The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-18
MAYOR ANSWERS
JONES CRITICS
ChambIiss Tells Why He Voted
for New City School
Head.
JOB WORTH SALARY PAID
Believes Jones Can Save City
Thousands-Winder Not
Dismissed.

mayor A w. SHdIIlpliSS riiuuJ
morning strongly defended the action
of Commissioner Fred Frazier in Sc
lecting Prof. R. L. Jones to succeed
Prof. c. H. Winder as head of the
city schools and also that Of the
majority of the commission in APP
proving the selection. The mayor
also stressed the point that Prof
Winder was not dismissed but SIM
ply was not retained upon the expi-
ration of his term of office.
When asked for some expression
concerning the election OF Prof.
Jones to succeed Prof. Winder, Mayor
Chambliss. said:
II regret that some good friends of
the public schools appear to be dis
satisfied. / know of any dissatisfac-
ton only from what ! see In the
papers.
"Not one word has been said to me
by anybody in criticism of the election
Of Prof. Jones. | voted to confirm his
nomination, first, because he was the
| selection of Commissioner Frazier
who. under the law, has the power
of nomination of the superintendent
and whose nomination should be con-
| firmed by the board unless the noni'
nee 10 found to be unfit, regardless
of any mere personal preference ! or
other members Of the board might
have. But, in the second place, !
voted to confirm Prof. Jones because
| knew him to be perhaps the lead :
ing educator in the state, man OF
unusual experience, tact and judg-
ment and | have in mind especially
his unusual qualifications for the
LARGE construction work which this
| city has under way.
1--WE will have to spend in new
buildings considerably more than a
half million dollars within the next
two years, and do not know man
in the state who can be OF more prac-
tical service in this connection.
believe Prof. Jones can save us many
|. thousands of dollars in suggestions
and superintendence in connection
With this work. From the stand
point of efficiency, which is the con-
trolina consideration with he, ] do
not think we could do as we'll In any
other direction" ..
$50 far as the increase in salary is
concerned, my information is that We
have heretofore been paying IN Chat-
tanooga for our superintendent OF
schools very much less than other CUES
of our class and it would have been
necessary ana lOI uS " iAtNA
considerably the salary of the: super
intendent in any event In the next
Mace the duties of the superintendent
for the next two or three years Will pc
very greatly increased because OF the
building program to which l nave ali ah1
ready referred. The superintendent VIII
not only have to perform the duties
usual to such a position, that u.s., the
superintendency of the operation OF the
public schools proper but he VIII De
called upon to give constant attention
to the details of this building work an1
as already suggested, Prof. Jones VIII
sands of dollars because of the very
wide experience which he has had in
the erection of school buildings.
Wlnder Not Dismissed.
at Is hardly necessary for me 70 say
that | have not been prompted by any
feeling of antagonlsm to the outgoing
superIntendent Prof Winder. | have
only a very slight acquaintance with
him and have absolutely no personal
feeling In the matter. think, Judging
from some Of the expressions ! see IN
the papers, that some Of his friends
mlsconcelve the, situation; aos
my understanding that Prof.: Winoer
has been dismissed ! think It Is
mistake, and does him an injustice, TO
express 1t In that way. AS ! under"
stand II he has merely not been re-
elected to the office which he has mere
tinctlon between 'dlsmlssaP OF PUBLIC
officer or public servant and failure to
reappolnt or re-eIect one, because or
preference on the part OF the ap-
pointive or elective power for some
other man. ~ -.
LAS | understand it, no motion was
offered in the board of commissioners
to dismiss Prof. Winder, and certainly
no such action was taken. A new ad-
ministration coming in simply selected
a new man for this particular position
This is the rule rather than otherwise
when a change of administration takes
place either in national, state or city
affairs. In the vast majority OF cases
changes in office take place and without
any sort of reflection upon those VINO
have been in office. 1 feel that this
distinction ought to be emphasized, IN
Justice to Prof. Winder, as well as to
Commissioner Frazier. who believe has
acted in accordance with his best
Judgment. 1t is always impossible to
please the friends of all of the appli-
cants for appointive positions. hope
that the personal friends OF Prot.
Winder will come to realize that no
reflection has been intended to be cast
upon him and that in the dnterest OF
! the public school system they Will rally
around the newly elected superintendent
| opd Give him very hearty support