The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1914-09-25
ULTERIOR MOTIVE
MOVES MOLLYCODDLE
To Monkey" with our Coun-
ty School Board.

The young man who guides the des-
tinies of our Morning Post and VINO
would guide those of this particular
public after the manner Of Posen and
Pudimoe, has been breathing insinu-
ations of graft against our county
school board and its chairman, P. Jack
Becks.
He wants to know something's of
Mr.. Becks which it was his privilege
to get from the records. But that
wouldn't do. Nothing sensational in
it, so he hints at laxness in methods
and by innendo at graft. He wants
to know, you know, or rather, what
the people (for whom he is the self
imposed spokesman) of this school
district want to know is when and how
the decision to make this addition Ito
the Palatka school no lse) was ar
rived at"
"Also whether it was at board
meeting, or did the chairman of the
board on his own responsibility start
the work."
There was really no reason for the
young man to dislocate his corset over
MS matter. He could have gotten
the necessary information by refer
ence to the record, but no, he want
ed sensation, and he had "a reason"
for desiring to snap at Becks.
The News is not the organ Of the
school board, nor of Mr.. Becks, but it
resents this public attack on their
character and dereliction of duty.
At meeting of the county school
board on Wednesday, Sept. 9th, the
action was taken:
Moved by Mr.. Conway and second
ed by Mr.. Green; motion put and car
ried that the school board have built
house on school ground,
and that Mr.. Becks AND Mr.. Cotting-
ham be instructed to have it built at
once"
The statute of the State of Florida
governing the duties of county school
boards, directs that such board is TO
C5) "Do whatever is necessary with
'egard to purchasing or renting school
sites and premises, constructing, re-
pairing, furnishing, warming, ventila-
ing, keeping in order or improving
school houses, out buildings, fences,
ands," etc.
The Putnam Countyschool board has
acted lawfully in every move so far
made in the construction of this lit
lie annex to the Palatka high school.
1t has not acted differently than
he average business man would act.
f a man knows what he wants built
le is justified at times in having the
OBJ done by the day.
If the Putnam county school board
cit that it needed this extra build
ng for the opening of school, 1t had
10 choice. 1t had to have the work
one by the day. Had it advertised
or bids. that advertisement would
ave had to run 80 days. That is
he law. The board felt the building
O be an immediate necessity, and or
cred it constructed.
Bob Becks is in charge of the work.
Bob is a brother of P. Jack.
No one will contend that he is IN
Bob is a master builder
nd he is getting $4 per day on this
ob.
The News went to Mr.. Becks and
sked to see the pay roll. 1t was
reduced Immediately.
of course a public official is open
, criticism when he doles out pa
ronage to a relative, but if the rel
tive is competent the criticism loses
orce. He would be an unnatural man
OF to favor his friends, and naturally
is brother is his friend. l.
If the school board keeps correct
ecord of it's expenditures on this
chool house, makes proper report to
he people through some public print,
here can be no Just criticism of its
ct.s other than that it did not decide
n building last summer, so that the
nening of the regular term would not
e DELAYED. Had the board decided
n building last summer, 1t could,
robably would, have asked for ten
ers. :.
O excuse for delay in building. Had
he bonds carried the same need would
ave existed-for the coming year.
But Mr.. Becks insists that the board
,as mot informed last summer of the
Increase of pupils which it now has
eason to believe will demand school
II is one thing to differ with the
Jews of a public body, or to charge
t with incompetence, but to mslnu-
tie that it has transended its powers
5 uuie another thing.
A public service body is not always
private snap; it has its troubles.
)ne of them seems to be the ease with
vhich an impecunious mollycoddle can
nap and snarl and find fault in the
anne of a much abused "dear peepul."