The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-02-14
VENESS PROGRESSIVE MEASURE BEATEN BY
 CLOSE VOTE; HE RESIGNS
Commissioner CuIInan Pays Tribute To VeneSS AbiIiy:N Move To Name Successor In Board Of
 Education

The resignation of Commissioner Alfred E. Veness from the Board of Education, owing to his removal for business reasons, to Chicago, was ac- cepted by the Board of Education, last evening, after a complimentary speech had been made by Commis- sioner John J. Cullinan. Commission CT Veness did not submit his resig- nation until the meeting of the board was practically concluded, and he had seen the defeat of one of the resolu tions the championing of which ca 1sed no little flare-up in the Board of Edu- eaton. No step was taken towards electing a successor.
 Commissioner Feness sought 70 bring his associates in the board to his mind in the matter of throwing open the schoo' houses as social cen ters, to be used for concerts, lectures and other work Of an educational na- ture. This resolution and several others introduced by MT. Veness along the same lines precipitated consider able discussion several weeks ago. At his request they were left on the tatle until his return to the city, and last night they were taken up
 MT. VeneSs spoke at length in fa- vor of his resolution resembling the rue that prohibits the use of schools for other than educational purposes He said that within few weeks he had been forcibly impressed by the methods of other cities, further west, especially in Chicago and vicin ty, where public lectures are arranged; where mothers are taught to care for babies, and where other work is done to improve the moral conditions Of the people. He called attention to the possibilities in this city of hold1" 2 concerts. The Hungarians, he said, are music loving people Why not give them a chance to ho'1 concerts in schools Sunday afternoons? Why not hold lectures, and other things or these the S'1el peeple mt into he pop1lation?
 Commissioner C;ullinan supported MT Veness' plan. He said it was incon- ,istent for the board to have rule ,n its books, prohibiting the use of the buildings for other than school purposes; when it was a well known 'act that the Lincoln school is used pr election purposes.
 Commissioner Bel said his feelings were too well known to his associates o be re-stated. He hoped the rule would not be rescinded.
 Commissioner Webster asked com missioner Bell why he opposed the 1pening of the schools. Commiss. oner Rel said it would make the schools too dirty.
 Commissioner Monahan referred to the practice at Hartford. He said It was the custom to open some Of the schools for public uses, and that ne had heard from Hartford there was complaint about the strewing of the floors with cigar butts, tobacco ana the like.
 Commissioner Challenger said he be- lieved the matter should be- left to the committee on schools.
 When a vote was called, the chair was in doubt, and President I1eberum asked for rising vote.
 Those who arose to vote In favor or rescindi lg the rule were Commission CTS Bishop, Webster, Gu Hnan, Veness and Monahan. The chair di1 not ask the five who remained seated to vote in opposition, but ru'ed that the reso- lution was lost. MT. Veness then said his other resolutions, since they hing ed upon the resembling of the rule which the board had refused to change. Then MT. Veness res. .gned
 Tt is with considerable regret. said he, that I am taking the step l am about to announce. have been a member of this board now for nearly a year, and I have taken deep Inter est in the work He said that when business interests called him to Chi cago, he took into consideraf ion the work of the Board of Education, re- gretting ve~y much that he felt con ditions impelled him to go to Chi cago.
 T wish the work of this board wei" said be "I hope, and 1 believe that this board as constituted today will take it's work very, very seriously. l believe, notwithstanding you did not agree with me sometimes. your work is going to be in the right directo on I am very sorry that I won't be ale to work with you in .the gigantic scheTne you have under way fn con nection with the new High School It is a scheme that requires very serious and lengthy consid era tion."
 Then he te7dered his resi-nat'on.
 MT. Cullinan replied: ''I hel eve I voice the sentiment of the board in saying that I regret the going of MT.