Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-03-30

have been shown in the minutes had the
minutes been full.
"In my opinion your board cannot
justly criticise its present or former
business director or any of the officers
present or past because Of this Woodruff
Place situation, and base its criticism
on the silence of the boards minutes. In
my opinion it is apparent, and believe
courts will so hold, that the board OF
school commissioners from 1900 to the
fall Of 1920 nnd to now, a continuing body
corporate, knew that the school city Of
indianapolis was furnishing school facil-
tiles to Woodruff Place and on what
terms they were being furnished, and
that 1t Is too late for the members Of the
board holding Office at any time during
/ the period mentioned to claim Ignorance
Of what was done"
FINISH OF LETTERS
SIGNAL FOR STORM.
The reading of the letters by Mr.. Gadd
had hardly finished before the storm
broke Mr. Crippin frankly saying that
he did not agree with Mr.. Baker.
you may not agree with the Supreme
Court, but you have to live under its
decisions" retorted Mr. Barry, who main
tanned throughout the argument that fol-
lowed that the board had constructive
notice Of what had taken place and could
not hold the business director response
| BILE.
! Mr.. Hit then read that part Of his re-
port referring to the Woodruff Place af-
affair. He insisted that he had merely
taken matters as he found them; that
the same thing had been going on for
! years that each year the contract form
was laid before him and he had signed
| 1t. In defense of himself he said that
several months ago he had verbally mott
! fed the Woodruff Place representatives
that the contract, which expires this
June, could not be renewed on the pres
ent basis, and that from beginning to end
he had acted only in routine.
1--WE have heard too much about
routine here" Mr.. Gadd said.
! CRIPPIN AND HIT
ENLIVEN PROCEEDINGS.
Mr.. Crippin and Mr.. Hit became in
| volved in a series of rather bitter ex
| changes which became almost personal in
/ character. Mr. HIT bitterly resenting
/ what he termed reflections on his per
/ sonal integrity.
! In the midst of the discussion Mr. Grip
! pin moved that the whole matter be re-
/ ferred to a committee composed of the
/ chairman Of committee on instruction
] which is himself, the chairman of the
/ buildings and grounds committee, Mr
/ Gadd, and Mr.. Allison, chairman Of the
/ finance committee, with authority to en-
/ ploy Merle n. A. Walker or any other
/ lawyer as counsel.
/ This brought Mr.. Barry back into the
| fight. He opposed the motion on the
/ grounds that the regular attorney Of the
! board, Mr.. Baker, had given his opinion,
honestly. amply and frankly, and that
no other opinion was needed. He then
/ called attention to the fact that If the
/ board hired outside council it was very
/ probable that the State board of &C
/ counts would refuse to approve any pay
ments made to him. He pointed out that
! only few days ago officials of the State
! board had said they would approve nc
/ further payments to II. A. Roney, pub
/ lie accountant, employed several months
/ ago by the board to investigate the bust
ness management of the board.
| Mr. Allison expressed himself as not
/ favoring employment of outside counsel
but he voted with Mr.. Gadd and Mr.. Grip
pen against Mr.. Barry on the show
| down.
The letter OF Mr.. McPhetridge TO Mr.