The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-05
MHLTRY TO
BLOCK SMALL
BOARD
s School Commissioners to
Fight May EnjOin Mayor.
Riker Counsel.

War on the proposed small school
board was declared by eight school
commissioners last night at a secret
meeting in the City Hall. and the in
surgents.'' as they a:e known in politi-
cal circles. agreed to fight to the finish
against the appointment Of nine MEM
bers to the small appolntive Board of
Education, which, by the passageAo OF
the referendum at the last general
election, will supersede the present
elective body of two representatives
from each ward the first of the year.
Funds were pledged last night, it is
understood. to carry on the battle. and
several men who were not present will
aid the movement financially and in
other ways. it is laid. Two of those
present were elected to the board last
month.
1t was agreed to block the appoint
ments by injunction proceedings
against the Mayor if necessary.
Following are the men who made
up the star chamber party:
James Shape. Republican, commits
sioner from the Fifteenth Ward. chair
man of the meeting.
Henry A. Swami. Republican. COM
missioner from the First Ward.
James A. Backus. Republican. com
missioner from the First Ward. elected
to succeed himself last month.
Eugene A. Clancy, Democrat. from
the Fifth Ward, elected last month.
Charles G.. Bertram, Democrat, from
the Sixth Ward. elected last month.
William Fl. LIE Francis, Democrat,
commissioner from the Eleventh Ward,
Democrats leader.
William c. r. Kirsch, Democrat,
commissioner from the Fourteenth
Ward.
Andrew Stewart, Republican. COM
missioner from the Fifteenth Ward.
elected to succeed himself last month.
Chandler w. Riker was chosen as the
attorney to represent the interests of
the members. 1t is said that Mr.. Riker
had been consulted by several of the
newly elected and reelected commits
sioners who were dissatisfied with the
referendum vote upon the small board
which will deprive them of their
seats, as it provides that the present
elective board of thirty-two members
shall pass out of existence January l..
and that the board shall consist of nine
members appointed by the Mayor.
The fight is to be made entirely by
commissioners whose terms expire jan
uapy j, 1910, and men who would have
served during the next two years had
the referendum vote been otherwise.
AS it is the city counsel has given an
opinion to the effect that the new board
should be appointed to take their seats
the first of the year. None of the school
commissioners whose terms expire the
first of next January was represented.
James Shape the Republican COM
missioner from the Fifteenth Ward,
vas chairman of the meeting, in which
Democrats n Republicans alike
pledged themselves TO stand together
and contest the constitutionality of
the referendum. Politically the honors
were even, four of the Insurgents be-
ing Democrats and four Republicans.
1t is understood that the application
for an injunction will be made on the
ground that the small board is uncol-
stitutional. Mr.. Rfker is said to have
cited opinions from eminent jurists,
among them being one of the late
Judge Dixon, of the Supreme Court of
New Jersey. to the effect that ward
representation is necessary for a con-
stitutional Board of Education.
Another claim made by the advo-
Gates of the large board is said to be
that the small board should not be APP
pointed until the terms of the recently
elected candidates shall have expired.
This would postpone the appointment
of the small board until January /,
1910, one year after the expiration of
Mayor Haussling's term.