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

further than I can help it. The gen
tlemen of the Grand Jury may be GER
tain that, however ready | may be to
compete with them in any fair and
honorable field, yet, when they aban-
don such fields and seek decorations
for oratorIcal flourishes in the purlieus
of a fish market, they must be content
to remain in the undlsturbed possess
sion of their chosen place. l cannot
enter the lists or compete with them
there. They may there revel and re-
gale their delighted senses with the
congenial sweets of their choice with
out interruption from me. lt would
seem that the purpose of said Grand
Jury was to supply Its own defects, or
In obedience to the working of the
wires. In fact, sir, do not know pre-
eisely what ideas the gentlemen Of the
Grand Jury intended to convey to the
voters of the city of Newark: but If
they intended by their presentment to
charge or intimate that in all instances
or in any instance alluded to |, or we,
acted in obedience to the will of any
person or political party In the city of
Newark or out of 1t, the charge and
intimation are unworthy of the place
or of any member of Grand Jury. l .
am no mans mouthpiece on this floor.
/ consult no one; my own will and my
own judgment are my guides. respect
free men What | deem right and
proper / speak and do at such time as
suits me. My views and arguments,
feeble as they may be, are exclusively
my own. l am alone responsible for
what ] do, and so long as / keep
within my legal and moral rights, both
privately and publicly, and as mem
Der of this board, no person or persons
or body has legal right to call me
to account.
The imputation of the Grand Jury
and those composing same Is insulting
to this board, to the individual mem.
bers of same, to the sense of justice of
the people of this city, to my constitu-
ents and to myself, and I owe 1t to
the occasion to repel 1t with all my
power. AZ chairman Of the repair
committee | have always acted, as |
thought, for the best interests OF the
board and the school system. l have
tried in every manner to be both fair
and Just to every member of my COM
mittee. l have, / feel, honored the
judgment of our president, who ap-
pointed me I know, gentlemen, that
all of us, as a body and as individuals,
have performed our duty as members
of this board with honorable inten-
tlons; and it Ill becomes grand Juries
to make pTesentments, notwithstand-
ing private or political motives, that
will cast discredit or dishonor. If
there is legal ground for Indictment
then the Grand Jury should indict;
but throwing mud" is unworthy of
gentlemea.
and action ana vote of the individual
members of public bodies are to be un-
worthily criticised and motives inn
pugned by those who are clothed with
n transient power, what will become of
efficient results? Members Of public
bodies will be afraid to act, public OPP
Grafton must come to a standstill and
the public must suffer. No, gentle
men, these special privileges to insult
must stop, our constitutional rights
hp fTpadOn1 n
speech ard action must be unham-
pered.
l care not how other members of this
board may feel or act, but for myself
| propose to go on as l have hereto
fore. in spite of grand juries or others.
l propose to do my duty as a member
of this board to the best of my ability
and to the end Of my term. 1t may be
possible that I shall be returned by
my constituents, but II | am | shall
act and proceed as l am doing now.
/ do not believe there is a member of
this board whose soul does not burn
with indignation when he thinks OF
the injustice of this presentment, and
do not believe that we should remain
silent and passive under such charges
and insinuations as contained In the
presentment. We want fearless, hon
est and broad-minded mon on our
Board Of Education, and without such
men our educational system must be-
come a failure.
l am proud to say that, notwith-
standing adverse criticism, our edu-
cational system, in comparison with
those of other cities Of like size, is
equal 10 any, and perhaps better than
a great many. l thank you.
Three teachers were retired by tn
board. They are Miss Mary A. Dougal
who, in addition to the teachers retire
ment benefit, will receive a pension, an
Miss Margaret A. Began and Mis-
Sarah A. Beam. who are eligible onl
for the fund.
The report CT the teachers committee o
the changes to be made in the coming yea
in the teaching staff follows:
designations (all from July !, 1907(-Id
l. Watson. as first assistant in Ellit
Street; Mary F. Richards. from HambuT
Place Mrs. Katharine G. Shields, from Han
burg Place: Elsie Lyon, as kindergarte
assistant in Hamburg Place; Lillian
Shpnan, as kindergarten assistant In SUI
sex Avenue.
Furloughs-Frances M. Haring, Of II
High School. furlough extended indefnitel'
from July /, 1907; Helen n. Newbury: {
Monmouth Street for one year, from Sci
tember l, 1907.
Temporary experimentation g. Gun
berland. as assistant director OF physics
training, at salary OF 1880 per annun
from September I, 1907.