The Washington herald., 1907-11-06
SCHOOLS NOT CLOSED
PetwOrth, Emery and Berret
Will Remain Open.
TO MAKE BUILDINGS SANITARY
COMMISSIONERS, in Meeting with
Board of Education, Decide to Take
Immediate Steps To Rectify Evil.
All Perfectly Satisfied, and Session
Zones TO Il Harmonious End.

That gentle white dove, worldwide
symbol Of peace, fluttered yesterday morn
ing over the District Building, and. with
out compulsion. or even moral suasion
a1ighted in the board room. where the
much-heralded meeting Of the District
school board and the Commissioners Of
the District was taking place, and with
out more ado took charge OF the pro-
ceedings.
The meeting, as described by Commits
sioner Macfarland. was "a friendly talk
around the table" Matters were thrashed
out 10 the mutual satisfaction Of all, in
a session which lasted upward of an hour
and a half. For the board Of education.
Capt oyster was the principal spolzes-
man.
The meeting was private in character,
Il being deemed best 10 have an informal
discussion of the mooted points. rather
than any formal statements which pub
lie hearing would have necessitated. TO a
greater or less degree.
SfacfarIand Welcomes Members.
The members OF the board were some
what late in reaching the board room the
meeting not starting until 1890 o'clock,
| instead Of 10. as announced Monday.
| Commissioner Macfarland addressed a
welcome 10 the members of the board Of
education, thanking them for their pres
ence at the conference. and informing
them Of the object Of the Commissioners
in calling the meeting, namely. that OF
/ thoroughly acquainting them with the
condition of affairs at the three schools
which have been the subject of discus
/ sion 1t has been decided that these
! schools will not be closed.
! He said further that the Commission
ers proposed, as in the past, to see that
| everything necessary for the mainte-
nance of good conditions in the schools
was done, and that they were greatly
! interested in the health and welfare OF
! the school children in general
! Commissioner Morrow then was called
upon for a statement of facts as re-
CARDS the Petworth. Emery. and Berret
! Schools. in detail. for the information OF
/ the members OF the board AS regards
| the Petworth School, he said that the
| condemnation Of the health department
( had applied only 10 the use of the two
basement rooms; that suggestions for a
| provision for the children in one of these
/ rooms had been made some time ago.
! To the inquiry Of the president OF the
school board, at that time, as 20 what
! disposition could be made of the chill
/ dren in the other room, Capt. Morrow
| thought that they would have 10 be kept
at home temporarily. Since that time
however, the Engineer Commissioner has
/ directed his attention TO a building in
the immediate Vicinity, which he has
hope of being able to secure. thus dis
posing of the PetwOTth trouble.
II In the other two schools. the Emery
and the Berret, the trouble was concerned
/ altogether with the plumbing facilities
and Capt Morrow reported that in the
\ former things were we'll on their way q
the proper state OF reprair, while the Ber-
ret, according TO a report received from
Inspector of Plumbing Douglas, also was
in better condition.
Capt. Oyster Agrees to P1Rn-
Capt Oyster. speaking for the board
Of education. said that the sole desir,
was to have the conditions corrected. anC
that, if this had been done, or should b
done, it was satisfied.
Commissioner Macfarland then stated
that the health officer would be asked t
make personal inspection Of the building.
and report 70 the Commissioners. anS
Capt. oyster expressed his satisfaction
with any certificate received from tina
official.
The members Of the school board pres
ent at yesterdays conference were Capt
]. F. oyster. Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey
Mrs. Justina r. Hin, Mr.. r. r. Horner
and Mr.. Percy NJ Hughes.