The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-12
Mr.. Stocking Scores
The Whited Sepulcher"
Tells His FelOw-Members of Mount Pleasant
Citizens Association Plain Truths Regard
ing the Public School Scandal

Corporation Counsel was requested :,
review the testimony from a legal poin
of view; that he concluded that IN,
charges were disproved and that tn,
commissioners, acting in their judicia
capacity. so found and dismissed sale
charges, adding in their report the fol
! lowing statement: Second. the testi.
/ mony failed to reveal a single instance
/ lncrimlnaung either of the parties The
fact that visited - during tbs
spring of 1898 is admitted
Character of Charge.
1t is matter of sincere regret. and
proof in my opinion. of the lack OF
proper conduct upon the part of the
commissioners of the District, especially
when acting in their newly acquired iu-
dicial function. either privately in con-
Fersation. or publicly in an official report.
10 prefer charge of criminality. No
person acting for betterment of school
conditions has ever gone to that extent.
Our charge has been restricted always
10 indiscretion.
But let us examine the facts as dis
closed by the report:
The Lehman affidavit is the basis of
the investigation. The judicial Com
mlssloners have failed to publish that
andavit or even to give a synopsis of
II. why? state positively (and chal-
lenge the Commissioners to deny) that
the Lehman affidavit does not charge
any criminality whatever, and I assert
mat IL only states, with particulars. GER
tain visits. The Commissioners admit
those visits in their official report. How
then. is 1t possible for them IN roach
a judicial conclusion that the Charges
We're disproved? How can admitted
facts be disproved? The Commissioners
nave found party innocent of charges
tnat were never preferred This is like
trying a man for burglary and dIschare-
ing him as not guilty of murder. and
thar after he has admitted the charge
OF burglary.
1T is hoped that in the future exer-
else OF their judicial function the Com
lnissiOners may have learned somewhat
oy experience gained in their first at
tempt
Macfarland's Advice.
Upon admitted facts. as to these
visits, Commissioner Henry BENJAMIN
Franklin Macfarland advised a party to
resign, in order to save the public school
system and, secondly. to save the Board
of education, and to save himself the
commissioner at the head of that de-
oartment. and. for that matter. the
entire District government
rthernore, the record shows that
upon those admitted facts Comrnls- |
'loner Biddle advised the disrnissoI Of 1
ne other party. which advice was /
'tlenuousiy opposed by the late Com. 1
missioner Ross, because as he said II /
Nouiu De disgrace TO make a scape- /
party. O'ioi
An that the Commissioners have scr
oilh IN their report is evasive and 1
,,,,S,s liant, because II does not touch
ipon present conditions.
PEOPLE connected with the schools
.re not expected to go to those in am
hoilty with complaints, especially when |
very atom or power possessed by tho !
Evening STAR added to the ofscisI
over possessed by its friend. Comnois
ioDer Mcfarland, is he'd over their
ledus. But l state here publicly thai /
tcple connected with the schools have
omplalned TO me OF present conditions /
: embarrassing. intimidating. and 90 Ii
~ ectlVe OF successful school work The
atTCnS of the schools know THE ts |
rue. and 1t remains to be seen wbetb1T
he people rule or Wbetha- ti---- -
ng Star rules IN school matters.
The Ross Letters.
IF Commissioner Macfarland Is will
ng that the people shall know the es-
entail facts. let him authorize the
of the late Commissioner
loss communications to his associates,
ated February a, 1902, and March 20,
5O2. The former has bearing or
esent conditions. Then let Commits
Toner Henry Benjamin Franklin Mac
arland meet the charges Of Gen. Henry ,
7. BoyntOn, president of the Board of
EDUCATION, against the late investiga
ION and the record of the same In
elngent people are grieved at the re-
usal of the Commissioner TO meet those
ha.ges. 1t casts a shadow on the IN
egrity OF the judicial functions 90
ately bestowed upon our local govern
vent
The conditions are exactly as they
we're before the publication OF the re-
OTt Of the Commissioners, and neither
Tor the simultaneously prepared eX
iOslon OF nOisesome epithets by the
ditor OF the Evening Star presents
ny remedy for those conditions.
why does the Star show such a
errible temper Has 1t. too. a defense
o offer because of the advice Of an edi-
or. which prevented the resignation
Which Commissioner Macfariand re-
uested nearly two years ago?
4 hold 10 revengeful sentiment to-
yard the Star and would aid il, f.
ossible. in disentangling itself from the
OsitiOn of championing a cause against
he moral sentiment of the people.
Tax-Dodging Charge.
AS a sincere friend of he Star 1
esire. in all the humility of a political
/