The San Francisco call., 1909-07-27


ALFRED RoNCovIERI, Superintendent of
Schools.
July Fl, 1909, the superintend-
ent of schools duly signed the only
demand rendered to him for this
water supply by the board of ed
ucafion, to wit, the demand call
ing for $6,5OO, which had not been
reduced cent as a result of
the superintendent's belated ac-
tivities.
From statement issued by the BOARD
OF EDUCATION.
The squabble among the members
Of the board of education as to who
should receive the credit for cutting
off s2,5oo from the Spring Valley water
company bills has resolved itself into a
matter of distinctions. The board of
education, meaning the four directors.
Joseph O'Connor David oliver, Thomas
E. Hayden and Mrs. SIary Kincaid, yes
terday had statement prepared by
secretary E. c. Lefffngwen, the sub
stance of which went to show that 1t
was the board and not Superintendent
of Schools Alfred Roncovieri that de-
served whatever praise was due for
saving to the city $4,000 for water for
the last six months of the fiscal year.
STILL CLAIMS THE CREDIT
Roncovieri, on the other hand. admits
that it was Director Hayden who
actually brought about the reduc-
uon, but claims that it was be-
cause of his Investigations and his
activities in laying bare the over
charges of the Spring Valley that the
octopus resolved itself into a frame of
mind willing to relinquish the $2,500.
Moreover, Roncovieri says that al
though he signed the demand for $6,5OO,
reduced from $4,000. ne did it unwilI-
ingly, because he felt that he was
powerless to bring about those radical
changes which would be for the perma-
nent good of the department He still
insists that Hayden did the baby act
in making the poverty plea that the
board of education had no funds" and
asks whether the Spring Valley would
do the same for any other consumer,
or whether it would do the same thing
next year.
President Joseph O'Connor had little
to say about the controversy, but
leaned to the opinion that the board of
education or the directors had not been
given due credit. Director Oliver said
that an attempt to win praise for per-
forming an official duty was like build
ing up house of cards. He preferred
to remain outside the controversy.
Nevertheless. by order of the board.
Secretary Lefflngwell drew up a state
ment which says in part:
STATEMENT BY THE BOARD
The board assigned all of the accu-
mulated bills to Director Thomas E.
Hayden for investigation and report as
TO their accuracy and June 8. 1909, Di-
rector Hayden reported in open meet
ing that he had succeeded in effect
ing on behalf of the board a settle
wipe out, not alone the $S,62S.96 alleged
to be due to June 1, but likewise the
bills accruing during the month of
June.
Realizing that this was the best set
tlement possible under the circum-
stances, and believing the same to be
an advantageous adjustment inasmucn
as saving of more than 81 500 was
Hayden's report and approved the same.
ordering demand drawn by the Sec
retary In the sum of S6500 covering
an Indebtedness to the Spring Valley
demand was duly drawn and June 9,
1919 was handed to the superintendent
of schools for his approval
HIS "BELATED ACTIVITIES
July 21, 1909. the superintendent of
schools duly signed the only demand
rendered to him for this water supply
by the board of education, to wit the
demand calling for $500. which had
not been reduced one cent as result
OF the supertntendent's beated actiyi-
ties.
When such demand had received the
superintendent's signature the same
was forwarded without further delay
TO the county auditor for payment to
the Spring Valley water company
This statement of fact is respectfully
submitted for the consideration of yo,Ir
readers. who may have gained the inn
preston, through erroneous report.
that the superintendent of schools cor
rected a water bill which the board
OF education had already duly passed,
and had saved the city, through his
personal eNertions, more than $4,000
AS matter of fact. the superintendent
signed. after some delay, the Identical
bill which was originally rendered to
him, TO wit, a demand for $500 i'm
favor of the Spring Valley water com
pany.
REGRETS THE UNPLEASANTNESS
Director Hayden said yesterday that
he regretted the unpleasantness Gre
ated by the publication of the strife
within the board of education and
added that his only desire was to see
that no one should receive undue
credit, which he says Roncovieri has
received, or that no one should not
receive proper appreciation If credit
was due him.
Il admit that Hayden secured the
cutting off of $4,000 from the water
bills" Roncovieri said yesterday. .I
never disputed it or declared anything
to the contrary. I honestly opposed
the settlement, however, as being but
a temporary expedient and of no per-
manent value to the school department.
Oakland pays just one-fourth the
price for water that we do. / believe
that we need not pay more than 81 900
a year for water in the school depart
ment if proper diligence is observed
and the meters are carefully read. AS
early as March / called attention to
the unwarranted increase in water
bills and the necessity for a closer
inspection.
We'll. if my activities were sbelated.'
as is charged in the statement of the
board of education, / think that the
record of the board will uneuuivocally
show the contrary. The fight for a
better rate for water ought to go on,