Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-04-25
I want to dilate further on evidences
of Knights dishonesty

I want to dilate further on evidences
of Knights dishonesty"
Taylor Replies to Attack.
After the vote on the appeal had
been taken President Taylor took
the floor and referring to Mr.. john
sons charges said:
These charges are of a most seri-
Gus character. II. they are true, this
board should and will take cognizance
and act on the merits of the case. II
there is an employee of ours that
cannot be trusted to do his duty by
the board we should do our duty by
the citizens and get rid of that en-
ployee."
A vote was then taken on the reso-
luton changing the boards rules SC
that heads of departments shall de.
vote such part of their time to their
work as is necessary TO complete It,
Against this We're Commissioners
| Brown, Johnson and Tompkins. and
in favor were Messrs. Breunig, King
McCabe, Smith and Taylor. A sim
ilar vote was recorded on the question
of reducing Mr.. Guilbert's salary
Then a vote was taken on another
resolution requiring heads of the
construction department to devote all
of their time to their work, the only
ones in favor of this being Messrs
Brown, Tompkins and Johnson.
Mr.. Brown said toward the end OF
the meeting he believed 1t desirable
later for the board to consider the
question of consolidating the archi-
tect's and engineers departments
Until the present difficulty is settled
and until some action is taken on Mr.
Browns suggestion Mr.. Guilbert may
sit tight.
When the first resolution came up
Commissioner Tompkins spoke
strongly against it, believing it neces-
sary, he said, to require the engineer
and architects to give all their time
to the work and not do any outside
work. He said that the work would
constantly grow because of the city's
increasing population and because
there were many old schoolhouses
that needed to be replaced.
MIR. knight Tells His side.
When seen by a reporter for the
Eeyning Star today, Mr. Knight said
Il am very sorry that / was not
present at the meeting of the board
last night, but. it was impossible for
me to get there. / am also very, very
sorry that the term dishonesty was
used regarding my actions, as l have
always had the interests of the board
at heart and have been constantly
striving to SO standardize my depart
ment that the city would save money
Prior to May, 1912, I had done a
little outside work with the permits
sion of the Board of Education, but
it was not until that time that /
opened an outside office. l have done
a little outside work during the
boards hours. but this has been more
than overbalanced by the work |
have done after hours. on holidays
Sundays and at night for the Board
of Education. Being under consider.
able expense in starting In bushes,
for myself | was unable at first to
engage a stenographer and my stem
ographer, Mr.. Kress, did some of
my work, but as it did not conflict
in any way with his work for the
board, / did not see anything par
ticularly dishonest in this.
my aim has always been to save
the board both time and money, and
with this end in view | personally
purchased an automobile some time
ago, which has since been used for
inspection purposes for the Board of
Education, not only by myself, but
by my assistant, Mr.. West as well,
and we have saved considerable time
in this way"
Mr.. Knight denied that he had
made $4,000 or anything like 1t I'M
the course of a year why, if |
could make that much in the spare
moments that I had TO transact my
own personal business, doesn't 1t
stand to reason that l could make
considerably more If I devoted all
my time to my personal affairs?'
Mr.. Knight retorted.
Asked if he would still retain his
position as supervising engineer to
the board if that body saw fit to cut
his salary, as they had done in the
case of Ernest F. Guilbert, the board S
architect, Mr. Knight replied that he
would. He was willing to submit to
a cut in salary IL permitted to carry
on his outside work, and said that 1t
was mo more than fair
THE allegation about my honesty
is what gals me the most" Mr..
Knight said in conclusion, land /
think when the time comes. l will be
able to convince the members of the
board that I have given them my
very best efforts in the transfer
renee of. my duties