South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-02-19
BILLS APPROVED
BY SCHOOL BOARD
Supt. Montgomery Answers
Rupei Charges That He Run
Office in UnbuSineSSIike.
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of the school board and an ex-rep-
resentative. Friday night told Of
trouble in the school system in the
past at a Studebaker Civic club
meetings. Mr.. Weidler. who was a
hacker Of John A. Wood when he
was deposed as head of the schools.
has been mentioned as being respon-
Sible from the present trouble G.
w. Copp came TO the defense of
Rupel and elem in a talk at the
same meeting. delivering a TRADE
AGAINST the newspapers. the Press
cIu. the Rotary club and hackers Of
Mr. Montgomery.
Outside applicants have been
chosen, if at ALL because they were
better qualified for the work de-
sired" SAID Mr.. Montgomery. He
went on TO explain the regulations
of employment which. according to
Indiana statute, require II weeks
training or II weeks experience
The board adopted a ruling after
my coming to South BEND OF one
years training or one years expert
ence My claim is that even that is
not enough. LapOrte requires two
years training or two years expert
ence for manual training teachers.
as does Indianapolis, and the Indian
apolis superintendent, in a talk I
had with him a short time ago, said
that. even, was insufficient to his
mind"
Basis of "Divvy" Story.
The story that Mr.. Montgomery
was sharing in a 'divvy" from the
agencies seems to have grown out of
an affair connected with his coming
to South Bend four years ago. 1t is
said trouble had been experienced
between the Fisk Teachers agency
of Chicago and the local superin-
tendent over the matter Of fee.
The Fisk agency, as Mr.. Montgomery
Friday night, had
felt he owed them a five per cent
commission on his first salary. 1t
was claimed that failure of Mr..
MONTGOMERY to pay this fee, when
he was informed, according to the
Fisk people, by them Of the vacancy
here, resulted in correspondence
relative to a lawsuit The theory
has been advanced that. TO settle
the trouble, Mr.. Montgomery had
promised TO throw all business posi-
bic TO the Fisk agency. and that for
that reason the teachers secured for
Gel
At first Mr.. Montgomery said he
had paid the Fisk people the per
cent Then. later. he phoned the
News Times and apologized for the
misstatement. He had found a re-
ceipt from the Bowers agency OF
Chicago, which had given him what,
to his mind, was the best informa-
ton regarding the South Bend post.
Paid the Bowers Agency.
ct had been corresponding with
a number of agencies at the time"
explained Mr. Montgomery, land as
that was some time ago, I was not
clear as TO just which agency I paid
the fee. 1t was at the time Of the
y. z. p. A. meet at Chicago that
received the information necessary,
and 1 remember distinctly, now that
I have found the receipt. Of having
talked with the woman assistant at
the Bowers agency. I paid the
Bowers agency $3.50 by check. five
per cent Of my first years salary"
Would you consent TO an impair
tial probe of the charges made by
Mr.. Rupel?" was asked.
81 asked Mr. Hubbard TO ascer-
tain what objections the other mem.
bers of the board had to my remain
ing. They do not seem to have de-
cided TO give me a hearing. or the
charges an airing" was Mr.. Mont
statement.
Willing Facts Should Come Out.
South Bends superintendent Of
schools. who has been the target for
much publicity, for and against. the
past few months. was most willing
Friday night to do all in his power
in an effort TO bring 10 light the facts
in the case, it seemed. He talked
for some time over the phone to a
News-Times representative.
What caused this trouble be
tween yourself and Mr.. Sims?" was
asked.
81 am sure I do not know" was
the quietly given answer Of the su-
perintendent
Little was said regarding anything
but the Rupel charges.
Mr.. Rupel did not directly accuse /
me of splitting fees" said Mr.. Mont
early in the evening. If he
had done so I would have acted"
The other charges made by Mr..
Rupel were thrust aside as too in
for serious consideration.
It was a current opinion Friday that
of all the accusations against the
perintendent, the one relative TO
fee splitting and preference for
agency applications for local posi-
tions were the most serious and