Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-16
SHOULD Be LET ALONE
Capt. oyster Defends Board of
Education.
is FAIR TO DR.. CHANCELLOR
Members Striving to Comply With
the New Law.
COMMENT ON SENATE'S STAND
Complications Arise in Interpreta-
ton Of Provisions Governing
Trial of Superintendent.
COMMENT ON sENATE'S STAN

1.-The board of education wants to be
let alone" stated Capt. James +. Oyster,
president of the board of education, in
outlining its attitude in the present con-
troversy with DR.. William E. Chancellor
superintendent of schools. 1.-The board is
working under the new law and living UP
to the letter of it. There are some curves
in it which ought to be Strengthened out
after while, Meanwhile the board is
working for the interests of the children
of the schools. ............
THE board of education, whether it is
this board or new board. ought to have
more power il it Is to enforce discipline
in the school system. If it is to hire the
superintendent and be responsible for his
acts it ought to have the power to remove
him, as it can any other employe in the
schools. That is necessary to good disci-
pline under the board.
Excepting myself. this board is a
courageous board and it has always had
the interests of the children of the
schools at heart. I think 1t Is represen-
tative board and it has been united. The
members have worked together. and have
supported the recommendations of Supt.
Chancellor.
Given Fair Hearing.
AhS oooio 10 dAAiouS " give bE NHdil-
cellor a fair hearing. At the request of
his counsel, supported by Doctors GER
| tihcate. we have granted postponements
of the trial during DR.. Chancellor's Ill
ness and We did not go on without hin,
until his counsel consented rather than
delay longer. OF course, there have been
some protests against the postponements.
because the members of the board were
| anxious to complete the hearing as soon
as possible, We do not wish to have the
schools suffer on account Of delays in
the trial.
Capt. Oyster stated that he has had
many communications from teachers, by
letter; by telephone and by personal calls
declaring their support of the board In
the present controversy with the superin-
tendent. and some have even volunteered
it is said, to testify in behalf Of the
Prosecution in opposition to the views ex-
pressed by the teachers offered as wit
nesses by the defense. Capt Oyster added
| that 1t has been the boards policy not tc
bring the teachers into the matter.
DR.. Chancellor is much improved today
According to the reports received by his
counsel he is able to sit up, but Is Still
confined to his home. The outlook Is thai
he will be able to appear before the board
about the end of this week.
Complications Arise.
Through the active interest displayed by
| several United States senator's in the
present trial Of DR.. Chancellor, the visits
of members Of the board Of education tt
| the Capitol and the presentation of the
defense Of. the accused superintendent a.
| the hearing before the board during the
| past few days the schools controversy 1.
now regarded as q three-cornered one in
volving the board of education, DR.. Chan
cellor and the Senate.
In brief, the situation is mat the board
| of education believes that the superin.
| tendent should be dismissed, the superin.
tendent refuses to be dismissed, part OF
the United States Senate shows a ten.
| dency to interfere in the trial of the
| superintendent by the board, and the
board maintains that the Senate cannot
| interfere with the trial or with the de-
| cisions of the board, as he Is an employt
| of the board.
The position Of the board at the present
| time. is declared to be clearly defined
Its members, by It's dealings with the
superintendent, decided that he ought tc
| be dismissed. They sought the advice OF
the counsel to Lie board as to hat was
to be done and he found that the Law
said the superintendent can be dismissed
'for adequate cause" Legal decisions
have determined that where the wor.
cause" is used in law in this connec-
ton 1t means that the person to be dis
missed is to have a hearing before his
dismissal Is actually ordered. Therefore,
| the board was advised to give DR.. Chan
cellor a hearing and for that purpose
formal charges were preferred and the
hearing carried on,