The Washington times., 1903-06-25
INQUIRY IS ORDERED
BY COMMISSIONERS
viii Investigate Payment
for Photographs.
MATTER IS WITH ATTORNEY
Action Must Be Speedy as Statute of
Limitations Becomes Operative in
a Few Days.

An investigation of the irregular
methods resorted to in the payment of
bill for 1924 the Board Of Education
owed to Frances Benjamin Johnston has
been ordered by the District Commits
sioners
As soon as the report of the Board OF
Education on the transaction (which is
published in another column) reached
the Commissioners this morning. Cor
pcration Counsel DuvalI was summoned
10 the District Building and had q short
conference aith the Commissioners. 1t
was then announced that the board had
adopted the following motion of Com
missioner Macfarland:
Mr.. Macfarland's\ Motion.
"A violation of the law having been
committed, apparently. in the transac-
tion described in the incIosed report.
move that the report and all other pa
pers relating 10 the matter be referred
to the Corporation Counsel. with lnstruc-
are practicable 10 insure prosecution. by
conference with the District Attorney Of
the United States for the District Of
Columbia, or otherwise"
1t appears that very important point
in the fictitious reouisition for school
maps has not yet been brought out Be-
fore this requisition was prepared Comp
troller Tracewell had decided not only
that the second installment on the paw
ment for photographs for the Paris Ex-
position could not be legally paid from
school funds, but that there was ma
legal authority for the first payment,
and that school funds should not have
been used for any such purpose. In the
face of this opinion. which was we'll
known in the Office OF the Board OF Edu-
cation. and in defiance of il. the requi-
sltion to pay the claim was prepared.
and the school funds defrauded in the
manner now made public.
Significant Dates.
As the statutes of limitation will run
against prosecutions in this matter in
e very -fewr-days. two years being shat
limit. much interest attaches to the
dates Of the several steps in the case.
May 81. 1901-Requisition was made on
the Commissioners Of sthe District for
two sets of maps, one to cost $3.50, the
other $500.
June II. 1sOl-The order was given at
the District Building for purchasing
these maps.
June 27-The dealer from whom they
we're purchased gave his receipt for
sl,l5O. thus receiving pay for both sets,
though ne had only delivered the first.
June 28-Secretary Twombly signed a
certificate that both sets had been de-
llvered.
July 3-NT. Parker. the dealer, was
paid 81 $50 by the disbursing officer 7f
the District
July 9-Parker sent his personal check
10 Miss Johnston for $500.
The award % the contract TO John c.
Parker for the six sets OF school maps
which were not delivered Is regarded as
perfectly regular. Bids were advertised
for cn the twenty sets OF maps. Rand.
McNalIy & Co. made a proposal of $3.50
and the bid OF Mr.. Parker was $500. the
amount paid 70 Miss Johnston.
No explanation has been offered as yet
of the difference between the bill rem
aered by Miss Johnston and the amount
she is said to have been paid. The only
similar bill of Miss Johnstons on file
in the District Auditors office is for
1926. while $500 is the amount paid TO
Miss Johnston by Mr.. Parker.