Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-02-03
NOT YET READY TO RESIGN
Unless Trustees Are Confronted With
Alternative OF Reducing Number OF
Salaries Of Teachers He Has No In
tention Of Getting Out.

In your report OF the proceedings
of the common council published IN
! today's paper. Nj. d. 5. Jones,
, the president Of that body, Is repre-
scented az saying that--Supt jenkins
is the most expensive luxury that tins
city has ever INDUCED In and that
! Trustee o. d. Bachelor had practi-
| cally admitted before the finance
! committee OF the council that the
superintendent dictates TO the school
! board What occurred before The
committee was substantially as fol-
lows:
! while I vas urging TIE view mat
| Il WAS unfair TO the schools and the
/ school board for the council 70 accuse
: Il of extravaganza without taking the
pains TO go over our budget OF ex-
| rense in detail and placing their
F., finger upon the items of extrayagant
expenditure, Mr.. Jones interrupted me
| 10 ask whether the board was not
dictated by Prof. Jenkins replied
F, that in professional matters, such as
determining the necessity Tor teach
ers in this department or that, ana
the assignments of the work TO the
/ reaching force, we had necessarily TO
follow the Judgment OF Prof jenkins,
hut that in the matter Of purchasing
! supplies. the building and grounds
| committee acted, and while ! sup
posed they conferred with Prof. jen-
kins, did not think they followed mis-
dictation IL any person present. eth
er councilman or school trustee, got
any diffs rent impression from my re-
marks than that above stated, It was
ar IMPRESSION which | did not mean
10 convey. and which l did not sup
pose my language warranted. The po-
sition which took before the commit
tee ! still maintain. What the pub
lie. including the taxpayers, are con-.
cerued about. is whether the money
for schools is wisely and economically
I expended II il is, these IS no doubt
a. out their willingness TO supply
/, what is required in order to keep our
50 .ools on "a parity with the best IN
the state. even though some of the
councilmen may entertain 4 contrary
| opinion.
These same ccuncilmen who would
! impair the efficiency of cur schools
and place them on plane inferior
10 the other cities In the state, show
no hesltsncy in voting money TO pave
our streets with the most expensive
material; to provide our fire depart
msnt with the most modern equip
meIit, and In ali other matters OF mu-
nicipal expenditure 10 keep Newport
, News In the front rank. Il Is nnfortu-
nate that they have not the same re-
sponsibIIity fer school expenditures as
I, for expenditures in other departments.
for II they had. their attitude towards
] them would be different. They would
not criticise without Investigation
When the council finance committee
was going over the budget On the
night referred to by Mr.. Jones. anc
the appropriation for the IRE depart
| mcn.. Of which Mr.. Ford Is the head,
came under review, the bare sugges-
ton thst an Increased amount would
have 10 be allowed because OF The in
creased cost OF horse feed, was All
! that was necessary 10 procure such
1 increased appropriation. and properly
&C. But. when the chairman OF the
finance committee OF the schOol beard
suggests that an increased appropria-
| ton Is necessary because Of increase
In the salaries I'D number OF teach
ers. due 10 the increased cost OF Nv
ing and increased number OF pupils
10 b. care for, the suggestion is met
either with the beard and un7roven
charge Of extravangarce. or else the
suggestion that We cut cut the spc-
ciai Departments. such D. manual
training. cooking ard sewing.
''Mr. Jones Is also quoted. in she
sfterncon paper Of today as saying.
after he coIncii meeting:
II snv member cf the Ecnool
board 30 rot IKE VIA. tie co1ncil
: says. let them band IN their reslyna-
ticn a. sry tine and tho council VII
te zisd 70 receive them'
Did see any relief sor The schools
IN this ccursc, should chteTiuiiy puF-
sse II. %. as the present board vas
selected by The coCncii. there IS 10
reason 70 assume that they yin ex-
efcise any greater wisdom n the Sc
lection % Cur euccessors. For my
part. Interested as ! sm in the growth
Of our schools and proud o. their pres
gent stste OF efBcieucy. ] shouid hkc
20 continue ny cornectioa via shsm.
and shah not sever :; untl u Il m
ally dctermined that the funds ncces-
sary Tor their proper condact and az
ysacenerf cannot b. procurea II the
council maintains the attitude cr-
pressed D. some u .ts members AZ
TIE Tuesday nisht meeting. the board