Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-26
Alleges Hostility on Part Of School
Authorities.


ident ae the Public Esusattanal Associa-
ton.
President Gitterman charged that sdpsr-
intsndent Of Schools stuaxt. aided BY the
beard Of education. had dane everythfng
possible to stranGis and diocrsilft the free
lecture movement IN which she WAS tn
tsrested. and that In this effort On the
part OF these sentfemen falsehoed anA
MISREPRESENTATION had played an impor-
tant part
The comnittse had under considsration
tho bi11 introduced In the Hoase By Repre-
sentative Sulser. providing that tha super
vision Of the department OF lectures shall
be vested I'm q supervisor Of lectures. who
shall hold q master Of arts degree from an
accredited college.
Representative Sulzer spoke briefly in
support OF his BILL He said that In New
York the free lectures had met with success
from the start and were now largely at
tended. They had proven of immense ben
eft to the working classes and were attend
ed by pupils and by parents.
Mrs. Gitterman, before beginning her
talk, endeavored to urge the members of
the committee to exclude reporters from
the room. She said she had some unpleas-
ant things to say and did not care to have
them get into print. The committee re-
fused this request, however, as the hearing
was public one
Broken Faith Charged.
Mrs. GitteTman then referred to one al
legged action of the board of education,
which she strongly criticised. She said the
colored people had asked the board of edu-
cation for kindergartens for their children.
and the board of education had told them
that If they would go to Congress and get
the kindergartens. The appropriation was
secured. but. Mrs Gft.erman said, 1t did
not go to the colored kindersartens
ut There came near being an almost par
ture appropriation, Mrs. Gitterman said
Superintendent Stuart and members of the
board Of education had told her. both orally
and IN letters. that they favored the move
ment for free lectures to the people, and
that ii she would assist in securing an APP
preparation from Congress for this purpose
ranged for. The appropriation was Sc
cured-one of 81, 500-and the board of edu-
cation Immediately decided to divert this
appropriation for the purpose Of providing
lectures for teachers.
Supt' Stuart's Alleged Hostility.
Mrs. Gitterman then charged that supt
Stuart and the board had done everything
possible to dIscredit the lectures. The at
tendance figures we're manipulated to make
poor showing. she asserted. and at one
lecture at the Public Library the doors
had been closed and people turned away
from the lecture room when there were
plenty of vacant seats inside.
Representative Wiley wanted to know
why the board OF education had taken this
attitude
Mrs Gitterman said the board did not
want the lectures. that 1t did not want out
slders in the schools, and she quoted Pres
ident Gordon as making this plain sta-e-
Sment.
Mrs. Gitterman again complained that she
could not get any satisfaction out Of Mr..
Macfarland. and quoted him as replying
to one Of her questions with this state
ment
II don't see. Mrs. Gitterman, why the
public schools should be torn up by the
roots merely because you are not satisfied
with the way the board Of education has
run the free lectures to the people"
The committee after Mrs. Gitterman COM
session and quickly disposed of her bill by
laying 1t on the table and indefinitely post
poning action. Members of the committee
said after the session that to put into eff
provide for endless friction and endless
pickering In the public school system
The committee also laid on the table
bill introduced by Representative Brown
low to amend the District code In an unim-
portant particular.
Establish Uniform Building Line.
The Senate bill providing for the estab-
ishment of a uniform building line on |
streets In the District less than ninety fest |
IN width was favorably reported. The OBJ
ject Of the measure is to make wider streets !
In certain sections, principally Columbia |
Heights and Mt. Pleasant. The measure |
was favored by citizens in that section |
Judge Bundy. who urged the bill today, |
pointed out that under the plan providing |
for a permanent system of highways. streets |
may not be dedicated unless they are |
ninety feet wide, and it was to bring the |
narrower streets within the line of such |
system that this legislation desired |
Representative Campbell of Kansas gave |
notice in the committee meeting that next /
Thursday he would call up for consideration |
In committee the bill providing for the re- |
organization of the fire department with adj
ditioraal caf Z !