The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-20
DETER ACTION on
] SCHOOL TRUSTEES
mo Election to Be Had Until
Probe Of System Is
Conducted
POLLARD PAvES WAY
FOR INVESTIGATION
Councifin Joint Session Re-
J. fuses to Name Board
Members at This
Time

There may be an investigation Of
the city school board. after all. In
fact. it looks as II the much-mooted
probe 10 bound TO come.
This prognostication Is based on
what happened at the joint session OF
the City Council last night when cleo
tion OF three school trustees was post
poned until an investigation of the
system could be had.
It was Henry X. Pollard. Jr., chair
imam OF the Council committee. and
business partner Of John Bagby.
member of the school board. who paw
ed the way for the probe, and he
did not say n word as to the near
approach of the municipal primary,
either.
Mr.. Pollard drove his wedge home
just as the body was proceeding to
vote on the question whether w. II.
Owen. NJ. ID. Hoge. Jr.. and John G..
Corley should be reelected trustees
for a period Of three years. In MAX
ing hts motion. Mr.. Pollard pointed
out that postponement would In no
wise hinder the business OF the school
board. as the trustees would hold
over unfit their SUCCESSORS are named.
pointed cut that the
election OF trustees and appropria-
ton of funds was practically all the
control that Council had over the
school board. Mr.. Gunst tried to
block the melton bat In vain. Dir.
Blake. who is candidate for Coun-
ell from Clay ward In the coming
primary, said ii was neither right,
fair nor Just for Council TO cast n
stigma upon the school authorities.
As for the investigating committee.
which WAS named six months ago. 1t
- la -
down TO work. He did not believe
II would ever report.
mo One to Blame.
Mr.. Gunst. IA member OF the COM
mtttee said that Mr.. Pollock. the
chairman, had resigned and his sue
cessor had never seen fl 10 get the
committee together In other words.
the other members ought not to be
blamed IL there was no one to call
. meeting.
Mr.. Blake thought II was the duty
of the chairman, whoever he might
he. to resign, II he did not do MS
duty.
Iii developed tina, W. d. Butler, OF
Lee ward. was named by President
Peters To suceecd Mr.. Pollock. out
Mr.. Butler accepted the position with
the understanding that he was not
I'd serve as chairman. This left the
COMMITTEES without a chairman.
Mr.. Peters xaid after the meeting
that he would call on Mr. Pollock 70
fceifne the craftsmanship duties. and
Ii naay be stated OH Mr.. Po1socks au-
fhorfty that he will not shirk this
s,utv II Il is thrust upon him again.
Twenty-eiEht hands were raised in
favor OF the Pollard motion when
the test was made. Only five went
up In opposition.
Mr.. Pollard Smiles.
Mr.. Pollard was all smiles when the
smoke had cleared and the joint ses-
sion came TO a close a moment or
two later. lie laughed when remind
I'D that he had put one over on GER
tain members Of the Ordinance Com
mittee. who succeeded In side-track-
ing the appropriation for Increase In
the pay OF the public school teachers
and made Il possible for those In the
elementary grades to get IL all.
Though this motive was imputed to
the Finance Committee chairman in
forcing the wouid-be probers to show
their hands, there was talk to the Eff
feet that there Is opposition to at
least two OF he rusees up for re-eic-
ton and Ii may be that there will be
developments along this line. It was
reported yesterday afternoon that Or.
Hoge would be sure TO have opposl-
tton. though the name Of his oppo-
nent II not yet apparent.
The fact that the joint session fail
ed OF q quorum last week and II was
with difIiculty that. one was procured
last. night also occasioned some talk
in this connection.
Or. Chandler. superintendent OF
schools, said after the meeting that
they had him guessing. He was un-
able TO grasp the meaning OF It all.
Councilmen were likewise in the
dark. At least. some of them appear
ed to be. The Probing Committee, a.
originally named. was composed as
follows:
a Z. Msssrs. Pollock. -Imlaaf; -Fassr;
Hrschberg. Mitchell. Kahn, and Gunst
Mr.. Butler was later substituted
for Mr.. Pollock. but he will prob
ably retire II the latter agrees to take
up the burden again.
How II Started.
tis The recommendation for probe
Rrcw out OF q petition OF the ele-
mentary teachers for increase In pay.
The Ordnance Committee was dele
II; mated 40. leak Into this matter and
while MDssrs. Butler. Hirschhcrg and
Foflock. comprising n special sub
committee. were delvinG into this
question that they came to the con-
ciuSion that the school system should
WI investigation. They 70 reported
no the full committee and the rest
was easy; FOR II was then many
taonths before tho spring election.
Meanwhile. tho school board 10 on
record 70 the effect that investigation
~ ~ Affairs and Ito method Of con-
ducting the educational system OF
Richmond cannot come too soon to
gult its mAmbers
An echo Of this same affair waa
AASMA tina nr3N ha NNtx a.