The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-11
MOBILE MEN WANT TO FIGHT Stormy Session of School
 Board. TIE" IS BANDED ABOUT Messrs. Inge and Holt in Verbal
 Row. Former Reads Severe Accusations Against the Latter, Hut Apolo- gies Finally Smooth the
 Troubled Seas.

MODile, MATCH AV-topoSioA'' citement attended to-day's regular monthly meeting of the county school commissioners. All previous stormy sessions of the old board were out rivaled. The lie was frequently pass ed and once 1t looked as though personal encounter would ensue.
 It all came up over an effort or Commissioner Holt to have read before the minutes of the previous meeting were approved. a communication from Contractor F. H. Fleming.
 After the board went on record by vote that they did not care to have the letter read. since 1t had already appeared in public print. and after Commissioner Holt made vain effort to have the board rescind action ap- propriating $1,500 for certain impove- ments in the way of strengthening the cupola of Barton Academy, Com missioner Inge arose to a point of personal privilege. Securing permis- sion. after demanding that he be giv- en the privilege. Commissioner Inge drew forth typewritten document of voluminous proportions. which he be- gan to read. From the very first sen tence to the close ok the document 1t was one of the severest arraignments of a member of the board ever heard before upon the floor of the school commissioners' room.
 While no name was mentioned, the person was implied and In a contro- versy which followed between Com missioners Inge and Kinds on the one side and Commissioner Holt on the other, 1t was plainly shown that the latter commissioner was the one whose scalp Commissioner Inge was after.
 Severe on Holt.
 The comm unication charged Com missioner Holt with heaping upon the board insinuations of irregularities which Commissioner Inge said he could stand no longer. Commissioner Holt was accused of going before the grand Jury and attempting to have mem- bers of the board indicted and was accused of communicating with Gov ernor Conner and the Attorney General in efforts to bring the board into an untavorable light The communica- tion also accused Commissioner Holt with bringing on the Sprinkle. or Dauphin Island race controversy in which the board was brought almost to the brink of litigation. and 1t was also charged in the communication that the commissioner had settled cer- tain land deprecation litigations without the consent of the board. and that he instigated the Fleming com munication.
 All of these charges or insinuations were branded as falsehoods by Com missioner Holt
 Frequently during his denial of the charges Commissioner Holt pounded the table with his fist and his voice was raised to pitch that showed plainly the state of frenzy the Inge document had worked him into. Ere quently he referred to the statements
  ever wrote the document was a liar.
 And Wants To Fight.
 MT Inge referred to tho records of the school board to substantiate his accusations.
 I'll make this a personal matter with you any time you like, Commis- sioner Holt told Commissioner Inxe several times
 Then Commissioner Hines took LID the matter. But for the fact that two commissioners were seated between Commissioners Holt and Hines they would have probably resortei to force.
 The manner in which Commissioner Hines arraigned Commissioner Holt was extremely severe, saying that he should first be sure he was clean be- fore attempting to deflle others, and said that he had been charged with taking logs.
 ~A'i tiiC pcHtbp cACllcfnent Tn COm- missioner Holt burst forth at this statement, and both reached forward over the others seated between them.
 The matter was finally brought to a close by Commissioner Hines apologi.- ing to Commissioner Holt and both sh ook hands.
 Commissioner Inge did not apologize. but asked that all he had said in tho controversy with MT. Holt be ex- punged from the minutes and records Of the meeting. This was granted
 The document read was not filed with the board and but little business of importance was transacted by the board when they finally got down to business.
 When motion to adjourn was about to prevail Commissioner Inge arose and referring to the controversy with Com missioner Holt, said that he had felt hurt over certain statements and re- factions made by Contractor FleminS and wished that all his stateme nts con. oerning Commissioner Holt be expunx ed from the minutes of the meeting. On vote this was orderei