The Washington times., 1903-08-30
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL
MAY Be INVESTIGATED
Result of Disclosures Pub
liShed in The Times.
OVERCHARGES FOR SUPPLIES
Protests on That Account Made Former
Superintendent Unpopular, But
Dealers Won Out.

A second investigation into the affairs
of the Industrial Home School is not i'm
probable, in view of recent disclosures,
printed exclusively in The Times. Neg
ligence on the part of the present su-
perintendent has been coneIusively
shown: lie milk furnished the institu-
tion has been analyzed and found to be
diluted; a suspicion of malicious poison
ing exists in the minds OF the District
health officials. and an examination is
now under way to determine the truth of
such suspicious.
A Secret Investigation.
Finally an examination of the District
records yesterday afternoon disclosed
the fact that the Secret" investigation
of the institution, made year ago, was
conducted without an invitation having
been extended TO the trustees of the
home. nor were they permitted to par
ticipate- No answer has been made to
any OF these charges, and friends OF the
institution declare their intention OF
pushing the matter with the Commits
sioners and compelling. another, but
putilcr lnNSSlg CATION.
On August 19 The Times printed an ac-
count of general poisoning which oc-
CURED at the Industrial Home School the
day before, but which was not reported
to the authorities until the day The
Times printed the story. The second
case of poisoning came TO the attention
Of The Times through casual question
addressed fo .uo cbFldrar of ,ha IIo~,<
who were in front of the District Build
ing, awaiting the return of the superin-
tendent. Diligent inquiry based upon
the information thus obtained, led TO the
new story Of August q.
After the Superintendent
The object of the secret" investiga-
tion, conducted more than a year ago,
seems to have been in part, if not sole
Iy. to force out of Office Edward z. Nc
CasLn. who was then superintendent.
Mr. McCaslin seems TO have had the
solid support of the entire board of trus-
tees.
II is asserted this so-called investiga-
tion was partial and unfair TO the last
degree, and that when testimony was
given which was not desired by the in
vestigators the stenographer was direct
ed TO leave it out. While the inquiry
was in progress, and before the superin-
tendent's side of the case had been pre-
sented, those pressing the investigation
said that he must go. At the end OF the
investigation the trustees were informed
he must be dismissed.
Finally Forced Out.
In spite of this announcement. they
held him in office from October until
early in December. when. not being will
ing to submit to further annoyances and
in spite of continued support from the
entire board OF trustees. he resigned.
His resignation became effective jan
uary l, 1903. when he was succeeded by
c. w Skinner
1t is said. among other things. that
the former superintendent incurred the
hostility of contractors whom he many
times reported to the District authori-
ties as guilty Of making overcharges
and furnishing short supplies. and that
although these alleged overcharges con-
tinued for several years-these same con-
tractors are still furnishing supplies.