The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1912-10-29
CHECK COULD NOT
Be RECEIVED
Board Of Education Returns
Mr.. Hopkins Contribution.

John A. H. Hopkins cannot buy alb
solution from the board OF education
Tor his activities in Morristown school
affairs His attempt to do so was
turned down by the board at its meet
ing ON Friday night. There was re-
celved from President F. Landon
Humphreys, of the Civic association.
letter reciting that Mr. Hopkins,
resenting the criticisms of his ac-
tlvities in school affairs because of
his being nonresident, had handed
Dr. humphreys check representing
the dlfference between the taxes he
pays in Morris township and what he
would have to pay if he lived in
Morristown, and enclosing this check,
which was for $50, to the school
board with the request that the
money be used for the general edu-
cational work of the town.
Former Mayor Charlton A. Reed
declared that the board should not
receive the check as it was sent in
spirit of resentment and amounted
TO nothing more than an attempt to
square himself by Hopkins and place
himself in position TO hammer
everybody he pleased
1t certainly does not square him
self" asserted u. Farrand Sturgis,
"and | think the board should not
accept the check, though
Mr.. Hopkins puts this matter on a
false basis, said Mr.. Reed. in that
he wants the board to license him to
criticlse It. The board did not care
one way or another about the criti-
cism,' said Mr. Reed, Except that
If it was just it misht profit by it and
II unjust IL would pay no attention.
Anybody can make a donation for the
cause of education, but this man
wants to buy a license for future
criticism, or does the check repre-
sent an appeal for absolution for past
sins?"
He wants to compound a felony"
said the former mayor, .and / think
the cheek is not right anyhow for it
is for even money and whoever saw
a tax bill figured out to even dollars
Let me look at that check de-
manded Mr.. Sturgis and remarked af
ter inspecting it, I'VE can't take it.
it is not certified and is on a New
York bank This sally brought
gale of laughter.
If this board has unjnstly criticised
him he may want us to send him
check remarked DR. Clifford Mills.
The board has no right to Inquire
into his reasons for sending this
check as long as he stipulates it shall
/ be for educational purposes remarked
! Henry M. Smith.
IF we take it we may establish a
bad precedent said Mr. Sturgis, 1--WE
may be deluged with checks by every
body More laughter Let the
clerk return the check ard exp lain
! why we won't accept it."
y might add a postscript to the
letter saying that if he will make
out the check to me / will accept it"
remarked Clerk Smith, ''but we
should stop to consider how much of
! the tone of this letter is Mr.. Hop
kins and how much DR.. Humphreys
Il move we lay it ON the table. .
remarked a member NO, don't do
that, there might not be funds in
the bank to meet it when we take it
up said another.
Somebody else suggested that the
check be split among the members
of the board but this remark was
frowned down as there were several
newspaper representatives present
but the matter was smoothed over
Dy including the newspaper repre-.
sentatives in the ''divy."
i President Joseph G. VanDoren took
a hand in the argument by saying
that he did not believe the board
wanted to receive money from outside
sources and that MoFristown was able
to run its own schools.
Mr. Reed wanted to know whether
the check represented last years
taxes or this years, saying that he
had not yet received his tax bill for
this year. He further made the point
that the board wanted no resent
ment fund.- but that if any persons
desired to contribute to the educa-
tional work of the town they could
do so and this should be made plain
to Mr.. Hopkins.
Another member of the board re-
marked that no one would object if
the outsiders wanted to build a school
building for the town.
1t was finally left with the clerk
to write to Mr.. Hopkins, formally de-
Ginning to receive the check and Civ
ing any reasons he might see fit.