The Evening Herald

A DEADLOCK IN THE SCHOOL BOARD

BUT "IT DIDN'T CONTINUE LONG.

IT WAS A QUESTION OF SALARY

Fourteen Members Were Evenly Divided and the Fifteenth Member Was Hunted for by a Committee,

DEADLOCKS are novelties on the local School Board. It is seldom that the board is so divided as to allow one to occur, but last night one bloomed and it looked for a while as if the divided parties would "sit it out." The division arose on a proposition to restore the old-time salary of Secretary Gable. When the School Board was organized last year some of the Republican members of the board had Director Bachman slated for secretary. Gable, who then filled the office, made an arrangement by which he was to secure the Democratic votes for secretary and he, it is alleged, was to vote for Thomas Bellis as treasurer. Gable was elected, but when the vote for treasurer was called for he voted for Lamb, and Bellis was defeated. The feeling over the election was bitter on all sides. The Republicans felt sore because Bachman was beaten and the Democrats were equally worked up because Gable failed to support Bellis,

In retaliation the board fixed the salary of the secretary for the year at $35, instead of $275, which had been the figure for several years. The evident purpose of the reduction was to so disgust Gable that he would resign. He did not do so, however, but declared that he would do the work as secretary under the $35 salary as he had done it the year previous under $275. But time changes all things, and it changed the spirit of some of the Republican members. They argued that Gable had performed his duties faithfully and satisfactorily, and before the expiration of his term the salary of the office should be restored to the old figure. Accordingly, several weeks ago Director Beddall brought the matter to the attention of the board. Director O'Hearn, one of the Democratic members, made a vigorous protest and claimed that the reduction of the salary was a just punishment. The matter dragged along until at a recent meeting of the board a motion to reconsider the motion that reduced the salary was carried. Then a motion to fix the salary at $275 was defeated. Last night President Beddall told the directors that it was necessary for the board to take some definite action; that the motion to reconsider left the secretary without any salary. Messrs. O'Hearn and Muldoon thought the matter had already been sufficiently discussed, but they consented to take another vote upon the statements of Directors Davenport, Ogden and Beddall that the secretary would very likely have good grounds to sue the board for services rendered in the absence of any fixed salary. Director Davenport moved that the salary of the secretary be fixed at $275. Ogden seconded the motion, and on a vote being taken Messrs. Hanna, Baird, Ogden, Beddall, Davenport, Trezise and Gable voted in the affirmative, and Messrs. Conry, O'Hearn, Williams, Brennan, Gallagher, Muldoon and Bachman voted in the negative. The vote being a tie 7 to 7—the motion was declared lost. Another discussion followed and finally O'Hearn moved that the salary be fixed at $35. Williams seconded the motion and again the vote stood 7 to 7 and the motion was declared lost. It became a question whether the members would continue voting, or remain seated until some one would give in. Somebody suggested that Director Butts, the fifteenth member be sent for, and by mutual consent Directors Muldoon and Davenport were appointed a committee to seek Mr. Butts and escort him to the meeting. After an absence of about half an hour the committee re-appeared at the meeting accompanied by Butts. Hanna moved that the salary of the secretary be fixed at $274 per year. Davenport seconded the motion. Conry amended that the salary be fixed at $35. Williams seconded the amendment. Davenport moved an amendment to the amendment that the salary be fixed at $275 and this was seconded by Ogden. The guns having been loaded the firing commenced. Davenport's amendment to the amendment was defeated by 8 to 7, the vote being as follows: Against—O'Hearn, Conry, Williams, Brennan, Butts, Gallagher, Muldoon and Bachman. For—Hanna, Baird, Ogden, Beddall, Davenport, Trezise and Gable. A vote was then taken on Conry's amendment and it was carried by a vote of 8 to 7 and the motion as amended being put was carried by the same vote, so the salary of the secretary remains $35 per year.

William H. Dettrey, representing Major Jennings Council, No. 367, Jr. O. U. A. M., asked permission to erect a platform in front of the High school for speakers on the Fourth of July, and the request was granted.

In response to a request of the same order the board decided that the president of the board shall receive the flag that will be presented on the Fourth.

The other business transacted was of a routine character pertaining to the closing of the board's business for the fiscal year.