The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-02-22
CONTRACTS
ON SCHOOLS
ARE PROBED
Citizens Start Investigation
of Board VentiIating
Awards.
ORGANIZE TEMPORARILY
Permanent Body to Seek to
Gust Majority Planned.

A thorough investigation Of all
heating and ventilating contracts let
by the school board since Jan. 1,
1926-the date the majority faction
took office-was started today by at
torneys hired by group of citizens
instituting impeachment proceedings
against the faction.
The action was decided upon Mon
day night at n meeting of twenty
five influential business men, manu-
facturers, doctors, organizations
presidents, lawyers and various club
officers with Fred Bates Johnson and
Charles r. Yoke. minority board
members, in the formers law offices.
"Dlsgusted and Dissatisfied"
The group has asserted itself as
''disgusted and dissatisfied" with the
actions Of the majority faction.
which includes Theodore r. Vonne-
gut. board president; Mrs. Lillian
Sedwick, vice president, and Charles
w. Kern, board member.
The group became active upon
the move Of the majority faction to
GUST r. U. Graf, school superintend.
ent, along with a number OF assist
ants and other heads Of school de-
partments.
Emsley w. Johnson and Michael
A. Ryan, attorneys, have been re-
tained by the citizens TO compile evil
dence from the investigation which
is expected to show Irregularities in
letting heating and ventilating con-
tracts.
c. c. Shipp, local heating and ven
tilating device manufacturer. is said
TO be active in the move to oust
Graft.
Dithmer President
Henry L. Dithmer, president OF the
Polar Ice and Fuel Company. was se-
lected as temporary chairman OF the
| citizens organization. Joseph J.
Schmid, president OF Schmid q
Smith. realtors, was chosen treasur-
or. and Attorney Grier NJ. Shotwell,
secretary. The temporary executives
will take steps to increase the organ
ization and raise money to pay at
torneys' fees and expenses. A per-
manent organization is to be formed
at general meeting soon.
Support OF q number Of Indianapo-
lis luncheon clubs viii be sought
by the group, 1t was announced.
A two.week delay in moving the
opportunity school for boys from
School at Vermont and New Jer-
sey SITS, to School 9 at Vermont and
Davidson Sts., is said to be the
reason Vonngeut, Kern and Mrs
Sedwick asked Graf to resign a
week ago Wednesday.
Current Wrong
The school consisted of a specially
fitted manual training room in
which backward boys were afforded
SPECIAL training. The delay was at.
tributed to the difficulty occasioned
IN moving the heavy machinery and
loading in onto trucks. The school at
present is not functioning because
the direct current electrical machin-
cry is unsuited to the alternating
current available at School o. Won
negut sponsored the plan to move
the school.
Graf and the majority faction
have refused to comment on this sit
uation as having been used as a
reason for the break. 1t was reli-
ably learned. however. that opposi-
ton to Graft grew out Of his unwill-
ingness to submit To Shipps domi-
nation.
Belief that the move to oust
Graft was started now in an effort
to remove him before the teachers
tenure bill, now before the Legis-
lature, becomes a law, was dis
counted by attorneys.
They pointed out that bill, which
provides contracts with teachers and
school officials cannot be broken un-
less hearing is granted on serious
charges, would apply only TO con-
tracts entered into after the measure
becomes a law.