The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-11-09
epstein AND
CRATER CLASH IN
!. SCHOOL BOARD
Former Given Vote of Confidence
in High School Site Fuss,
However.

by members of the East Orange Boaro
of Education to PASS a resolution prais-
ing Commissioner Jacob NJ. Eppsteln
for services rendered in the board and
to defend him from the attacks made
against him during the recent cam
paign in the Third ward, when he was
defeated for reelection by Frederick
w. Garvin, Commissioner Robert M
Crater, who has shown considerable
independence of late, tried to prevent
it's passage, but his effort was unsuc-
cessful.
Mr.. Crater argued
against the passage of the resolution,
although he claimed he had nothing
against Mr.. Eppstein personally, ana
the commissioners tried to debate in q
calm voice, but soon personalities were
exchanged. and both Crater and Epp-
stein were elected members Of the
Ananias Club.
During the session Mr.. Eppsteln
moved that the Parkway site, which
he had recommended as chairman oil
the special committee was the best
place to be used for a new High
School. be abandoned, but the other
members objected and had him prom
Use not to bring the matter up until
the Board of School Estimate meets
next Saturday night. Commissioner
Wilson tried to have a motion for ad-
journment voted on, but his g
ton was not noticed, and Mr.. Eppstein
offered to resign as a member OF tine
School Estimate Board, but his col
leagues asked him not to do 1t, and he
agreed. He said, however. at the Sat
urday night session he will oppose the
Parkway property.
The resolutions passed read:
I'm view of various misleading state
ments and attacks which has been made
regarding the character and work OF
Jacob M. Eppstein, as chairman OF the
committee which recommended the
Parkway site to the Board of Educa-
ton, be it
Resolved. That the following minute
be entered in the records of this board:
''That in the examination and selec-
ton of the Parkway site Mr.. Eppstein's
course as chairman of the committee
was marked by energetic and whole
hearted devotion to public duty; that
the committee was cognizant of all the
steps taken with regard to the same,
and thai no criticism or insinuation Is
justified rejecting upon his personal
character as an honest, conscientious
citizen and efficient member of this
board"
Mr.. Crater alone voted against the
passage of the resolution.
1.-THE men who circulated thai Htera-
ture against me with the wicked insin-
uations are no better than the man who
would stab you in the dark declared
Mr.. Eppstein during the discussion.
1.-THE people in the Third Ward, l now
find out, were against the Parkway
site and the vote against me would
have been the same if those statements
were not circulated. / heard one man
say when | went to vote that he Won
dered what became of that extra $500
that it was claimed the board was pay
ing for the Parkway property
MI. Crater started to say all would
be well now thai MIR. Ep- ctein had
been white washed by the passage Of
the resolution, hut the other members
raised the cry that the word was not
fair and he withdrew it. He claimed he
IOlQ the DOdTQ IDdI 81 lOUS do NtiCy oo
decided for the parkway he would go
out and flint them. His colleague
from the Second ward, Commissioner
Wilson, made a few heated remark
at this point and claimed Mr.. Crater
was the man who worked hard for the
defeat of Epstein, and that he was not
entitled to much sympathy in the
board. Crater then went after Wilson,
and there was another warm session,
he claiming Mr.. Wilson a tried to
work a similar game" in the Second
ward once.
Mr.. Eppstein asserted that n man
who said he did no keep his word TO
the people and that he had receded
from the Arlington avenue site and was
for Walnut street, told a lie. and he de-
fled Mr.. Crater to prove he said he was
for the Walnut street property. He
said he thought the parkway site was
the right one, but he was now willing
to vote against 1t to respect his con-
stituents' wishes, even though he was
going out of office January 1.
Mr.. Crater then declared Mr.. Epp.
stein had said he would help him work
for the Walnut street property, and
Eppstein claimed the statement was
untrue.
81 told Mr.. Eppstein while we were
in conference one night that there was
only one logical solution, and that was
to secure the Walnut street property
said Crater.
THAT is not So" answered Eppstein
"I asked him if he would help M
fight for Walnut street, and he old MI
he would" was Crater's next statement
THAT statement is an absolute false.
hood replied Eppstein.
Nothing is being gained by this
talk" broke in President Sill, land
do not believe it should go any fur.
ther.'
81 agree with GU, answered Crater
land 1t Is something someone will b,
very sorry for before long"
President Sill. then bad some more in,
teresting news for the board. He an
nounced that letters had been sent t.
him by Edward K. Mills, attorney foI
Mrs. w. H. White. on whose propert,
in Arlington avenue the board paid al
option price, to the effect that he hat
been instructed to bring suit agains
the board by Mrs. White, as there hat
been a deliberate attempt on tn
boards part to break its contract. Mr.
Sill said that, as the Mayor had vetoed
the City Councils resolution to buy tn,
White property and then sell 1t again
It was up to the Mayor and Council I,
consider the letters, and he had turned
1 fLA <ax-. A a