The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-06-17

to Johnston and heard talk that the
board is $3.50 short in the money
for paying Ghe teachers. We were told
that the school board spent money ga
lore. | believe these things should be
Investigated although / do not mean to
say that DR.. Johnston is a crook"
Both Engelbert and Williams asked
Z. H.. Harris, who was sitting at the
press desk TO tell council where the
Palladium secured the information
about a secret meeting OF the school
committee. Harris replied by saying
that he did not know where the infor-
nation came from but il he did IL was
not customary to disclose the name of
any informant.
The mayor then advised Engelbert
to take all newspaper criticism with q
smile. as he did.
A Denial BY 6arteI.
Will Bartel. the third member of the
school committee also denied that a
secret meeting had been held by the
school committee to plot against DIR.
Johnston. He confirmed Engelbert's
statement that three-fourths of the
teachers of the city were opposed to
Johnston.
Won Pein asserted that IL this fact
was true IL should not enter into con-
sideration in voting for a member of
the board. 1T is only natural that a
man with backbone like DIR. Johnston
should be opposed. Because he refused
to stand up for the teachers pension
law and because he did what was fair
to the citizens of Richmond, many
teachers do not want him."
The teachers do not want him be-
cause of the Irregularities" retorted
Engelbert. The newspapers knew Of
these irregularities more than a year
ago but would not publish them. IL
there were any irregularities any place
else, for instance in council, the news
papers would be full of IL.
Wants An Investigation.
'In face of these charges which have
been made / think it no more than
right that there should be an investfga-
ton. Let a committee from the Com
mercial Club run down these charges
against the beard and see to what ex-
tent they are true"
Enseibert Apologies.
Engelbert, who asked why Nusbaum
had resigned, denied that he insinuat-
ed Nusbaum was a crook" IL my re-
marks were interpreted that way. /
now ask his pardon" he said.
County Superintendent Charles o.
Williams. who was held responsible for
tie insinuations made against John
ston and the members of the board ad-
vanced to the front of the council
chamber and asked that he be given
| permission to speak
c. o. Williams Takes Floor.
81 don't like the tone Of DR.. John
ston's remarks" he said. 1T is true
that he has taken me into his conf
dence and have taken him into my
confidence. 1t is false, however, that
/ have tried to frame up anything
against him. have seen none Of the
councilmen in regard TO this election"
/ williams then said that in the last
eight years there had been large in
crease in the expenditure of school
funds and as a taxpayer he wanted to
urge upon council 10 take that matter
/ into consideration before IL voted for
a school board member.
! Council has nothing to do with the
school board beyond the election OF
! the members. The school board does
not have to report to council. The law
requires that the school board report
+ to the county superintendent and
/ therefore the board reports to me ey-
cry year on the first of August" VIII
liams said. Then he added that IL had
been necessary for the board last year
to draw s25. 900 on this years funds 70
meet a deficiency in the teachers pay
| fund. Il know something Of these
| charges which have been insinuated
against DR.. Johnston and the other
members Of the board What i have
! learned I will not reveal in public
/ Such things should be taken up at q
secret session and not at public coun-
Gil meeting. He refused to say any
thing further on the charges" VIII
liams concluded.
Jessup Heard From.
Wilfred Jessup, speaking as tax
payer. arose and vigorously demanded
that if charges were to be made by
Williams that they be made in public.
ANY insinuation that the members Of
the board have covered up $4,000
should not be heard In a star chamber
session but in public meeting The
accountants of the state board Of ac-
coultancy have found in the examina-
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