Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-09
ASSERTS WANAMAKER
SPOKE FROM HEARSAY
Shallcross Declares Head of
School Finance Committee
Has Been Misinformed

John Wanamaker was speaking only
from hearsay and about matters that
were Strengthened out years ago. when
he told the Board of Education that he
believed its warehouses were filed with
unused books, furniture and other cx e
amples Of extravaganza.
This statement was made today by
Thomas Shallcross, chairman of the
property committee.
The controversy arose over the mo-
ton to appoint Mahlon l.. Savage as
superintendent of supplies to succeed
the late Andrew Hammond. The super.
intendency carries salary of $1,000
Savage for nearly nine years has been
assistant superintendent on salary of
$1,000. He said today he expected to
continue this position.
II am confident" said Mr.. Shall
cross, that the situation had been mis-
represented to Mr.. Wanamakcr. Mr..
Savage is one of the best men the board
has ever employed. He has been econom-
ical and careful. The whole thing in n
nutshell is that Edward Merchant, as
sistant secretary of the board, wants the
job and he fought SavaCe's appoint
ment.
May Bring Name Up Again
at is altogether possible that Mr..
Savage's name may be proposed at n
future meeting of the board. There is
still some question in my mind as to
the vote yesterday. | believe the vote
cast was enough to appoint Savage. In
all my years of service with the Board
Of Education. such question of ma
jority was never before raised.
II think the school code was misin
terpreted and that majority of the
quorum is sufficient to elect such en-
ployes. However, the thing must rest
now until fall"
Eleven of the fifteen members of the
board were present yesterday when the
vote on Mr.. Savages appointment was
taken. Six voted favorably and five
opposed the appointment.
Mr.. Wanamaker, head of the finance
committee, and other members of that
committee, who met in executive ses
sion before the board meeting, declared
they opposed the appointment of Saw
age purely on financial basis.
Question Entirely Financial
While Shallcross and Simon Gratz
argued that $4,000 could be saved by the
board by appointing superintendent
and doing without an assistant, Mr..
Wanamaker went one better and said
$4,000 could be saved by not appointing
a superintendent, and allowing the as
ALo., Of ~
to carry on the work just as they had
been doing for many years.
THE Board of Education should con-
slider its practical needs and more care
fully supervise its purchases rather than
seek to fill vacancies just because there
are vacancies" said Mr.. Wanamaker.
~ look with great horror upon the rec
ommendation to spend thousands of dol
lars for minor property repairing this
summer. Everything that is not abso-
lutely necessary should be avoided.
There should be no extravaganza.
Shallcross maintained that the great
est chance for extravaganza would be
given by the nonappointment of II super
intendent of supplies.
There should be some one in au-
thority," he declared. IF | have to
o. X. bills, want to know by what
authority they have been accrued. In
the last months, since Mr.. Hammond s
death, the secretary's department has
constantly overriden Mr.. Savage. Pur-
chases have been made that were out
of order and there has been general
confusion. I'm sick and tired of the
thing"