The Washington herald., 1907-11-26

That the controversy between DIR. Chan
cellOr, superintendent OF schools and the
board OF education is disgrace TO the
city Of Washington is the opinion of SEN
ator Gallinger, chairman of the District
Committee. according 10 a statement
made by him last night.
Senator Gallinger was emphatic in his
disapproval of the affair, and said that
the fact of its having occurred was most
deplorabIe.
Although retcent about placing the
blame on any Of the persons Immediately
interested in the outcome, he declared
himself against any procedure which
would oust DR.. Chancellor from his posi-
ton that did not give him the proper op-
portunity 20 defend himself against the
charges Of the board of education
THE state Of affairs brought about by
this controversy" Senator GaHinger said.
lis most deplorable. Aside from the dis
grace attached TO the affair. it has i'm
periled the school system OF the city. and
if allowed TO continue for a much longer
period would partially wreck the educa-
tional institutions Of the District. / know
Of no other city in the United States
where such a thing could have happened.
Although l am not in a position To-
say who is responsible for the contro-
versy. and would not say II I were. OF
one thing l am certain. and that is if this
affair is held over until Congress CON
venes / will take the necessary steps to
have thorough investigation made of il
by the Senate committee or joint COM
mittee Of the House and Senate"
Declares Chancellor Competent.
Touching upon the cause that prompted
the controversy, Senator GaIlinger said:
while I do not know DR. Chancellor.
and, in fact. have seen him but once in
my life, and then when he was testify
ing before a committee OF Congress. 7 bc-
iieye him 10 hc man OF eyeepJcnNl ahH-
ity as an educator The question OF
whether or not Latin and some of the
foreign languages should be taught I'm
certain grades OF the public schools seems
70 me TO be one that should be decided
by DR.. Chancellor
He is obviously fitted TO Judge Of the
eNpediency Of such a move. having de-
voted his life 10 the study of such oues-
tions. As / understand the LAWS made
by Congress which apply to the suporin-
tendeHt OF schools for the District. tho
board Of education is appointed merely tl
see that no radical changes in the studies
required Of the young students should DE
made. and the character OF the superin-
tendent should also be under their super
vision. Just what studies. aside from
the elementary ones. should be tausht
the pupils of the public schols. II seems
TO me. is a matter entirely for the, dis
cretiOn Of the superintendent. 1 am told.
too. that DR.. Chancellor's attitude in
this matter has been backed by the presi-
dent Of Harvard University and other
well-known instructors"
VIII Appeal to Congress.
Senator GaIlinger said that he thought
it a lack of tact on both sides 10 allow
the controversy TO extend so far as 10
imperiI the school system of the District
He said that If the charges against Dr.
Chancellor were true, he should undoubt-
cdly be removed. There is no tribunal
that has jurisdiction over the affair.
though" he continued, and, in my opin-
ion. DR.. Chancellor should have the right
10 deny the accusations before impartial
judges In the event that action Is taken
on his dismissal before Congress convenes.
and do not think that the trial has been
a just one. I will probably even then ask
that an investigation Of the matter be
made by Congress.
DIR. Chancellor certainly knows more
about the studies 10 be taught i'm the
schools, and any other things in that
same connection. than either Capt Oys-
ter or DR.. Evermann.'
The justices of the Supreme Court Of
the District of Columbia yesterday af-
ternOOn declined to take cognizance of
the petition filed by DR.. Chancellor for the
removal of the board Of education or two
OF its members, DR.. Evermann and r
Wright Horner. Justice Wright dis
sented from the opinion Of his colleagues
Chief Justice ClabaUgh announced at the
conclusion of a conference Of the jus
tices that the majority were Of the opin-
ion that the act Of Congress empowering
the selection Of the board Of education
did not bestow upon them the authority
to create vacancies in the board during
the terms for which the members had
II,