Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-02
PAYMENT OF TEACHERS
Checks to Be Forwarded for
October Salaries.
Discussing OFFICE READY
Rapid Work Necessary in Order to
Complete Preliminaries
REORGANIZATION OF SCHOOLS
Commission Considering Reduction in
Buildings-Colored Citizens to
Meet Superintendent.
REORGANIZATION OF SCHOOLS


District can get their pay checks for the
month of October tomorrow morning IL
they apply in person at the Franklin School
building. statement TO this effect was
made by Charles c. Rogers. the District
dsbursing officer. this morning.
The pay rolls of the public school sys-
tenn which were late in being forwarded to
the auditor of the District have been
completely audited and signed by Auditor
Garrison. and the necessary signature of
DSbursng Officer Rogers VIII have been
placed on the checks by the time the
District building closes this afternoon. The
checks will be sent to the board of educa-
ton. which will certify to their cor
reCtness. and the checks will then be ready
for distribution The work of completing
the auditing and signing of this large pay
roll at such early date, in view of the
delay. is looked upon as unusually rapid
However, to make it possible to pay the
teachers tomorrow. the forces of the au-
ditors and disbursing officers offices were
compelled to be reinforced and to work
Overtime
Special Commission at Work.
The special commission. composed of Coz.
John Biddle, the Engineer Commissioner of
the District; William E. Chancellor, super
intendent of the public schools, and James
X. Taylor supervising architect of the
United States treasury. which created
by the last Congress form a general
plan of consolidation OF the public schools
and for the abandonment and sac of such
school sites and buildings as they may
deem necessary for the best good of the
school service in the District, began active
operations this morning.
TIE first step taken by this commission
Is that of making a thorough inspection
of the various school buildings throughout
the District and the sites upon which they
WI q determining
the advisability of changing the location
of the schools the question for them to de-
eide being the present policy OF making
numerous four and eight-room school room
buildings and having them located so that
of them will be far away from
houses in any section of the District, or to
establish large school buildings, and not
build so many of them but have them
centrally located.
The placing of large school buildings at
certain intervals is done, the Commission
ers say, in New York and other large
cities and are looked upon favorably. They
do away with the little buildings scattered
about the city, according TO the Commits
sioners, and in the end. it is believed they
will be less expensive in many respects.
The only difficulty which this commission
expects in its work is, if it determines
upon the large school buildings. centrally
located such plan might cause dissatis-
faction among the citizens, whose children
VIII have to go greater distance to attend
school. and may possibly have to ride on
and the school is too great
Inspection Begun.
For several weeks this special commits
sion has been preparing a plan of action
TO follow. preparatory 10 beginning it's
active work, and, this being finished it
de'ied it would begin inspecting the
school buildings. To do this ii will neces-
state the traversing of the entire District.
as the present school buildings are located
In every section of the city and county.
Commissioner Biddle said this morning, be-
fore starting this tour of inspection that
owing to the number of schools and the
vast amount of territory TO be covered, the
work will take several weeks.
Other provisions of the act of Congress
creating this special committee require the
latter. after reviewing the school question,
to submit general plan of character, size
and location of school buildings and sites
In accordance with the local educational
and business interests. In other words, 1t
l. explained, IL must determine IL the four
and eight room school buildings should be
distributed around, whether these build
tngs should be abandoned. 1t Is also to
pass upon the type of school buildings and
the general architecture.
When speaking of this proposed CONSOLE
dation of the public school system an Of
fetal in the engineer departm said yes
terday that according to the present system
the school, buildings so numerous and
situated In such manner as few school chill
dren have TO go more than six or seven
blocks from their homes to attend, except in
the remote suburbs, and even then, he says,
the distances are much shorter than would
be supposed. However he is of the opinion
that II the present system is changed and
the numerous little schools abandoned,
much protest will be forthcoming from the
parents of school children.
Il know one man., this official stated,
who has said If the school system is
changed so that his children have to walk
ten fifteen blocks ride To and from
school he would rather not send them to
school, and this is likely to be the senti-
ment Of many others
Arranging for Interview.
Rev. DR.. s. L. Cerro;hers. president OF
the colored citizens committee on public
school affairs. has called a special meeting
OF the executive committee of the organiza-
tion to take under consideration steps to
arrange for an interview with Supt Chan
celior of the public schools. This move
made by DR.. Ccrrothers after he had
read the invitation extended to the COM
mittee by the superintendent. published in
The Star yesterday afternoon.
II s. understood that DR.. Corrothers will
Select the committee which will confer with
DIR. Chancellor. acting. of course. the
advice of the executive body of the citizens
organization.
The superintendent of schools has been
taken at his word. and the colored people
await the outcome with the greatest inter-