The evening star and Newark advertiser., 1907-07-27

lver Burdett Company. despite the pro-
test of Commissioner Henry Swami,
who at that time fought against the
change.
This is the first time in the history
OF the school board that such a course
has been taken, and a number of the
commissioners consider 1t a serious
matter to go against the recommends
ton of the Board of Examiners. who
are appointed by law to advise on mat
ters of this kind.
There are several courses open for
the hoard of examiners If the latest ac--
ton OF the committee is sustained at
the next meeting of the board. They
can request to be relieved in the future
from selecting or recommending the
selection of school books; they can re-
sign, or they can ask to have the pow
ers of the committee on text book in
this matter clearly defined.
When these matters had been consid-
cred Mr.. Eisele was granted the floor,
and referring to the presentment ci the
recent Grand Jury and the speech of
Commissioner Smith, stated that while
admit that it was deserved ON some
scores. He further stated that it was
felt more because the members of the
jury were representative high-class
men and their words carried weight.
I'VE did pay exhorbitant rates for
some property, and / went before the
Grand Jury myself and told them we
could not get the land at the price we
Tv
There is one act in regard to the pur-
chase of property that I regret, and
that is the buying of the piece adj
joining the South Market Street School.
I voted for its purchase on the word
of the commissioner of the ward, and
after the consummation of the deal l
called on the former owner and found
that the commissioner had never seen
the property 1t had been in the hands
of real estate agent. and he gave the
figures and data TO the commissioner"
When Mr.. Eisele concluded there
were several of his fellow commission
ers on their feet at once clamoring to
be heard. Commissioner A. ]. Ross
bach, the first to speak. took exception
to the previous speakers remarks, stat
ing that the commissioner should have
been more explicit. He stated that as
commissioner from the Thirteenth
Ward, he had participated in the pur-
chase and, though he did not think
himself responsible for the acquiring of
the land, he was perfectly willing to
take his share of responsibility as
member of the school house committee,
provided the other members felt the
same way about it.
Commissioner Urban Schaefer, of the
Twelfth Ward, grew angry at Mr..
Eisele's remarks, and when he arose
to speak demanded that the Repub-
lican commissioner from the Ninth
take back what he said After a sur
prising display of red-hot rhetoric, Mr..
Schaefer concluded with the statement
that he had nothing to do with the
purchase of the land except to get the
price on it, and held that he was not
to blame for the transaction. "And 1
want you to take back what you said,"
concluded Schaefer as he resumed his |
seat.
In trying to stop the controversy |
Commissioners Crissey and lie Francis |
got into an argument, and while they |
were thus engaged Commissioner
Thomas S. McCabe. who was married
in the early part of the week, entered
the Council chamber and everything
was dropped by the commissioners to
congratulate their colleague. A reso-
luton signed by the full board congrat-
ulating him and wishing him happiness
was read, and when the ordinary rou-
tine was resumed the school site aues-
ton was forgotten.
Commissioner Smiths speech on the
Grand Jury presentments was as fol-
lows:
Mr.. President-It is with unfeigned
regret that L feel myself called upon
to ask your attention for few mo-
ments upon the subject of the pre-
sentiment of the last Grand Jury, as it
refers to this Board and the Individual
members thereof. The extraordinary
and violent personal attack the Grand
Jury has INDUCED itself in making
upon this board requires to be repelled.
On this occasion my regret Is in
creased by the consideration that,
owing to the nature of the attack, es-
pecially upon the character of the
members of this board, / shall be COM
PEELED to speak OF myself. The attack
upon me, sir, as chairman of the repair
committee. was not called for by any
consideration connected with the mat
ters before 1t, but was altogether un-
provoked and untruthful Under such
circumstances, II grand juries, for any
purpose connected with individual mo-
tive or political objects, will forget
what is their honest duty and legal
limit and descend to calumniate the
private character of members of pub
lie bodies for political or other pur-
poses, instead of meeting the legal
issue, l must defend myself the best
way l can, with such weapons as are
within my reach At the same time
will pursue the example set me no