Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-03
SEEK TO ABOLISH
KNIGHTS POSITION.
Commissioner Jahnson, of Edu-
cstion Board, Declares Engi-
1eering Dept. Unnecessary.

Still insisting that Supervising En-
gineer George W. knight used board
employees for his private business
and that he was derelict in his
dgties. The minority faction Of the
Esoard qf Edacation mill now seek 70
a bolish the engineering department
This move. which IT is declared is in
the interest of economy. will be made
at the next board meeting. on May 2s-
The move viii be sort of an after
naath to the hearing of Mr.. Knight
on charges brought by Commissioner
Frederic l. Johnson.
Mr.. johnson is still smarting under
the action of the majority members
of the board in dismissing the charges
against Mr.. knight. which he de-
clared were proven by the aceused's
own statements on the stand Mr..
johnson also said that he will bitterly
oppose any attempt to put through
resolution in the board generating
knight
A resolution abolishing the en-
gineering department was recently
introduced by Commissioner Ambrose
Tompkins. and it is now in the pos
session of the building committee for
recommendation. On the report of
this committee the board will prob
ably base its action.
Any attempt to smother the move
in committee will be bitterly fought
by the minority faction. Mr.. Johnson
explained that by investigation they
found that there was no need for the
board to maintain this department.
Asked II he intended to enter any
compromise with the majority by re-
ducing knights salary, Mr. Johnson
declared that he certainly did not
He intimated further that he had sew
eral other features which he preferred
to hold in allegiance until the board
meeting.
/ President Charles P. Taylor, on the
other hand. expressed the opinion that
/ the board would certainly exonerate
I Mr.. knight by resolution This ac-
ton, he declared would have been
taken on Thursday. but for the late
ness of the hour when the hearing
| was concluded.
Mr. Taylor was further asked
whether at this future meeting the
matter of allowing Mr.. knight TO
| continue to do outside work would
! be reopened, whereupon ne replied;
mo, we allowed Mr.. Knight to do
outside work a month ago. You can
not get an engineer to work for
yhof ~
cials are there who do not do OUT
side work2
-Have you heard that Mr.. knight
has been buying materials for he
schools at a higher price than he
should have done,'' the Commissioner
was then asked mo, ] have not
heard anything to that effect. Most
of the work that amounts to anything
is given out by bids. so that he does
very little personal buying"
Voicing the other side. Commits
sioner Gaetano NJ Belfatto stated
that he most strenuously objects TO
the handling of outside jobs by Mr.
Knight. ''You cannot expect man
to do full justice to his employers
If his interests are as manifestly di-
| Vided as Mr.. Knights. he Is there
to supervise the work and it cam
not be expected thar the same rigid
ity prevails where he does work with
some contractors on outside jobs. ana
these men, likewise. have board jobs
on hand. No employer would allow
his high-salaried men. and Mr.. Knight
admitted on the stand that he was
amply and fairly paid, to work foI
outsiders in the extensive manner
Mr.. Knight IS doing
From another source 1t Is under
stood that some of the commissioners
would like to compromise on the stu
alton by reducing Mr.. Knights sal
ary if he continues to do work for
outside Interests.
Fxear the Other side Of Jury Reform