Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-02
CHARGES RIGHT,
SAYS AUDITOR
MUSHET RENDERS REPORT TO
COUNCIL
EDUCATIONAL BOARD BLAMED
FOR SHORTAGE
Copy Will Be Sent Members and 1t
Is Probable That an Answer
viii Soon Be
Made

Citv Auditor w. c. Mushet Yester-
day reported to the city council the
result of his re-examination of the
finances of the board of education re-
iterating his former statements.
The report was referred to the coun-
cils finance committee with instruc-
tions to Clerk David Carroll that the
board should be notified that 1t can
have a copy of the report If 1t
wishes 1t.
Chairman A. J. Wallace of the finance
committee said while he thanked Au-
ditor Mushet for his defense of him
self and incidentally of the council,
however. he hoped that the controversy
would end.
The board of education members
were we'll known men. he said, who
gave their services to the municipality
free of charge and in sense had TO
rely on others figures.
Auditor Mushet in his statement to
the council said in part:
ION February 10 last, when the year
was well along, the secretary of the
school board made a calculation to
see how the board members were COM
ing out, and found that, owing to the
receipts from the state and county
being some $4,000 more than they had
estimated, and that the board, not
W1L0SIdnQ1IlR
city, would receive a total cash of
81, 40S, ,563, or $4,000 more than their
needs for expenses as estimated at the
beginning of the year; but he also
found that at the rate they were spend
ing money not only would they use
up this additional $4,000, but that they
would end the year with deficit of
$73,626.64.
"Then it was that the teachers were
told that their pay would be cut and
the parents that the school year would
be shortened; and that the city council
was to blame
Big Shortage
Had they not received this extra
$4,000 from the state and county the
shortage would have approximated
$150,0O0 instead of $4,000.
"Why should the council be blamed
because the board of education has
seen fit to spend nearly 100000 more
than its estimate, or nearly $4,000
more than it's income. or to cut the
pay of the teachers and shorten the
school year,"
AS a result of the investigation Mr..
Mushet said he reported certain facts
and figures to the council, refraining
from all criticisms as to alleged eX-
travagances or matters of policy
1.-THE principal statement that / made
was" he said, that although the
boards income for this fiscal year is
over $4,000 more than the total figure
it stated it needed, 1t now estimates
a deficit at the end Of the year of over
$73,000 which shows an underestimate
by the board of nearly 100000.
''I stated that the cut by the council
was not responsible for and had no
connection with the present financial
condition of the school, that the cause
lay in the fact that the expenditures
were 500, 900 more than its own esti-
mate or the income or requirements.
Matter of Duty
II wish to go on record that I did
not seek or wish for this work, and
that I did it as matter of duty after
receiving your Instructions; that | SIM
ply gave you facts and figures without
comment, and that I refused to be
turned aside from what l considered
my duty in the premises.
"Then followed in this council cham
Der a violent attack upon me by Mr..
Scott, the president of the board of
education, and DR.. Moore, the superin
tendent of schools. You were vehe-
Inently told that my statements We're
all practically incorrect, that l hae
been shown their incorectness and had
neglected to set the matter right. My
ability, reputation and character were
assailed."
Mr. Mushet read a mass of figures
supporting his previous declarations,
then added:
II repeat that the average increase
of pupils for the first six months of
this year over the average number
belonging to the corresponding period
of last year is 25OO; that the average
number of pupils to a class is forty,
and that this would call for sixty-two
additional teachers, whereas the actual
increase is more than double that num-
ber.
81 do not consider it an evidence of
good faith or square dealing for the
board to deny the accuracy of my fig
ures and then present to your honor
able body confusing figures which have
absolutely no relation whatever to my
statements.
1.-THE boards figures may be right for
what they purport to show, but do not
discuss the statement 1 made. The
members are confusing the issue by
discussing an entirely different matter,
and they know it, for l pointed out to
Dr. Moore ten days before the board
filed it's statement with you the fall
lacy of his attacking my figures by dis
cussng an entirely different matter"
@S%-