Omaha daily bee., 1919-06-27
CONTROL BOARD
HAS LAST WORD
IN M'MAH0N CASE
Find That Former Superin-
tendent of Girls Industrial
School Owes State 1858;
Discover Three Errors.

Lincoln, June 26-The State Board
of Control has submitted what il
calls its "last word" in the contro-
versy regarding the resignation Of
Miss LYDIA J. Mcmahon as superin,
tendent of the Girls Industrial
school at Geneva, seemingly forget.
ting that it is always a woman's
prerogative to have the last word
| in all controversies, and it is just
barely possible that this may be no
exception to the rule.
The board members represent that
because of errors and other things
Miss Mcmahon owed the state when
! she quit $l8S57. They then credit
her with salary, items of property
she had bought for the institution
which the board refused to allow
and which she paid out of her own
exchequer to the amout of $l53.24,
leaving her owing the state, accord
ing to their figures, $35.33 In the
charges against her they show three
errors, one for l cent, one for S
cents and another for E cents, indi-
eating that they have gone into the
matter very thoroughly. They
charge her with items of hogs sold
which they claim no credit was
given, a matter which was sifted at
the hearing.
Findings of Board.
In their findings they make the
following showing:
The board finds generally that the for.
mer superint. ndent had by her action as
such superintendent. In several different
aspects, acted in such way as to mill
tate against the best success in the mar
agement of the institution and In such
a way as to justify and make necessary
for the good Of the institution the sew
tendent; more particularly as follows:
ta) As to the immoral acts shown to
have existed between the musical in
structor and one of the employees. for
course pursued by the superintendent n
respect to such matter, and especially her
failure to promptly advise the board Of
the situation. was highly detrimental to
the best interests Of the institution and
Its welfare. and greatly weakened ttr
reputation and ability to do effective
work among the people generally AID
was such a breach Of confidence and CO.
operation with the board as to prevent
cordial cooperation and harmonious ac
ton in the future, and rendering the
further usefulness of the superintendent
as highly improbable. II not impossible,
(b) 1t was further found that in the
matter Of conducting the institution
along business lines and In an economic
manner the board did not receive the
help encouragement, and cooperation
from the superintendent that 1t should
have received, and for that reason was
unable to auCceed we'll otherwise
1t could have done and as is done in in
situations generally in pursuing policy
of strict economy in the way Of expendi-
lures for the support Of the institution.
(c). The board further finds that II
was misled and deceived as to the meth
DDS Of punishment resorted to for viola
ton of rules, misconduct. etc., and that
methods Of punishment were resortsd to
that We're more severe than the situa-
ton Justified: that such punishment was
frequently left to the discretion and judy
ment of employees having in charge thoss
so punished: and that while the rules
required a report Of all such punlshments
the nature Of the same and the reasons
prepared especially for this purpose
there was complete failure to observe
this rule save in two Instances where the
punishment was light in its character
and regarding which no exception could
be taken. while In many other instances
where there was severe and unusual pun
ishment inflicted no report of the same
was ever given the board but on he
contrary, 1t was led to believe that cor-
poral punishment was not engaged in and
that 1t was not found necessary to resort
to 1t. save In the two exceptional cases
referred to.
(d) That the best interests Of the ~
stitution were subserved by the resigna.
further or different order or conclusion is,
under the circumstances required