Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-09-08
EDUCATION BOARD
FRICTION RUMORS
REFUSE TO DOWN
Hints of improperly Follow the
East Side High School
Controversy.

L
in all the rumors of friction in the
Board of Education, but the rumors
are pesky and persistent and posi-
lively refuse to down. There is GER
tainly ill-feeling among this board of
nine, and that feeling is but thinly
disguised That East Side High
School principalship controversy and
other little matters have not tended
to create sentiment of undying af
fection. Why, there is even talk of
Improperly on the part of some men,
bers. but then that may be only a
katy -did-and- katy didn't diversion.
Some commissioners, it is averred,
have gone to the trouble of becoming
law students. and as a result they
hold that they are almost convinced
that law has been broken, unwit-
tingly. perhaps, as the Ten Command
ments are often unintentionally
broken.
Law Is Quoted.
The very law that has attracted at
tention is down in the statute books
as chapter l24, Laws of 1907, and reads
like this:
BE it enacted by the Senate ans
General Assembly of the State OF
New Jersey:
Il. Section 81 of the act entitled An
act for the punishment of crimes
(Reyision of 1885, approved June
l4th, 1898. Is hereby amended to read
lfts follows:
,l - IL Any member of any board of
ShUeen .freeholders. or any township
committee, or any board of education
in any school district. or any board
of aldermen or common council In
any city, or any board of commits
sioners of any county. township, city,
town or borough in this State, who
| shall be directly or indirectly con-
| cerned in any agreement or contract
| for the construction of any bridge
or building of any kind whatsoever.
or any improvement whatever TO be
constructed or made for the public
use or at the public expense, or shall
be party to any contract or agree
ment, either as principal or surety,
between the county, township. city,
| town. borough or school district. as
| the case may be, and any other party,
or who shall be directly or indirectly
| interested in furnishing any goods,
chattels, supplies or any property of
any kind whatsoever to or for the
county, township, city. town, bor-
ough or school district, the contract
or agreement for which is made OF
the expense or consideration of which
is paid by the board, council or COM
mittee of which such member is a
meanor.
80 This act shall take effect i'm
mediately.
Approved May Z, 1907"
| It is further contended by these
! embryo lawyers that a penalty OF
81 900 fine and Imprisonment for
] three years. at hard labor, or other
! wise, as the court may direct OF both,
| is provided for offenders against the
act.
! All this has led to the question;
who has strayed from the straight
and narrow path2''
| It was a difficult matter to locate
Board of Education members today
and have a heart to-heart talk with
! them. There is nothing like talking
! these matters over in the interest OF
! the public welfare and the good OF
humanity generally. Then again il
has a tendency to stop the tongue
wagging of gossip-mongers.
This commissioner was in New
York, this one was still at the sea
shore and still another was out and
wouldn't be in for the day.
MIR. Tomkins Informed.
Commissioner Ambrose Tomkins
was seen during lunch hour. however
| and told of the rumors.
He looked surprised and expressed
/ surprise at the rumors, as repeated tc
! him by a Star reporter.
The rumors are certainly untrue
so far as myself or my firm are con-
cerned." he said. Il never even heard
of such a rumor until now. ] repeat
/ that, so far as myself or my firm arc
| concerned there is no truth in the
story. / haven't even heard of it oi
| others"
The reporter is still looking ur
other commissioners to get a word oil
/ two from them.
The general idea appears to be tha
/ the whole matter may be in the ma
ture of a false alarm"
Some years ago three aldermen
Messrs Carlisle. Van Steenbergh and
Murphey, found it very convenient
and agreeable TO resign from public
Office because the law interfered witt
their business, as it applied 20 cit,
contracts.