The Washington times., 1906-03-09

So Says Colonel Biddle at
Hearing.
DEFENDS SANITATION
When Asked About Mott School De-
claTed He Had No Information
Regarding II.

| An unqualified defense of the sanitary
conditions in the District public schools
WAS made today by Col John Biddle.
Engineer Commissioner for the District,
before the school subcommittee Of the
House District Committee, now oonsid-
+ ering all the pending school bills.
He made the defense IN reply 10 the
contention that the unsanitary condi-
/ tions ia the schools are such as to ne
cessitate tee appointment of a new Of
hcer, 10 be called superintendent of
+ buildings and supplies. TO keep The
school buildings in order and repair
/ To this Colonel Biddle made fat de-
RiaL
! Frederick c. Co1dren, speaking for the
Business Mems Association. objected. as
/ W q Henderson has done. to the pro-
vision ia the GiOuideer bill creating q
I supervisor OF lectures not under control
Of the Board Of Education. Mr. CoIdren
put his association on record as favor
ing the Commissioners bill, because
The present local school system is good
and the results excellent
Sanitary Conditions Defended.
In the new school building" said
/ Colonel Biddle. with which I am es-
( peciaIiy familiar. the sanitary conditions
are most excellent. The apparatus and
such things are. if possible, too good.
almost too expensive.
The heating system is of the most
modern type. and the pIayrooms are
fine. with concrete floors and good ven
. diation. Some buildings are heated with
hot air. which has proved satisfactory.
1t is healthy and affords opportunity
for the best ventilation"
Asked by Mrs. Curtis If he knew any
thing OF the Mott School, Colonel BiddIe
said he did not This is the school
where, Mrs. Curtis charges. d coIored
girl was made totally blind by having
10 study BY gas light
When asked as TO who suDervises the
sanitary condition of the buildings, Col
onel Biddle said much dependence is
placed on The reports OF janitors and
teachers. The superintendent OF repairs
he said, makes systematic inspection OF
the buildings.
There is only one definite. systematic
inspection. and that Is in the spring.
asked Chairman Morrell.
Yes" replied the colonel, but he
goes at other times to buildings OF
which there is any complaint. I will
say here that ] don't think the sanitary
conditions in the schools could be i'm
proved on
mad HeaT0 NO complaint.
Replying to Mr. Morrells suggestion
that complaint had been made as to wa
ter standing in the cellar of the Mott
School, Colonel Biddle said he had never
heard Of such state of affairs, ana
shat if he mad It would have been rene
died At once.
Mrs Curtis. at this point. said water
stands beneath the Mott School all the
time, and two back rooms of the build
ing ar. SO dark that gas light has to be
used the ne.
Commenting on the proposal TO have
a superintendent of school buildings
with no other outside duties, Colonel
Biddle said he did not think such an
official necessary. as he thought the
people who are in the schools every
day can surely see unsanitary condi-
tious and report them to the proper
authorities. For other purposes, he
thought the annual spring inspection
now carried on would be sufficient.
4 do not think" he said. that this
superintendent of buildings and sup
plies would be satisfactory. He would
have to combine the qualities of clerk
mechanic and janitOT. / do not be-
lieYe in the arrangement. The man
would also be charged with the i'm
pOrtant duty of purchasing supplies
and the ordinary work OF looking after
such things as the heating apparatus.
Sees No Economy in It.
Il can't see any economy in it," de-
elared the Colonel. with emphasis ut
does not coincide with our idea of ham
ding the matter. If any inspector is
added, add him 10 the general inspec-
tion force of the District Government
Continued on Second Page.)