Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-04-06
BAKER GOES
OUT BY CLOSE
VOTE OF 8 TO 2
School Board Accepts Resig-
nation of Attorney Held
Best Qualified.
SHOPPING HIT

As had been expected, the resignation
of Albert Baker, for twenty-five years at
torney for the indianapolis board OF
school commissioners was accepted at the
special meeting Of the board last night.
The action was taken, however, only
after a hard fight and by vote OF
8 to 2. Mrs Julia Belle Tutewiler, Bert
81 Gadd and Clarence Z. Crippin voting
for acceptance Of the resignation, and
w. D. Allison and Charles L. Barry for
its rejection.
The selection Of Mr.. Bakers successor
was not considered and no time was set
for taking up the matter. Several names
rhave been mentioned for the position,
those Of Merle n. a. Walker and Fred
erick A AIatson being most frequently
beard
Before the final vote on Mr.. Bakers
resignation was taken. Mr.. Barry made
a determined effort TO put through
motion rejecting the resignation and ap-
pointing a committee of three to call
on Mr. Baker and request him to recon
slider the matter. This motion was lost
Aby the same vote as was cast on the mo-
ton to accept the resignation.
BARRY URGES
BAKERS REsTENTION.
In speaking in support Of his motion
Mr. Barry said: cit was with feelings
OF profound regret and deep sorrow that
I read Mr.. Bakers resignation For
more than a quarter Of a century Albert
Baker has been considered a wise and
true friend Of school affairs. first as
smember of the board, and after that for
5twenty-one years as attorney for the
board. He is more familiar with school
affairs than any other member of the
indianapolis bar. His fitness, faithful
: ness and cOnstancy have been a matter
OF comment of the bar Of the city, and
no man ever has questioned his integrity,
honesty and ability. He is by far the
best qualified lawyer in the city for the
position. I feel somehow that q great
misunderstanding exists throughout this
unfortunate affair and it viii be a calam-
ity If he is lost to the school city. We
should get him to reconsider his resig-
nation and an effort should be made to
re-estsblish the old friendly relations
that formerly existed between US.
"He has few equals and no superiors
I at the bar and his standing IS so high
that II we accept his resignation the mo-
tives of our board viii be questioned.
People will ask why this has been done.
We are not here to crafty the spite OF
any one person; we are not here to crafty
the ambition Of any one person or to help
out the friends Of any one person. We
are here for the welfare Of the children
of Indianapolis"
Mr.. Barry then called attention to the
fact that the laws under which the
schools Of the city operate are largely the
work OF Mr.. Bakers efforts and that the
aboard recognized his worth and value
last year when it increased his salary
and some members publicly expressed the
opinion that the salary was not COM
emensurate with his services
OUSTING IS
DECLARED TRAGEDY.
After the final vote had been taken,
Mr.. Barry said, This Is more than an
incident, it is a tragedy
Mr. Crippin then made a statement in
he explained his call on Mr. Baker
last Friday and the ensuing conversation
that resulted IN his resignation.
Mr.. Cuppin briefly reviewed the entire
matter, which arose over an opinion given
the board by Mr. Baker at its last meet
ing in which he held that the contract
entered into between the school board Of
Woodruff Place and the board OF school
commissioners, by the terms Of which
Woodruff Place children were educated In
the city schools at q loss of $500 TO the
aschool city Of Indianapolis. was binding
This contract was signed by George G
Hit, business director Of the board,
without the approval or knowledge OF
the board. The same thing had been
done annually. 1t was shown, for six
II agree with all Mr. Barry has said
aabout Mr. Bakers services to the school
city" Mr.. Crippin said, 'and I am not
aunmindfuI of his great services as evil
denced by the increase of salary voted
him last year, and regret that he
thought It necessary to offer his resig-
nation. But l could not reconcile his
opinion in the Woodruff Place case with
common sense"
sCRIPPIN TELLS OF
ACALL ON BAKER.
Mr. Crippin then told Of how he had
taken a resolution Of the board, adopted
July 27. 1920, to Mr.. Baker, hoping that
a reading Of it would cause the attorney
to change his mind. This resolution fixed
the fees which would be charged children
coming to Indianapolis schools from out
side the city and Mr. Crippln eontendeu
that this resolution applied to woodruff
Place as well as to anywhere else, espe-
seiaIly as the old contract had expired ana
a new one had not yet been entered into
Il showed Mr.. Baker this resolution
Mr. Crippin said, hoping that he would
modify his opinion and that ii would not
be necessary TO have il reviewed by an
other attorney. He very quickly told me
that It did not apply TO the case at hand
! then told him the majority Of the board
did not agree with him and that We iii
mot intend to let this pass"
Mr. Barry severely criticised Mr. Zip
min for what he termed q policy of shop
ming around among lawyers until he
found one who would give him an Opin-
efen conforming to that Of a majority OF
Sthe board.
ASKS FOR POLICY
on SCHOOL NO. 20.
Before the headline attraction OF the
evening. the Baker resignation, was con-
sidered. Harry T. Yockey, deputy city
attorney, appeared before the board on
behalf Of the Parent Teacher Association
Of School No. 20 10 and out the policy
of the board in regard to a new building.
He explained that two churches are now
being used TO take care Of the overflow
Of children and that while the parents
were not in favor of portables they would
accept them If a new building was to be
erected next year. Mrs. Tutewiler ex-
planned that n new building was on the
program for 1922, and Mr.. Allison point
ed out that while he was in favor Of
the building, that the limit Of bonded
Indebtedness Of the school city Of In-
adianapOlis is S12.0OO,000 and that $11,00O,-
GOO Of this amount Is accounted for in
buildings now under contract.
E. L. Graf, superintendent Of the in
sstructiOn committee reported on plans
for the reorganization " the normal
school. which is now housed at School
No. 10 There were six recomInt ndatiOns
as follows: That temporary quarters be
provided; that the faculty be sufficiently
large TO meet fhp needs Of the school