The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-04-20
NO INDICTMENTS
IN SCHOOL BOARD
INQUIRY

/ Charles J. George. president or the
board. was charged with being inter
osted IN certain school board repair
joOs. Mr.. Robson Gnds that the work
in question was done by Henry b
George, q son OF President George
under tho direction OF Supervisor Al.
bert r. Stewart. and In the name or
his bookkeeper. Francis G. karpp.
Cant. Stewart Is found To have acted
legally Ia letting the work to karpp,
representing Henry +. George, and
while Mr.. Robson says there are pos
sibie grounds for criticising Henry D.
George for ooncealing his work under
the name OF .Karpp, he declares that
an Injustice was committed In attach
ing any blame 10 Charles j. George.
Henry p. Georges Explanation.
Henry +. George explained TO the
board that his very purpose In taking
the work IN the name of his book
keeper was 20 guard against q sus-
picion that might arise In the minds
OF some people that his father was
doing tho work. The report finds that
the younger George IL q bona tde con-
tractor connected IN no business sense
with his father.
other Charges Not Sustained.
Other charges covered by the report.
which are held 10 be not sustained
by the evidence. are as follows:
That certain items allowed by tho
board for sand, lime and cement were
irregular.
That charges were allowed Henry +.
George for repair work never done.
That there were irregularities In
connection with the Western High
school annex.
That the school board was swindled
in connection with its coal supply.
That asphalt work IN certain schools
was improperly done.
That Secretary VIM. ]. Lee, OF the
school board, solicited 800 from
Archie Reid, and was paid that sum
for a clerkship In his Office. The re-
port finds that II Reid paid Lee 800.
as Reid claims. the transaction oc-
CURED before Lees election.)
That Robert Rutter was offered q
clerkship II he would put up 800.
That there was crookedness In the
purchase Of lot In Fairview.
Hutton Charge Imaginary.
That the real estate firm Of Hutton
& Nall. OF which Inspector George E.
Hutton is a member. manipulated the
purchase OF playground site for the
Higgins school. (This charge Ia de-
clared to be wholly imaginary
That the book trust openly bought
its contracts from the board.
That the American Book Co. Is al
ways favored. regardless OF the merits
OF text book. Zone Of Inspector
Goldberg's charges.)
That II was the practice OF Edwin
Henderson. Thomas j. Navin, Judge
Connolly, p. J. NJ. Hally, Allan II.
Frazer and George +. Monaghan TO
represent applicants for teachers po-
s!tions before the teachers committee
OF the board.
On this point the report says:
That serious charge Is shown to
be utterly without foundation. II was
shown that the influence Of these men
was so slight that In nearly every case
as many names suggested by them to
Supt. Martindale. were rejected by
him on the ground that the applicants
did not possess. In his judgment, the
requisite qualifications as there were
names accepted.
We deem II necessary to 20 into
particulars Of the latter charge. Judge
VIM. F. Connolly went but once before
Mr.. Martindale with the name Of an
applicant. Mr.. Martindale raised
question as to the applicants qualifca-
lions, whereupon Judge Connolly went
before the committee In a public hear
ing and the teacher was appointed. At
that time the teachers committee and
Mr. Martindale were hostile. That
case Ia some years old"
II appears that neither Mr.. Hender.
son nor Mr.. Navin were ever before
the committee In the interest OF an
applicant. Mr.. Hally has twice so.
licited the appointment OF night school
teachers, only one Of whom was found
qualified In Mr.. Martindale's opinion.
Mr.. Frazer has often requested, In
formally, the appointment of teachers.
but his requests have been as often
denied as granted. He and supt.
Martindale have been friends from
boyhood.
Extended reference Is made to n
charge by Inspector Schultz that
Capt. Stewart and Supt. Martindale
offered him 800 with which to make
a Oct that Capt Stewart would re-
ceive the vote OF DR.. A. G. Lee for
supervisor. Schultz said he Inferred
that the real purpose In rendering the
money was to influence his own vote
for Stewart Schultz did vote for
Stewart as matter of fact and before
the justice he referred to Stewart as
an honest and square man."
Acouser Hasn't Confidence in charoe.
IF the complaining witness himself
has no confidence In his accusation Il
cannot be expected that others will
view II In any different light" says
Mr.. Robson.
In conclusion the report says:
Certain complainants have been
free In the use OF such terms as
gang bunch" and crooks" In re-
ferring to their associates and on
Gals OF the school board and In light
! ly making broad and indefinite
charges OF dishonesty, corruption,
bribery, misfeasance and malfeasapce
against those who belong to a fac
ton opposed 10 them. The gravest
and Most, serious charges came from
them with a freedom that, consider.
Ing the groundlessness OF the accusa-
lions, was abhorrent and shocking to
the sense OF Justice. - That COS
SIP. rumor. hearsay and suspicious
should be entertained by complainants
apd through malice, hatred. or what
ever the motive, be strained into def
mite accusations, IL not only an impo-
sition upon, our Offices, but approaches
criminality.
There Is no public oficer who can
escape criticism but where criticism