The Washington times., 1907-11-04
CAP TAIN OYSTER
TO REPORT AGAIN,
WEST TAKES HAND
Ashford Defends De-
lay, Calling 1t
Unavoidable.

Regretting that the District Com
missioners have been drawn into the
controversy over conditions in the
Petworth, Kmery, and Berret
schools, Engineer Commissioner
Morrow issued today a statement in
which he blames the board for the
undesirable condition in the schools
by saying the Commissioners have
not in all cases been properly noti-
fed of conditions by the Board OF
Education.
Commissioner Morrow's state
ment is, in part, as follows:
Il regret 10 see taat the unfortunate
newspaper controversy that has en-
gased the public attention between the
president OF the Board OF Education and
the Inspector OF Buildings has at last
oulmineteo III the action which Was
taken. by the Board of Education at its
meeting Saturday night and in this re-
port, which has not set been received
by the Commissioners, but of which
practically g full notice was furnished
the press. the Commissioners are
brought into the controversy officially
by the board for the first time.
Officials Handicapped.
BefoTe taking up the criticisms in
detail. = should bC stated that bota
The Inspector of Buildings and the IN
spector Of Plumbing have been consid-
era0ly Handicapped in the conduct Of
Their work OF repairs By the manner IN
which requests have come TO them.
They have come verDalIy from jan
itors and principals of schools. they
have come IN written communications
from principals OF schools, from indj.
viGual members Of the Board Of Fduca-
ton. from supervising principals. and
from tire secretary o. the board and in
SOME cases, different treatment of
tlIe same situation has been advocated
by the different school officials.
1T is almost unnecessary to state that
all such serious situations as have been
Oatllued by the president OF the Board
of Education should be addressed, either
by the secretary Of the board or by
tia president OF the board. acting for
the board. to the Beard of Commits
SiOners, or 10 the Engineer Commits
siOuer, or TO the Inspector of Buildings
Whenever requests of this nature have
been received they have been given i'm
mediate consideration. and 50 far as
could be done, the requests have been
complied with, II being always to be
borne ia mind that the Responsibility for
the maintenance and repair OF schools
is not with the Board of Education, but
with the Commissioners of the District
OF Columbia
About the Three Schools.
no official communication has been
received from the Board OF Education,
or from It's president, with respect 10
any of the three schools about which
the board expresses such grave concern.
excepting written communication
about the Berret School received about
a week ago and a verbal suggestion in
regard TO tie other schools personally
made to me by the president Of the
Board of Education about the same
time. All three ut once received careful
attention, and with the result that there
seems to be no reason to fear the ne
cessity for closing the schools.
OF the Berret School, COMMISSIONS /,
Morrow says:
1T is safe to state that this school
viii not have TO be closed and that tire
work was done with the maximum Of
efficiency and in the minimum of time
having in consideration the condition Of
the local plumbing situation and at the
minimum inconvenience 10 the pupils OF
the school. Moreover, the work has
been constantly under the supervision
and inspection Of the Inspector Of
Plumbing and no unhealthful conditions
have been allowed 10 develop at any
stage of the work
Due to Health Officer.
cit should be stated before leaving
this matter that it was largely due to
report from the Health OFFICER re-
Continued on Ninth Page.)
Don't Accept Cheap Substitutes for the
original food-drink. Horliek,s Mailed Mn.