so. He moved that the report and reso-
luton be tabled until the next meeting.
This motion was adopted after consd-
cradle discussion.
Mr.. Taft said In part: ut isn't right
TO give community poisoned by news
papers and lawyers thu, idea that coal
dealers are thieves. There Is not a busi-
ness In this city that makes so small a
return on the capital invested as the coal
business. Dealers can't afford to put their
POPULATIONS In the hands of clerks. who
could give them away at any time. and
from 40 years experience l can say that
there Is no more honest class in the
community"
The Mayor--I would like to ask II Mr..
Tar: thinks / intended to reflect on the
coal dealers?
Mr.. Taft. promptly-No. l don't think
you Intended 90. You were talking about
something YOU didn't know anything
about. l guess.
Mr. Comstock said that he agreed
absolutely with the position taken by
| the mayor. No business house would
follow any other system in it's own af-
| fairs, and Its advocacy for the city by his
honor could not be taken by any sensi-
bic man as a reflection ur,on the dealers
Mr. Taft replied: II don't believe in
furtherng any more prejudice against
| the coal dealers. We're indicted for con-
60 nfTng A
| of us have got TO go to Jail or Rathbone
Gardner will make us pay n lot to keer
| out. We're liable to be Indicted again
! now, 1 suppose. because we've put the
| price down 30 cents a ton"
wHITrEMORE SIDETRACKED.
| President Rueckert reported a resolu-
| hon To pay the agent appointed by the
committee to carry out the provisions
| OF the factory inspection law relative to
issuing labor certificates for children a
| salary OF $500 year The office Is nj
present filled without Compensation by
| City Truant Officer Whittemore, but, as
| the report set forth, its duties have
become so onerous that Mr.. Whittemore
wanted compensation for his extra labor
Hon. John w. Hogan moved to put the
matter over a month In order to give
| time for obtaining further information In
the matter. He wasn't sure, he said, that
Mr. Whttemore needed the money
Howard b. Gorham supported the reso-
luton. and Edward A. Stockwell sug-
| gested that the truant officer was pres
ent and might give the desired informa-
| ton then and there.
Prof Wilson objected 20 taking up the
time OF the committee in that manner
end Mr.. Hogan's motion 10 postpone was
| finally adopted.
| Joseph o. San Souci for the committee
| on grammar and primary schools present
| ed report on the petition OF grammar
| school principals for an increase I'm sal
| aries. The report recommended the in
| crease and the adoption OF a graded sys-
| tenn. with a salary schedule for gram
| mar masters as follows:
Manton avenue school-First year $500:
second year. $500; third year. $500: fourth
| and succeeding years $500.
Schools OF ten or less rooms-First
| year. $1,000 second year. s3co0: third year.
| $780, fourth and succeeding years. 5000.
schools OF II or more rooms--Fifst
year. $500: second year 5000: third year.
| $500 fourth and succeeding years. $3.50
The resolution went over to the next
meeting under the rules.
Prof. Wilson gave notice for the com
mittee on high schools that " would rec
| ommend the adoption OF Moore a. Miners
Arit To- IA