The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-11-28

The gap between the Republican and Democratic members of the Board Of Education was considerably widened when William R. Webster, named president by four votes, made his committee appointments today. The Republicans took three out of -four chadrmanships of committees, and control of the committe on schools and of the committee on school hous- es the two chief committees of the board.
 MT Webster explains his appoint ,nents in a letter, as follows:
 .T am enclosing herewith a list of the Standing Committees of the Board them. In appointing these under the rules of the Board prescribing the the work of the Standing Committee ] have been governed by preoedents changes made in the number of mem bers by Act of the last Legislature and by no considerations other than a de- sire to insure an efficient administra- tion of the school system and an ex- perienced and business like manage 1ment of the affairs of the Board. As the work of the Shading Committees must now be divided up among eight members instead of twelve I have thought 1t wise to make as few changes as possible from last year in order to conserve the benefit of ex- the new law will probably require a complete reorganization next year which 1t is not desirable to approach until the final size of the Board Is reached.
 .sTo the Committe on Schools, which consisted last year of Messrs.. Havens, Osborn and myself I have ap- pointed MT. Owen Burns to fill the place left vacant by the death of pr. osborn, In accordance with the pre- cedents under which Dr. Osborn be- came member. I have for some time charged with the oversight of the school teachers who are mostly wo- men that it should include a woman member. I therefore take this op- appointing Mrs. Mary E.. Cutting a member. Her eminent qualifications will I am sure be conceded by all. Under the rules I become Chairman
 "Messrs. Challenger and Tones re- main on the Committee on School Buildings and pr. McGovern has beer added in place of MT. Burns.
 "On the Committe on Supplies. Dr. McGovern remains as Chairman. The vacancies existing due to the expira- tion of the terms of Messrs. Plotkin and Mu1vihi11 are filled by the ap- pointment of Messrs. Wilson and Chal- 1enger. the Committee on Finance by seniority in place of MT. Pullman whose term has expired. MT. Wilson holds over and vacancy Is left to be filled by the incoming member of the Board"
 Lynn W. Wilson, speaking for the Democratic side, said, today, we have nothing to say about these appoint ments, excepting this, that from our standpoint MT. Webster is not pres tdent of the board, and has no power to appoint committees It will be noted that he finds himself unable to fill the committee on supplies, be- cause the Democratic member who would hold the place has not been named. This it seems to us. indicates the kind of political methods the Re publfcans are using, when they insist upon taking advantage of the death of Dr. Osborn to give themselves what they want. They care nothing abou; seniority. If they did MT. Challenges would be president of the board. He is the senior member and has had twenty-one years of it. Compared with him, the others are mere chil- dren in the service"
 The appointments follow:
 Committee on Schools: w. R. Web- ster, chairman; Owen Burns. Mary F. Cutting.
 Committee on School Buildings: H. S. Challenger chairman, A. C.. Tones, Dr. E. F. McGovern.
 Comnittee on Supplies: Dr. E. F. McGovern, chairman, l.. Wilson, H S. Challenger.
 Committee on Finances: Mary E. Cutting. chairman L. Wilson, New member.