The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-01-13
BOARD OF EDUCATION INQUIRY

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 elected directly by people. therefore largely authority mayor and of the few city boards which enjoy and practices measurable freedom from political control.
 This freedom many times object of assault by Mayor Wilson and the political machine behind him. Recur ring sessions of the General Assembly have thrown out meas which would the control of the teaching force of Bridgeport absolute that which he enjoys over the police and fire boards.
 The police and fire boards b partisan stuton That is, they composed equally of those who nomnay Republicans and Democrats But the power of appointment to these boards is in the mayor.
 Whether not the mayoral control is healthy thing for the cy the police and fire departments aduncs political machine They operate almost unit primary and city elections The greater part of both forces conribe from their salaries directly to campaign funds contributions from this illegally exacted and eorrupy accounted for than O in the last election. legislation, Mayor Wilson sought by indrecion Prior to brought the question of salary increases in to politics.
 He has not succeeded yet requiring each member of the teaching give the campaign fund fremen and policemen do but the forthcoming salary did the cooperation of large part o the teaching force to pro- his election
 These facts and others public scrutinize carefully the sudden demand of the for vesigation of the books of the Board of Education.
 Such demand is in the nature of things reflection the board ought not to be made except for the sons sound belief that something wrong with the accounts seriously wrong
 The citizens will reserve judgment.
 the investigation shows nothing seriously wrong with supposed investigation is ly fishing expedition from which hoped will give to further attack the board and another attempt to get control of the rich school Rm, juicy plum for the political pudding.
 The Board meets the situation squarely by demanding the expedition of the Investigation which from its standpoint preext for dverng the funds needed for schools to less important purposes
 The schools which furnish little in the way of profitable contracts to the politicians being slowly starved to death by the administration The High school overcrowded The grammar schools furnish only half time education thousands of children The condition is getting
 For half century the city took of its schools in the budget Mayor Wilson introduced the system of bond ing making each school house constructed cost from 25 cent twice mueh depending upon the period to the maturity of the bonds.
 The motto became, Millions for pavemens" but nothing schools, and the off, and the people of Bridgeport deprived of the full time education which the city to their fathers and mothers.
 By adopting longer teaching and system of two sessions day. the present school plant could be made to dc long time with something to spare But such novel it would at first make enemies and the admnstra ton is helpless in this directon because it's situation is diff fcult and it dare not do anything that may lose vote
 The city is about to the harvest of financial mad upon which Mayor Wilson embarked years