The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-12-24
Superintendent Charges
Unnecessary Purchase
of Text Books on
Physiology.
Says Recommendation
Made by Hughes Is
Wholly Without
Authority.

Superintendent OF Schools william E.
Chancellor today sent 10 the District
Commissioners a letter charging that
the Board OF Education, at its meet
ing December 20. unnecessarily expend-
ed the school funds IN ordering the pur-
chase Of certain textbooks recommend
ed by Assistant Superintendent OF
Schools Hughes.
Dr. Chancellor also stated in his let
ter that Mr.. Hughes acted without au-
thority IN recommending the purchase Of
the books since he. Chancellor, was
in this city at the time the recommended
tons were made.
Suggests Heading.
DR.. Chancellor forwarded TO The
Times a copy % his letter 10 the Com
missioners and with It incIosed the fol-
lowing:
ITO the Editor OF The Washington
Times:
Il suggest the following ns a heading
10 This article that am enclosing:
Move waste Cf rubic furds- Super
intendent protests against purchase OF
unnecessary Physiologies.'
Very respectfully
WILLIAM L. CHANCELLOR"
His letter TO the Commissioners fol-
low:
December "a. 1907.
THE Honorable Commissioners of the
District Of Columbia, District Build
ing, Washington, d. G.
Gentlemen ! am advised that at
a meeting Of the Board Of Education
December -, acquisitions for text books
for use In the public schools OF The
District were authorized by the board
upon the recomm endation OF Percy NJ.
Hughes, assistant superintendent OF
schools. 1 am also informed that Mr..
Hughes represented 10 the board that
1 had given him authority 70 make
such recommendations by letter.
Gave Limited Authority.
Prior to the summer vacation I wrote
Mr.. Hughes a letter, in which 1 au-
thorized him. during my absence from
the District OF Columbia, 70 exercise
such powers OF the superintendent as
are not statutory, whenever It was alb
solutely necessary for these powers 10
be exercised. But such authority as
thus gave did not give him authority TO
act for and in my stead in any mat
ters ynen I was IN the District OF Co
lumbia.
Early IN October I recommended
requisitlons for all necessary books for
which the board had the money to
pay. I am advised that these reQuisi-
tiOns were rejected early in November
by the chairman Of the text book COM
mittee and not by the board, and that,
too, after the bids for the books had
been submitted by the book companies
and the books themselves had zen
stamped for the District OF Columbia.
l am OF the opinion that tne books or
dered last week were largely unneces-
sary and that their purchase Is an IN
justifiable use of punUc funds.
Under n gtafutn IQ00 fha CuuaTiu-
tendent is required to make annual lists
Of all necessary books and supplies for
the schools Of the District. Under this
act of June, 1906 the Superintendent Is
given the direction Of and supervision
IN all matters pertaining TO instruction
in all Of the schools under the Board
Of Education Under many appropria-
ton acts, including that OF 1907, he is
required 10 distribute all books and sup
plies In the recently printed and pro-
mulgated new rules, the Board of Edu-
cation has, believe, recognized the va
hdity and force Of these acts of Con-
gTess, though now violating them in this
particular.
Attended to Duties.
''I have not been out of the District
of Columbia for several weeks past,
and, while confined TO my room and bed
because Of severe illness. 1 have attend
ed to the duties that the law imposes
upon be as Superintendent. I have
signed the pay rolls and all other 6ocu-
ments that required the Superintend-
ent's signature. 1 could have just as
easily signed and approved proper requi-
sitions for school books
Il feel, therefore, that under the law
II becomes my plain duty TO protest
against the validity of the recommen-
dation Of Mr.. Hughes herelnbefore re-
fsrred 70 and am constrained to say
that the action on his part as well as
on the part OF the board is not author
ized by law, or ~ any proper author
ity that could in any wise give validity
thereto.
with the highest consideration, I am,
VERY respectfully, yours.
WILLIAM E CHANCELLOR
Capt. James f. oyster, chairman of
the Board Of Education, said this after
noon:
"All the phases of those acquisitions
for text books were taken up at the
last meeting of the board, and Dr. Ever
mann, Mr.. Cox, Mr. Mcnamara, and
decided that they We're correct and
DrODer in every VaV. ThH- is all care