Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-14
TRY TO UNRAVEL
SCHOOL TANGLE
Attorney Mcnamara to Render
Opinion on Legal Points.
SUBSTANCE OF HIS VIEWS
Inconsistencies in Law, He Holds,
Should Be Interpreted Generally.
DIsMISsALs WILL BE MADE
Schedule for Entrance Examinations
outlined-Severaf Teachers Hold
Conference This Morning.
-. 50 - 49, 80.
SUBSTANCE OF HIS, VIEWS
Inconsistencies in Law, He Holds,
Should Be Interpreted Generally.
D1sM1ssALs WILL BE MADE

Conference This Morning.
Assistant United States Attorney Nc
Namara conferred this morning with Ad-
miral Baird. president of the board of edu-
cation. and Supt Chancellor of the public
schools, In DR.. Chancellors office at the
Franklin building. preparatory to render
\ Ing final opinion upon several legal Ques-
| tons involved in the new school law and
| not determined by Assistant United States
Attorney Jesse C. Adkins who advised the
board last week. About o'clock this after
| noon Mr.. Mcnamara will present writ
ten opinion to the board and there will be
| an informal conference of the members of
| that body and the superintendent of
schools to consider what he has to say. The
open meeting of the board will be held
about pm.
representative of The Star learned, In
part. the substance of Mr.. McNamara's
| views as to how the law should be con-
| strued. These views were stated informal
| ly to Admiral Baird and DR.. Chancellor
| this morning
In the first place. the attorney believes
| that any inconsistencies in the new law
! must be interpreted In the light of the gen.
| eral meaning of the whole. He holds that
| 1t was the purpose of Congress to continue
| III OlilCe all Oh the I6dC0lnE IOrCe, ana the
| officials except those particularly legfs-
| lated out of office by the act, and unless
| the board of education has formally dis
| missed any of these the whole body is still
in the employ of the board.
Meant to Consolidate.
He also believes, 1t is said that the act
| meant to consolidate the offices of assist
| ant superintendent and director of high
| schools. The matter that he has not yet
| decided upon is In regard to the disposition
| of the incumbent Of one of these two Of
fees whose status must necessarily be
changed by the consolidation. Whether
| this official is to be considered Iegislated
| out Of Office or still an employee of the
school board. and, If so. under what condi-
| tions. is to be decided before the board
meets today.
Superintendent Chancellor said this morn
| ing that of course this decision would deter
mine the legal status Of the case of Mrs.
ent of schools, former Director of High
| Schools Hughes having been the person
chosen to fill the Office created as the re-
suit OF the consolidation-that is, the Office
of assistant superintendent.
Mr.. MacNamaras formal opinion on this
! and the other legal questions confronting
the board of education is awaited with the
greatest interest by the members of the
board and the school authorities.
Decides Upon Dismissal.
Superintendent Chancellor said to a Star
reporter this morning that since the in
formal consultation with the attorney de-
cision had been reached to dismiss this
afternoon at the board meeting those en-
ployes under the old regime whom 1t is
| not proposed to retain. In this way 1t is
hoped to clear the legal tangle.
The superintendent was asked what the
effect Of this policy would be in certain
specific cases. He replied that Mrs. A. J.
80 ~
School under the old regime, would be
formally dismissed or transferred from that
office. He said also she had been rendered
a position as principal Of graded school
being to provide for her In some way, but
she had not signified whether she would
accept or decline the tender.
He said the case of Mr.. Swartzell, under
the old regime head Of the Eastern High
School, was practically the same, as far as
he was concerned. ard that II Mr. Swartz-
ell did not accept the position of high school
teacher Of Latin rendered him. he would
probably be dismissed from the service by
the board this afternoon.
It is understood that Mr.. Swartzell, hay-
ing been advised by his lawyer that no legal
Office has been rendered to him. has sent
word to the superintendent that he will not
accept the tender. 1t has been stated by
Mr.. Hughes, assistant superintendent, that
Mr.. Swartzell was offered two days ago a
$1.00O High School position as a teacher of
Latin with the provision that the control
Ter Of the treasury must decide as to the
legality of the salary It Is this uncertain
ty that is said to have caused Mr.. Swart-
cells counsel to advise hi INTO refuse the
oner OF position of doubtful existence.
To Be rendered New Position,
]. R. Keane, who was the supervising
principal of the seventh division under the
old regime will be rendered this afternoon
position as a graded school principal. ac-
cording to Dr.. Chancellor. and 1t 1t UNDER
stood to be probable that J. B. Clarke. for
merly supervising principal of the tenth d.
vision, colored, will also be provided for in
some way this afternoon
Appointments have already been made NV
the board to fill the offices held BY MI.
Swartzell. Mrs. Cooper. Mr.. Keane and
Mr. Clarke.
There are two teachers of the M Street
High School who will probably be formally
dismissed by the board this afternoon upon
recommendation of DR.. Chancellor, accord
ing to the latter's statement this morning.
These are ]. L. Love and Miss M. E. Nolle.
struction. said that all white graded teach
ers have been provided for, and the same
Is said to be true of all teachers in the
white high and manual training schools
Assistant Superintendent Montgomery. for
the colored schools, told Star reporte,
that only two graded school teachers unde
his supervision had not been continued In
office by action Of the superintendent anS
that as soon as they had conferred with
the superintendent their cases would prob
ably be settled in a manner satisfactory t.
them.
Teachers Hold Conference.
A conference of the high school and man.
ual training school teachers with the SUI
perfntendent and assistant superintendent
was held this morning in the Franklin
building. Matters connected with organize
ton were discussed.
Tickets for admission to the graded
schools were issued at the various school
buildings this morning from to 1880
o'clock. They Will be issued also from to
5 o'clock this afternoon and between the
same hours tomorrow morning and after
noon.
Candidates for the white high and man.
ual training schools have been getting in
formation at the Central High School to-
day. Entrance examinations for the adj
yanced classes of these schools will be held
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