WHOLESALE CORRUPTION SALE OF SITUATIONS IN — FOURTH WARD SCHOOLS, REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PUBLISHED BY THE CITIZENS' ASSOCIATION OF NEW-YORK. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013 http://archive.org/details/wholesalecorruptOOdurs SALE OF SITUATIONS I N FOURTH WARD SCHOOLS. THE EVIDENCE 1A T THE CASE. Ix the course of an extended inquiry respecting the Ward Schools of this City, The Citizexs' Associatiox was painfully impressed, by frequent intimations, that gross corruption ex- isted among School Officers. We are not, therefore, taken by surprise by the revelations in the Fourth Ward. We spread the official proceedings of the Board of Education be- fore the people, because the Schools are peculiarly their prop- erty. " The Public Schools are the most important institu- tions in the country. He who tampers with and corrupts them, aims a most cruel blow at the liberties and the prosper- ity of the nation throughout all future generations. These Schools may be justly regarded as the great fountain of our future fortunes, and to the careful education of the rising gen- eration we must look for the security of liberty itself. In them are deposited our best hopes, and upon their good or bad man- agement will depend, to a great degree, the character of com- ing generations." The heartless cruelty with which these School Officers pur- sued their scheme of levying on Teachers and candidates for positions in the Schools, is seen in the case of the young lady who had just buried her father, and having the care of a widowed mother left on her hands. She greatly needed em- ployment as a teacher; but was told she must pay for it, or retire. But the expenses of a father's funeral had probably exhausted her little savings, and she could not raise the sum . demanded. Then she could pay in instalments from her fu- ture earnings ! ! 4 As Commissioner Miller truly remarked, a perfect reign of terror was installed in the Fourth Ward, and the scenes, in some cases, were harrowing. The struggle between fear and duty on the part of some of the teachers, excited the sympathy of every manly heart. One poor little girl came on the stand on crutches. That lame girl had been taxed $75 for a paltry situation of §300 a year ! Was there ever a more infamous im- position on the unfortunate and afflicted! Did ever weak and defenceless women Fall into the power of such heartless shar- pers ! And the chief agent of the " ring," in enforcing these impositions, was himself a teacher, — the Principal of the Boys' Grammar School. This thing is not limited to a single Ward. " I believe," said one of these shameless witnesses, Mr. Jeremiah Mur- phy, Chairman of this Local Board, in relating, in the course of his examination, a conversation between himself and an- other as to the payment of money — " I believe it is a com- mon thing throughout the city. I have heard," he said fur- ther, "rumors throughout the Ward, and outside of the Ward, about everybody being taxed." What truth is there in these rumors ? How common is it throughout the city to sell the positions of teachers in the Public Schools to those who will pay the most money for them ? Would it not be well to know ? as one of our journals well inquires. Is it not time to uncover the abuses which this exposure proves it is possible may exist in other localities, and look into the character of men to whom is intrusted the power to commit them ? Fellow-citizens, will you commit such a sacred trust as our Public Schools to ignorant, bad men ? Can you wonder that the keepers of low grog-shops take advantage of their positions to sell the offices under their control ? This whole subject of Common Schools must be kept out of the arena of politics, and none but good and well-tried men of honor and high character chosen as School Officers. The Board of Education has ex- pelled 8 out of 10 of the Local Board of the Fourth Ward, which is well. But the people must see to it that every Ward is purified, and kept pure, for the sake of our children and the privileges and blessings of education. We beg our fellow-citizens to weigh this subject thoughtfully, and act in relation to it for the best interests of their children and the ' 3 rising generation of this great city. It is evident that there can be little hope for the future of any community which can quietly tolerate such shocking abuses as the following report exposes : BOARD OF EDUCATION. Hall of Board of Education, \ Thursday, June 9th, 18G4, 5 o'clock, P. M. j ADJOURNED SESSION. Present — James M. McLean, Esq., President and Commis- sioners Maher, Ho ran, Patten, Heath, Murphy, O'Donuell, Dupignac, Tuthill, Brennan, Carey, Small, Montgomery, Adams, Farr, Bogert, Welch, Kasmire, O'Connor, Perley, Jackson, Boice, Koster, Hayes, West, Murray, Smith, Vance, Miller, Hayward, Hitchman, McSpcdon, Connelly, Ilastie, Smyth, Fairchild— 3G. Absent — Commissioners Jennett, Huggins, Kinne}', Brown, Roosevelt, McLaughlin, Neilson, Lieber — S. On the motion of Mr. Farr, The reading of the Journal of the last session was dis- pensed with. REPORT OF A SPECIAL COMMITTEE. To the Board of Education : Mr. Miller presented the' following report from the Special Committee appointed to investigate certain charges against several Trustees of the Fourth Ward : The Special Committee, to whom was referred the following preamble and resolution, adopted at a stated session of the Board, May 18, 1861 : Whereas, Complaints having been made to the Officers of the Board of Education and to Commissioners, that improper means have been resorted to on the part of some of the Trustees of the Fourth Ward, or persons acting as their agents, to obtain money from teachers and others in the em- ploy of the Board of Trustees of said Ward ; therefore be it Resolved, That a Special Committee be appointed to ex- e amine into the facts and circumstances of the case, and that they report their conclusions to this Board — said Committee to consist of the Chairman of the Committee on By-laws, Fi- nance, Course of Studies and Schooh Books, Elections and Qualifications, and Supplies, respectively — RESPECTFULLY REPORT : They have immediately organized and elected Commissioner James L. Miller Chairman, and authorized said Chairman to summon all persons to appear before the Committee whose testimony was required to make a thorough investigation of the complaint referred to in the preamble and resolution afore- said. The Clerk was also directed to notify all the School Officers of the Fourth Ward of the times at which such inves- tigation would be conducted. The Committee held its first meeting on the 20th day of May, and held several meetings thereafter. Every member of the Committee was present, and they were attended by the School Officers of the Fourth Ward, a majority of whom, and Mr. John White, Principal of Ward School No. 26, were rep- resented by Counsel. The Committee thereupon designated Mr. Thomas Boese, Clerk of the Board, to conduct the examination. Thirty-four witnesses were examined under oath, their testimony was care- fully taken down b} T a stenographic reporter, and is hereto an- nexed, and forms part of this report. Your Committee, when they entered on the discharge of their onerous duties, did not place much dependence on the prevalent rumors of gross dereliction of duty on the part of most of the School Officers of the Fourth Ward, and were confident that the investigation would prove them untrue or grossly exaggerated. But the Committee were grievously dis- appointed. The testimony shows that early in the present year a perfect system was inaugurated by a majority of the Trustees of the Ward to extort money from School Teachers and others in their employ. It appears that Jeremiah Murphy, Daniel Healy, Jeremiah Coughlin, James White, John J. Les- ter, Trustees, and Felix Murphy, School Commissioner, con- stituting a majority of the Board of Trustees, formed them- 7 selves into a "King," to manage the School affairs of the Ward. They elected Jeremiah Murphy, Chairman; Jeremiah Coughlin, Secretary; and appointed John White, Principal j>f Grammar School No. 26, as Clerk. It appears that a new School-house is in course of erection in Vandewater Street, in said Ward, to take the place of Grammar Schools Nos. 1 and 26, which will necessitate the discharge of some teachers or place them in. a lower position. The teachers all wanted to be appointed to the new School, and, as all could not be, the "Ring seems to have been formed for the purpose of giving the positions sought for to the highest bidders. Their Clerk was selected as their agent," to whom teachers were expected to apply, to ascertain upon what terms they could get an appointment. The evidence shows that the agent performed his duty with alacrity and with a heartlessness worthy of the employers. It appears that he not only summoned the teach- ers to come to him, but that he called on their parents and friends as to the amount they should pay for their appoint- ments — the — sums varying from $50 to §600, according to the position sought. When it was stated that the amount could not be paid at once, on account of the poverty of the teacher, the " agent" agreed to take it in installments. When they declined to pay, information was given that no teachers would be appointed unless they paid for it, and when asked by a teacher who hesitated to pay the amount fixed by the "agent," if he had any objection to his (the teacher) going to the Trustees, he stated that he had none, and that the teach- er did see the Trustees, and came back to the "agent" and paid a portion of the amount fixed. It appears from the tes- timony that the " agent" was perfectly familiar with the amount of " School Tax" to be levied by the "Ring," whether it was on a male teacher or female teacher, Principal or subordin- ate. His knowledge and power in the premises appear to have been complete and final. It also appears in the testimony that teachers, both male and female, went to see members of the "Ring; " that the "Ring" entertained "propositions" from them, in some instances recommended the payment of the amount demanded by their " agent," and, in others, desig- nated an associate Trustee, who had the "say" on the subject, with an admonition to pay the amount he might name ; on aft application made to one of the "Ring," he, after listening to the pleading, and witnessing the tears of a female teacher, cha- ritably stated that he would return her his share of the " Tax." While the Chairman of the Board of Trustees was willing to go for what his associates of the 1 Ring' agreed to," for ap- pointing a favorite of his to a high position, when charged with appointing teachers for money, he excused it by saying " that it had been done before." It appears that the teachers through- out the Ward, and a great number of the citizens, were aware of the fact that positions had to be paid for, and that this u Ring" was to receive the money through their "agent," That the School Officers of the Ward in no way endeavored to remove the impression, on the part of teachers and citizens, of improper conduct on their part, or to have the subject in- vestigated, with the single exception of School Commissioner Arthur O'Donnell, against whom the bitterest feeling is exhi- bited by the "Ring." It also appears that William P. Kirk and Charles Kelly, two Trustees of the Ward, did accept money from School teachers for appointments — that Thomas Gibbons, Bernard Ryan, John Halpin, and John II. Knaebel, teachers in said Ward, have given money to the Trustees, or their "agent," for their appointments as teachers, and in other respects acted in a manner discreditable to them as teachers, so much so as to render them unfit to occupy their positions. [ The testimony is very voluminous, exceeding 300 folios, and was given with few exceptions by very unwilling wit- nesses. The Committee, in coming to a decision, were satis- fied that some of the witnesses prevaricated greatly, and in more than one instance testified falsely. The Committee, in conclusion, are constrained to say that the Trustees of the Fourth Ward, with the exception of Com- missioner Arthur O'Donnell and Trustee F. Joseph Klein, have acted in a manner that brings lasting injury and disgrace on our School system and our City, and particularly on tho citizens of the Fourth Ward, whose children are suffering through the gross mismanagement of those corrupt public servants, who have violated their oath of office and the com- mon feelings of humanity. Slight atonement may be made for the injury done by these bad men, to the educational and 9 moral welfare of the children of our City, by this Board re- moving them forthwith from their positions and the District Attorney of our City speedily bringing the matter before the Grand Jury for their action. The Committee, in accordance with the requirements of the resolutions submitted to them, and after a careful examina- tion of the testimony, have unanimously come to the follow- ing conclusions, and report them, together with the testimony taken, to the Board for its action : First That Jeremiah Murphy, James White, Jeremiah Coughlin, Daniel Healy, John H. Lester, Charles Kelly, and William P. Kirk, Trustees of Common Schools in the Fourth Ward, and Felix Murphy, Commissioner of Common Schools from said Ward, have been guilty of disgraceful conduct in the matters connected with their official duties as School Officers. Second. That John White, Thomas Gibbons, Bernard C. Ryan, John II. Knaebel and John Hatpin have acted in a manner disreputable and discreditable to themselves as teach- ers, and to the cause of public education. The Committee, therefore, recommend the following resolu- tions to the Board for adoption : Resolved, That Jeremiah Murphy, Daniel Healy, John H. Lester, William P. Kirk, James White, Jeremiah Coughlin, and Charles Kelly, School Trustees in the Fourth Ward, and Felix Murphy. School Commissioner and ex officio Trustee in said Ward, all and each of them, be and they hereby are re- moved from the office of School Officers in and for the said Fourth Ward, for disgraceful conduct in matters connected with their official duties, and that the Clerk be and he hereby is directed to strike the name of said Felix Murphy from the roll of members of this Board. Resolved, That John White, Principal of Ward School JSTo. 26, in the Fourth Ward, Thomas Gibbons, Bernard C. Ryan, and John H. Knaebel, Assistant Teachers in said School, and John Halpin, Assistant Teacher in Ward School Iso. 1, in said Ward, having acted disreputably and discreditably to them- selves as teachers, forfeit their right to teach in the schools, and that the President and Clerk be, and they hereby are, di- 10 rectcd to sign no warrant for services hereafter rendered by any of the aforesaid teachers in the schools under the control of tliis Board ; and that the evidence, so far as relates to the conduct of teachers in the Fourth Ward, be transmitted to the City Superintendent of Schools for his action. Resolved, That the Clerk of this Board be, and he hereby is, directed to transmit a certified copy of this report to the Dis- trict Attorney of this City, and that he be requested to submit the same to the Grand Jury for their action. JAMES L. MILLER, SAMUEL B. II. VANCE, JAMES B. DUPIGNAC, 0. P. SMITH, TIMOTHY BRENNAN, FREDERICK SMYTH, HENRY P. WEST, Special Committee on Investigation of Four tit Ward Matters. The President put the question whether the Board would a«ree with said resolutions, and it was decided in the affirma- tive, as follows : Ayes — Messrs. Maher, Horau, Patten, Heath, O'Donnell, Dupignac, TuthBl, Brennan, Small, Montgomery, Adams, Farr, Bogert, Welch, Kasmire, O'Connor, Perley, Jackson, Boice, Koster, Hayes, West, Murray, Smith, Yance, Miller, Hayward, Hitchman, McSpedon, Connolly, Hastie, McLean, Smyth, Fairchild— 34. On motion, adjourned. THOS. BOESE, Clerk. 11 DEBATES IN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. THE FOURTH WARD INVESTIGATION. On the report of the Special Committee to investigate charges against School Officers and Teachers in the Fourth Ward, Commissioner Murphy. I would ask this Committee, whether there is any evidence directly or indirectly implicat- ing me in any manner as applying and asking for money from teachers ? Or is it merely a supposition that because I am connected with a majority of the members of the Local Board, my name is to be handed down to infamy ? Is it for my con- nection with the Trustees and Inspectors of the Board that I am to be stigmatized and branded as a thief? Where is there any direct testimony from any of the teachers ? The Com- mittee never asked me to appear, or when I appeared before them, to give any statement as to facts. I was prepared to prove that I had gone to the Principals of the Schools in that Ward myself, and asked a copy of the attendance, the promo- tions made by the different teachers, and the grades that their classes stood on the examination, so as to be governed by their reports as to the appointments of teachers to the new school. This I can prove by the Principals to the departments, and nothing, as far as money is concerned, governed my actions. It is something I think I am above ; my character will prove it. I defy the finger of scorn to be pointed at me by any one in that Ward, and I want to say that I shall hold every indi- vidual of this Committee personally responsible for my char- acter in this case. Commissioner Smyth. As a member of that Committee, I have not the least objection to be held personally responsible -^responsible in every way, Acting as a member of this 12 Committee, and of this Board, I acted under oath ; and I am perfectly willing, a3 every other member of the Committee is, to assume the responsibility, and submit the action of that Committee to the investigation and scrutiny of the public, or any other Court or other tribunal that the gentlemen may se- lect. This gentleman asks, where the evidence is to connect him with this transaction ? As a member of that Committee, before pointing to this evidence, I will state that the gentle- man was a friend of mine ; he wa3 my associate in this Board. I never heard anything against his character, and never sup- posed that there was anything against it until I heard the sworn testimony dragged from unwilling witnesses before this Committee, and which exhibited a sight that ought to shock the entire public. ISTow, sir, every member of this Board must have noticed the language used in thi3 report. The word "ring" is used there. That word did not originate with the Committee, or with any member of the Committee; it origi- nated with every witness who was examined before that Com- mittee. The word ring wa3 used by them. A ring was formed. The gentleman, according to all the testimony in the case, was one of that ring. Mr. "White was their agent. The moment that ring was formed, it went into operation, and commenced the nefarious business of black-mailing women. That is the evidence. That "ring," according to the testimony of one of the male teachers, sent their agent to him, and demanded a sum of money — $200. That sum of money he refused to pay until he found out the authority of this agent to demand it, and receive it. lie called upon that ring and satisfied him- self as to the authority of their agent. The next night a special meeting was to be held by the "ring" — called by them —with this very gentleman's name signed to the call, and §100 was paid to the agent — if not in the presence of that gentle- man, in presence of the remaining portion of the "ring," as they were about entering upon the discharge of that duty which they had sworn to discharge faithfully. On that very evening this Board of Local Officers were called together, and that call is upon a certified copy of their minutes. I call the attention of this Board to that call, to see by whom it is sign- ed. [Mr. Smyth read the call signed by Felix Murphy, Daniel Healy, and James White.] When that call was served upon 13 the members of this Board, who were the parties that appeared in obedience to it ? Again, I refer to those minutes, and now I speak from the evidence before this Committee — "Present, Jeremiah Murphy, F. Murphy, the gentleman, Healy, White, Coughlin, and Lester — 6." And who do they appoint? John White, Principal. J ohn White is the agent. J ohn White is the man who is employed by this "ring," and who goes from house to house, and from teacher to teacher, from woman to woman, and from father to mother, and makes the demands and levies and receives the tax ; and we got by positive evi- dence, dragged out after two hours' work, that $100 out of $200 was paid by one of the very men who was appointed at that nefarious meeting, where there were over twenty appoint- ments and removals made inside of ten minutes. Does the gentleman want any more evidence to convict him of the crime ? Because it is a crime ! He violated not only his pub- lic duty, but his oath of office ; and I say here, that he is no longer fit to be a member of this Board. Commissioner Murphy. The gentleman states on his oath, as an officer taking testimony here, that this gentleman was appointed that night, and paid $100. IsTow, the gentleman whom he alludes to has not been appointed. We made but two male appointments — Mr. White and Mr. O'Donnell. You stated that the gentleman paid $100 out of $200 before he got his appointment ; you stated that he got it that night. Commissioner Smyth. You misunderstood me. Mr. John White is the man whom I alluded to. Commissioner Murphy. Well, he paid no $100. As re- gards the origination of this word "ring," I say that it orig- inated (and I charge it directly) — it originated in this Board. There was a communication from Mr. Roosevelt in regard to those charges, made here, and a Committee was appointed and called to meet on the Friday following. On the Thursday following, certain teachers received a note to call here, and they were here, prepared as to what testimony they should give. They came up here all prepared to expose the doings of this ring. There always have been local and political squabbles in our Wards, where a majority will control. One man looks to the interests of his friends, and others do the same ; and, 14 gentlemen, you all know it. I associated myself with the ma- jority of those men some twelve months ago. I was very in- timate with this Mr. White, and I promised him to do all in my power to get him this position ; and I stuck to my word, and voted for him. JSo other interest in this world prompted me to vote for him. Mr. O'Donncll was consulted as regards those appointments, and gave his sanction to them, and was to conic to that meeting that night and vote for them. At least, the majority of the Committee so stated to me. He was perfectly satisfied that his brother-in-law should be Vice- Principal, with the consideration of getting Principal in the evening school. He was perfectly satisfied. lie was asked about it afterwards, and he said that business of importance kept him away. Commissioner MlLLER. The gentleman states that no op- portunity was given him to introduce evidence. As Chairman of the Committee, I asked on several occasions whether there was any School Officer present, who was not represented by counsel, who wished to be heard, and I believe but one re- sponded. Mr. Murphy was in the room every evening except one. Xow, as to holding the members of the Committee per- sonally responsible, I do not think there is a member of this Committee but who feels the responsibility resting upon him in this matter; and I am proud to say that I never was as- sociated with gentlemen who were more earnest and attentive in the discharge of their duties, and who weighed testimony more deliberately and calmly. We held six or seven meet- ings. On every occasion every member was present, and three or four of our meetings were between three and four hours long. I am proud to say the Committee did not differ upon a single point; they did not differ upon anything; and, as has been stated b} r one of my colleagues, if there were no other evidence against Mr. Felix Murphy, his having been associated with that ring was sufficient. The very fact of his having a knowledge of these things going on in the Fourth Ward for nearly two years was sufficient to convince us that he must be guilty, or he would have exposed the nefarious transactions that have been going on. Why, a perfect reign of terror has been going on in the Fourth Ward. I think my colleagues will "bear me out in saying that, during the sittings of the Committee, the scenes in some cases were harrowing. The struggle between fear and duty on the part of some of the teachers excited the .sympathy of every one present, except those who had been endeavoring to plunder them of their hard earnings. One poor little girl came upon the stand on crutches. That lame girl was taxed $75 for a paltry situation of §300 a year. I would ask, "What could be more infamous ? The man who divides the earnings of the common prostitute is superior to the man who would take black.mail for the position of a teacher. It is the most astounding thing that I ever heard of. I was in hopes that there would be nothing said to-night — that we would be spared the getting up here and announcing these things in public. I was in hopes the reading of the report would be sufficient. But it is time something was done. The gentleman tells us that these rings are formed through the city. Then it is time a beginning was made. In my Ward we allow no such rings. Every member of the Board receives full and fair consideration in everything that is done. We are not here to gratify friends in appointments, but to look after the cause of education through the whole city. But we are told by the gentleman from the Fourth, that these things are organized all over the city, and that every one has his friends, and looks after their interests. ISTow, I have yet to learn, after having been asked by my friend from the Ninth whether he would state, under oath, that there was nothing which was corrupt about it. If the gentleman desires more evidence, we will give him evidence that he little dreams of. But we had sufficient. The Committee is composed of men that have taken an interest in the cause of education, and not one of them differed a single hair as to the duty to be per- formed on this occasion. They all agreed that the testimony, which is very voluminous, was sufficient for them to act upon. They have acted ; thev have submitted the report to you ; and I hope, for the cause of education, that that report will be adopted at once, in order that we may have no longer such men occupying the positions of School Officers in any Ward in the City of New- York. 16 Commissioner Murphy. The gentleman states that there is other evidence, hut he considers this enough. I would respect- fully ask that m} T case he referred hack to this Committee, and that they produce all the evidence that can he produced against me. I ask it, and I want it. As regards frauds on contractors, there may he, hut, God he thanked, it cannot he charged against me. There arc frauds now going on under the eyes of men employed hy this Board ; I ask as a favor that it he sent hack, and all the evidence produced that can he produced against me. Commissioner Smyth. The gentleman commenced with a threat, and he ends with a supplication, lie commences hy say- ing that he will hold every memher of the Committee personally responsihle to him; and, after gentlemen have assured him that they arc perfectly willing to take all the responsibility, and after a portion of the testimony has hcen pointed out, impli- cating him, he winds up with a prayer and supplication to this Board to send hack this report to the Committee, the mem- bers of which have already spent hours and days in taking the testimony, and in weighing that testimony, before coming to any conclusion in relation to it. Xow, I state, in addition to what has been said by the Chairman, that after all the evi- dence on the part of the Board of Education was taken, after the Counsel for those School Officers was heard, I, as a mem- ber of that Committee, for the purpose of avoiding the diffi- culty which is now sought to be placed in the way of the adoption of this report, suggested to the Chairman, that a request should be made that any School Officer, who was not represented by Counsel before the Committee, should be in- vited, if he saw fit, to make such explanation as he pleased, to offer himself as a witness to disprove any allegation that has been proved against him. But a single officer availed himself of it. Mr. Murphy did not. In addition to that, those School Officers, by their Counsel, called witnesses, and out of the mouth of their witnesses, and by the "testimony submitted by themselves, and in their justification, came the sharpest evi- dence and the weightiest evidence before that Committee. I allude first to Mr. O'Donnell, who was called by them. Mr. O'Donnell's testimony, beyond all peradventure, removes every 17 question of doubt as to the guilt of those six men implicated in the frauds. iSTot satisfied with that, they called the Chair- man of their own Board, and, after hard work, he was com- pelled to tell a story which is damaging against every mem- ber of this ring. He swore that Felix Murphy said that if certain persons were out of the Board, §5,000 to §6,000 could be made out of the teachers and the erection of the new school ; this was before the organization of the Board. That is their own witness. In addition to that, a web was woven of testimony from which this gentleman, with all his ingenui- ty, and the ingenuity of Counsel who appeared before that Board, (and he had ingenuity in matters of this sort, for he was familiar with it,) was unable to exculpate himself. To give a short statement of the results arrived at by this Com- mittee, after taking all this testimony, not a member of this Committee expressed himself as to the guilt or innocence of any person charged or implicated before them. After all the evidence was in, we appointed another session of the Com- mittee ; we met at 1 o'clock, and sat until 5J, and heard every word read over, and every man's case was canvassed separate- ly and voted upon separately, and there was not a single breath of disagreement among this Committee, or from any member of it. The evidence showed that they occupied some time in endeavoring to organize this ring, and that those very gentlemen called upon and wrote to Mr. O'Donnell, and used all the means they could to get him to join them; that they had an agent who called upon the teachers and their friends. A doctor was called upon no less than twice in regard to a situation for his daughter. A Mr. Fitzpatrick was called upon in regard to a young lady whose father had recently died, and for whom Mr. Fitzpatrick appealed to him to reduce the sum, as she could not pay it ; and the result was, that she was not appointed. And this honest, honorable, immaculate John White is appointed Principal of the new school; and who is he appointed by? By Felix Murphy. By a ring of six — -just enough to appoint him. On that very evening §100 was paid by Mr. Gibbons, and §150 by another individual ; and after that payment, Mr. Gibbons goes back again, and in- quires of Mr. White if he has his money. Mr. White says he has not, but will give security for it, and he does. This 18 business was going on for a length of time it was talked of in the school ; every teacher came in fear and trembling in the morning. The whole talk was, Have you been taxed? How much have you been assessed ? All knew who the man was who was taxing them, and yet this immaculate body of men appoint this infernal scoundrel keeper of their minutes, and Secretary of their Board. Does the gentleman want any- thing more ? If so, I can give it. Commissioner Bogert. I move that this report be accepted, and the resolutions adopted. The motion was carried unanimously, 34 to 0, and the Board adjourned. We have intimated that the wrongs detected and exposed in the Fourth Ward are declared to exist in other Wards to a greater or less extent. There are teachers and others who could reveal important facts on this subject, and to afford facilities for so doing, The Citizens' Association have opened a Complaint-Book at their rooms, !N"o. 813 Broadway, where any individual having knowledge of abuses or frauds, or wrong- doing in any of the Ward School Boards, may enter information, without fear or misgiving. IS~o friendless teacher need be afraid to speak through the Complaint-Book; the Citizens' Associa- tion will see to it that none shall suffer oppression on account of their exposure of abuses. It is a sacred duty to endeavor to purify our Common Schools, and raise them above all those evil influences which late years have introduced. Any infor- mation placed on the Book will be carefully investigated, and promptly followed up by proper action. izx SltbrtB SEYMOUR DURST When you leave, please leave this book Because it has been said "£ver'thing comes t' him who waits Except a loaned book.'' 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