Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-09-14
INSURANCE on SCHOOLS.

INSURANCE on SCHOOLS.
The Board OF Education has decided
tn place the insurance policies of the
school buildings among local agents
i'm businesslike way which we do not
believe can be justly criticised. Some
Wilmington insurance men will proft
by the transaction. and others who,
under the old haphazard and unbusi-
nesslike way of doing business prof
tied, will carry none of the insurance.
The old system was subject\to severe
criticism. II was too easy for GER
tain favorites to be cared for. Under
the new system those favorites will
have TO take pot luck with the rest
of the agents.
This matter of changing the method
of placing the insurance is due, in
directly. to the activity of Mr.. Minor
c. Smith. an insurance agent who felt
that he had been uniustly treated in
this years proposed awards. No
doubt he had been, when it is remem-
bered that in past years he generally
received some of the business. But,
under the new arrangement. Mr..
Smith will receive none whatsoever.
Yet Mr.. Smith will have no reason
able grounds upon which TO make
further objection. and we believe that
he will gladly abide by the boards
final decisions without quibble. He
directed public attention to this mat
ter, and the knowledge that he has
performed citizenship duty no doubt
will be recompense enough. 1t is not
every man who can serve his COM
munity~ SO well.
1t was Mr.. Smith who also pointed
out. that in the opinion of many per-
insured. He recommended that the
policies be reduced by one million dol
lars. The board did reduce the poll
cies s750,o0e. which will result in
saving of some of the taxpayers
money. On the whole, we should say
that Mr.. Smith has had notable
week. as his pubic spirited activities
caused the Board of Education to be-
come more businesslike, and saved his
city neat sum of money. He should
sleep well after such an accomplish
ment.
But while Mr.. Smith was the archi-
tect who drew the plans and presented
them to the public through the press.
it was Mr.. Ellwood Souder, the presi-
dent OF the Board of Public Educa-
ton, who insisted upon their con-
summation. When those matters
were called TO his attention Mr.. Sou
der made a thorough investigation,
and decided that the complaints were
just. The rapidity with which he and
brother board members acted speaks
well for the spirit which now seems
to permeate that body. By this we
would not disparage the views of
those members who differed with Mr.
Souder. There was room for an hon
est difference of opinion, and they
were justified in voicing it. A healthy
minority frequently brings out the
best in the majority.
Mr.. Souder, we believe, has found
a niche in the community which he
can fill just a bit better than the next
man. He is gentleman who has the
Of his fellow-citizens, ire
spective Of political affiliations. He is
serving his community with a zeal
seldom found in men in public affairs |
at least in this city and State in re-
cent years. We believe that he and
his fellow members of the Board of |
Public Education have at last sue
ceeded in kicking politics out of the |
school question. Such being so, they
deserve the hearty appreciation of the
May it remain SO.