The Washington herald., 1906-11-24

Dr. William +. Chancellor. superintend-
ent of public instruction. viii leave Wash
ington to-day for his much-advertised trip
through the South. where he is TO visit
various colored institutions Of learning.
The superintendents first official stop
VIII be at Nashville. Tenn, where he
viii inspect Fiske University. He an
nounced yesterday that ne win visit all
tie schools, private as well as public. in
that city.
Tt is regarded as practically certain
that tie expenses for this trip. which
lave been the subject Of so much discus
sion, VIII be paid by the Comptroller Of
the Treasury-th is, Dr. Chancellor is to
lee allowed the cost of transportation
and s. day beside
The superintendent was a busy man
yesterday-so busy that he. declined to
see any reporters. tt was said ~ his
Office DE was engaged in completing his
annual report as superintendent Of pub
lie schools Of Paterson. y. J.
\ statement was made to the effect
that DR.. Chaucellors textbooks are being
used in the Washington schools, contrary
70 the spirit of the law. which holds
that an educator shall not be a party 10
The use Of books Of his own authorship IN
schools under his immediate supervision.
Authorizes Statement
At Dr. Chancellor's home last evening
The superintendent could not be seen in
person, but he authorized a member OF
lis household TO reply to the questions.
The result was a statement in effect as
follows.
~Dr. Chancellor is the author of Il
rrcUJ number of school textbooks. com
prisiDS histories, spelling-books, arith-
mcl5cs, and others-in short, almost all
kinds but Biographies. 1t has been Eis
invariable custom. when taking charge Of
"a school system, to insist that the use
of his books be discontinued if in use
at the time be assumed office
'iis is the author of certain textbooks
which comprise practically she only ones
OF their kind-b00ls designed specially for
use En- night schools. where adults are In
srTUcted in subjects commonly taught to
children. Such books of his authorship
were in use in the night schools of Wash
lugtou when Dr- Chancellor became su-
perateudeut. and IT they are still being
used it Is because there are none others
10 replace them.
Have Not Bought His Books.
None of his textbooks however. has
been purchased for use I'm the Washing
ION schools since he came 10 this city,
and DE does NOT intend any shall be pur-
chased; and so far as he knows no mem
Der of the board of education. or any
one else. has proposed such purchase.
~Dr. Chancellor. it was said finds con
diti0ns so different here I'm Washington
from those that prevail elsewhere that
It has been dif1cult for him to proceed
as lie has been accustomed. For iIl-
stance. in all Northern cities the schools
are owned by the school boards. who
may make necessary repairs or purchase
supplies or incur other necessary expenses
without recourse TO any other body.
Conditions Different Here.
Here the schools are owned, uouinaIlv
az llast-for they have 70 be owned by
some one-by the District Commission
ers; yet no one seems to be responsible.
and II requires an act of Congress. or at
leas, the Unwinding of an enormous
amount of red tape, before anything can
be accomplished. Recently the superip-
teDdeuJ discovered that the walls of a Ger
tain school building were sadly I'm need
oi repair. IT DE could have had the
necessary work done at once 1t would
much money. But under the existing
system-or want of it-this could not be
done.
"pr. Chancellor has nothing but the
good Cf tae District at heart He has