Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-25
The School Investigations.

The announcement Of DR.. Evermann
and Mr.. Horner that they will demand
thorough investigation by the judges Ghe
appointing power of the board Of educa-
tion) of the charges brought against them
by DR.. Chancellor and filed with the
judges gives assurance of an impartial
sitting in the public interest of the coun-
ter-charges. The board, as the appointing
power of the superintendent, with power
of removal. will publicly dissect the quail
ifications and characteristics of it's ap-
pointee. The judges, as the appointing
power of the board OF education, with i'm
piled power of removal. will investigate
accusations against some of its ap-
pointees.
The hearing accorded DR.. Chancellor by
the board is not a trial in the ordinary
sense. 1t is not the decision of disputed
issues by an impartial tribunal and there
seems to be no legal necessity why it
should be such trial. The hearing is
In effect merely an opportunity for DIR.
Chancellor to show cause why the board S
decree that he shall be separated from
the service should not be executed. DR..
Chancellor, in view of the character of
the charges and Of the fact that the most
serious of them are so largely personal
with members of the board, cannot hope
to change the sentiment of the board ruat
for one reason or another he Is disquali-
fled to be school superintendent. The op-
portunity for him is to so meet the
charges as to convince the public that
the board is unjustifable and wrong in
it's proposed action. The boards oppor-
tunity. on the other hand, is to so present
the facts upon which it's charges are
based as to convince the public that it
makes no mistake, in the public interest.
in removing Dr. Chancellor. The board
which appoints the superintendent has
both the implied and expressed power to
remove him. The responsibility is upon
the board of his going or his staying, and
can be met by the board alone. The only
real trial in the pending proceeding is that
of both superintendent and board in the
court of public opinion.
II DR.. Chancellor is removed, his re-
moval under the circumstances will nat
urally form another count in the charges
which he brings before the judges. One
Of his accusations. as it is understood by
the public, is, in substance, that DR..
Evermann attached such conditions to the
tender of the SUPPLEMENTARY, and SO
domineered over and dictated to him in
the performance of his official actions,
that he CDR. Evermann) usurped the func-
tions and as consequence assumed the
responsibilities of superintendent, and is,
if justice is done, to be subjected to much
of the censure which the community has
inflicted upon DR.. Chancellor The gist
of this charge brought against DR.. Ever
mann by DR.. Chancellor is that the
former misled him, bullied him, wrecked
his administration, and now drives him
from office because he finally revolted
The investigation by the judges will
doubtless clear up the obscure and dubi-
Gus points in this controversy, and will
decide with perfect fairness in the public
interest between the superintendent and
the board members whom he accuses
Out of the clash and chaos and deplor-
able conditions Of the present situation it
is hoped and expected that peace, the
harmonious cooperation of the public
spirited and unselfish, and progress on
right lines will develop for the schools,
whose welfare throughout the various in
auiries should be the primary considera-
ton