Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-13
SCHOOL TROU BLES
Inquiry by House District Com
mittee Proposed.
Mr.. GREENE'S MEASURE
Believes Educational Officers Have
Exceeded Their Authority.
ACTS OUTSIDE THE LAW
Methods Adopted by Superintendent
Chancellor and the School Board
Will Be Fully Examined.

A bill defining the position of employees
of the public school system of the District
of Columbia has been introduced in the
House by Representative Greene of Massa-
is aimed at the bulls eye of the present
difficulties In the administration of the pub
lie school system of Washington and, for
that reason, is an important proposition to
every person in the public schools, affect
ed or likely to be, by possible changes in
administrative policy.
"We intend to investigate school
troubles said Representative Greene, who,
In addition to being a member of the House
committee on the District of Columbia, was
a member of the, school subcommittee that
framed the school bill passed at the last
session of Congress.
II do not think the superintendent and
board of education had any authority in
law for many of their acts, continued Mr..
Greene to Star reporter this morning. II
am not a lawyer. but l have secured the
pest opinion in the House upon the subject
and l find that practically all the members
with whom l have talked hold to that
view.
Intent of the Law.
Il want to say further that the intent of
the law is very plain. Remember, it was
passed lust at the last session of Congress
We who drew it up are not yet dead and
buried. so there can be no doubt about
the matter of intent. We all agree that it
was the intention of Congress in passing
that school bill that no teacher then in the
public schools should be disturbed in any
way by the operation of the change in law.
The bill was drawn and passed simply and
solely to benefit the teachers. We intend
ed not only that each and every teacher
should have at least $25 a year added to
his or her salary. but that each and every
teacher should remain undiSturbed in his
or her position. That was the intent of the
law. 1t Is needless for me to say that it
has not by any means been carried out
2 Now z propose to have the matter in-
vestigated. AS have said, II am Convinced
that Superintendent Chancellor and the
board of education have exceeded their au-
the best way to secure a full and compre-
hensive investigation of the subject was to
introduce this bill and then have hearings
upon 1t. This will demand at the hands
which am a member. and I have no doubt
an early date will be set for the COM
mencement of the inquiry"
Mutilation of Records.
Docs the paragraph in the bill with ref
erence to the mutilation of records have
direct reference to the Cardoza case?" Mr.
Greene was asked.
Il wouldn't like to say Mr.. Greene re-
piled. II will simply say that such pro-
vision as this one could not be made retro
active, but 1t is intended that, II any rec
ords have been mutllated or destroyed, this
shall not happen again, on penalty of Sc
we're punishment.
Mr.. Greene seems to be very much in
earnest in his decision to have Superin-
tendent Chancellor, the board Of education
and the methods followed in carrying out
the provisions of the new school law fully
and freely investigated, and it is under
stood that Representative Morren of Penn
sylvania, chairman Of the subco- lmittee on
schools Of the District committee, will in
dorse the stand taken by the Massachusetts,
congressman. Immediately upon his return
to Washington, which will be some time in
the early part OF next week.
Date Of Hearing Not Yet Set.
At the District committee it was said to-
day that no formal request had come from
Representative Greene as yet as to fixing
a date for hearings on the matter. As
the Greene bill has just been introduced,
however, it is probable that the request will
be made tomorrow, and date for the hear
ing fixed by Chairman Babcock.
The Greene bill was in great demand
around the Capitol today, and it is probable
that extra copies will have to be printed.
Text Of the Bill.
A bill defining the position of employees of
the public school system OF the District Of
Columbia, authorized by act No. 254. en-
acted at the first session of the Fifty-ninth
Congress and authorizing payment there
for
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States of
AM in hat oil
persons In the service or employ OF the
public school system of the District of Co
lumbia on or before the date Of the pas
sage or approval Of public act No. 254, en-
titled IAN act to fix and regulate the sal
aries of teachers, school officers and other
employees of the board of education Of the
District Of Columbia" are continued in
Office, and the controller of the treasury is
hereby directed to pay them such salaries
as they would have been entitled to had
NOTED, dismissed and in other ways dis
missed for the alleged good of the service
Sec. Q That after the approval Of this
act no person in the employ of the public
school system shall be in any way dis
ciplined except after notice Of at least Ave
days. which notice shall be in writing, and
that at the expiration of said time the
person charged shall be entitled to pub
| lie trial or investigation in the manner and
form set forth in section 10 Of public act
| No. 254. entitled IAN act to fix and regu-
late the salaries of teachers. school officers
and other employees of the board Of educa-
| ton of the District of Columbia"
Section 3. That no person in the employ
of the said board of education shall here
after for any reason whatsoever be de-
prived of the right to trial or investigation
| in such manner and form as prescribed in
the foregoing section before dismissal: Pro-
vided. That the accused may, as his or her
personal privilege, waive public trial or
| investigation, which waiver shall be in
writing and shall be entered of record in
| the minutes Of said board of education
| Section 4. That any alteration, mutila-
| ton, DETACHMENT, extension or a,nplification
] Of record, memorandum, notice, book
paper, writing. which the board Of educa-
| ton of the District Of Columbia is required
| to keep, either by statute or by its own
| rules or by custom. is hereby declared q
| felony, punishable by a fine of not less than
| $200 and not more than 81 600 or imprison-
ment at hard labor for not less than SIX
| months and not longer than three years, or
i both az ha diScYaffnx, of tho nnssrf