Shaplin Threatens Legal Proceedings Against City

Dissension with the Cambridge School Committee increased yesterday as Judson T. Shaplin '42, Assistant Dean of the School of Education, threatened legal action because of the method by which the Committee made 13 new appointments earlier in the week.

Shaplin, a two-term member of the group which has virtual control over school appointments and budget, charged that the majority railroaded the appointments through without consulting the Superintendent of Schools or considering the applicants' qualifications. The Committee waived a rule requiring Civil Service-type examinations.

"All motions to suspend the rules, to create new positions, to fill vacancies, and to close further reconsiderations were made by the Mayor of Cambridge, Edward J. Sullivan," Shaplin said. Sullivan acts as chairman of the Committee.

The only other dissenting vote in the closed meeting came from Mrs. Catherine Ogden. Both Shaplin and Mrs. Ogden are sponsored by the Cambridge Civic Association.

Commenting on the meeting, CCA President Don Berlin said: "In a flagrant betrayal of public trust, these elected servants of the public wrapped up a private package deal which makes the infamous 'family night' of four years ago look like a Sunday-School picnic."

In answer to the charges, Sullivan said that he wished "to make it perfectly plain that no relatives of mine were involved in any way." He said he "voted as my conscience guided me, acountable to no group or clique."