Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-06
MONEY FOR SCHOOLS
Consideration of Estimates by
Board of Education.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEE
Changes That Call for Increase Of
Appropriation.
CONDITIONS ARE DEPLORABLE
Assertion That Congress Does Not
Realize Extent of Growth-Sub-
stance of Recommendations.
CONDITIONS ARE DEPLORABLE

edncotion to appropriate mex. winter
about 81 800 900 for the maintenance of
the public schools during the year be-
ginning July 1, 1908. The board last year
asked for about $3.273 900, and Congress
appropriated S2,242,O00.
From few minutes after ; o'clock yes
terday afternoon until after dark the
board of education wrestled with figures
in the library of the Franklin school
The school system which is growing
more and more complicated every day,
presented many new financial Problems
and it took all of the thoughtful con-
sideration that could be brought into
play by the nine members of the board,
Secretary Hine, Superintendent Chancel-
Tor and Assistant Superintendent Hughes
to StraightCn things out.
Members in Accord.
In the course of the debate on the vari
Gus items il was brought out that the
whole board is in accord on the PROPOSE
ton to ask Congress for much more
money than was requested last Year. In
plain terms, it was stated frequently by
members that the conditions in The pub
lie schools in many respects are deplor-
able and disgraceiul to the city of Wash
ing ton. and largely for want of money.
While speaking in favor of item of
100000 for repair of buildings, which is
S3cooo more than was appropriated last
year, Chairman Cox said:
The other day | was in school build
ing in this city that was in sucn con-
dition that if it We're the property of a
private citizen it would be the reason for
that citizen appearance in court the
morning after it was discovered.
The largest item agreed upon
S3oO,ooO for new normal and model
school building, to be erected on d site
already purchased on Columbia Heights.
Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars
will also be recommended for The pur-
chase of a site and the erection OF col
ored school building of the same nature.
Increase in Estimates.
The increased cost of building materials
and the added enrolment of the schools
were given as reasons for the increased
amount of the estimates this year, accord
ing to MIR. Cox. 1t is the opinion of the
members of the board and the school Of
ficials that Congress does not reaZ4 the
extent of the growth of the local schools,
and that 1t will have to be made to realiz,
II if the children of the District are to have
the sort of accommodations that they
should have. Unless more money is made
availab BILE, and quickly, 1t is declared, the
congestion will become too great for han
ding, and the school authorities will have
to throw up their hands in despair
The need of an increased office force was
touched upon in the report. and provision
was made for more clerks and for higher
sa aries. Congress will be asked to create
a new $1,000 Office of chief clerk 10 the
secretary of the boayd whose duties shall
b. to act as secretary in the secretarys
absence. and to be in every way the secre-
tary's first assistant. lao secretary to
the superintendent of schools is another Of
flee to be recommended. The board also
wants another messenger at headquarters.
A school architect at $1,000 a year is an
other officer to be recommended. This, 1t
was stated. will be in line with progressive
school administration in other cities of the
size of Washington.
More Attendance officers.
The additional attendance officers, making
four are included. Superintendent Chan
ccior said he thought such would be a suf-
ficient number for the next few years. 1t
was decided not to ask for the detail of
policemen to act as truant officers.
Chairman Cox announced, with reference
to the portion of his report dealing with
he salaries of teachers, that he and Mr..
Hughes had experienced no end of trouble
in working out the problem of increase ac-
cordng to the automatic scale devised by
Congress at the last session. He, for one.
he declared, was not willing to let the re-
suit stand until he had seen the September
payrolls, which are delayed, and Will not
be ready until about the middle OF the
present month. Sixty new teachers are TO
be asked for, and there is also an item Of
81 $50 for additional facilities for CONNER
cial education in the colored schools.
When the board was considering the
question of adding $500 to be used in
renting quarters for school children to re-
lieve congestion, Superintendent Chancellor
remarked that he understood not one of the
new buildings that were appropriated ior
by Congress last winter was even so far
along as the plans, and that therefore, 1t
looked as If money would be needed for
renting.
For Modern Plumbing.
For the installation of modern plumbing
In a number of the schools it was decided
to recommend an appropriation of $4,000,
and It was brought out that as much again
will be needed next year TO complete the
work Mrs Terrell declared the sanitary
condition of many of the schools is deplora-
BILE. Last year $4,000 was allowed Tor new
plumbing.
| ent and several other school officials, in
| Guiding the truant officers, will have gov
| eminent horses and carriages in which to
| go about from school to school and perform
| their duties. The board decided that time
and money can be saved in that way.
For teachers institute $500 will be re-
| guested.
| For books $4,000. an increase of 10000,
| will be recommended. The books In use in
the schools are declared to be old and in
| sanitary IN many instances.
More and Better Fairgrounds.
| More and better school Fairgrounds are
/
| an appropriation of $500 for care and
equipment Of Fairgrounds, which is 5000
more than was given last year, and for
| s. 600 for school gardens, which is $1,000
/ more than last year.
| The services of Stuart Mcnamara, assist
| ant United States attorney, who acted as
the boards counsel during the past winter
! and represented me board in court on sew
| eral occasions, are to be paid for by an ap-
| preparation of $3.50 il the board has its
| way.
| 1t was voted to recommend that any I'M
| used balances from the appropriation for
| the enforcement of the compulsory educa-
| ton law be reappropriated and made I'M
! rnediate,y available for the purchase of
! portable schoolhouses for use wherever
needed.
Completion of Mckinley Building.
! For the completion of the Mckinley Man.
| ual Training School, according TO the orig
| inal plans, s12J 600, in addition TO the si3J,-
geo already available, will be recommended
| for appropriation, as will also $4,000 for
| equipment of the addition.
| An appropria ton of $2OO,OOo for the pur-
| chase of a site and erection OF new school
building in the fourth division will DE rec