Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-04
me or to him officially from the presi-
dent or secretary Of the board.
Officials Handicapped.


Before taking up the criticisms in de-
tail 1t should be stated that both the
inspector of buildings and the inspector
OF plumbing have been considerably
Handicapped in the conduct of their work
Of repairs by the manner In which re-
quests have come to them.
No official communication has been re-
ceived from the board of education. or
from It's president, with respect to any OF
the three schools about which the board
expresses such grave concern. excepting
written communication about the Ber-
ret School received about week ago
ana a verbal suggestion in regard to
the other schools personally made to me
by the president OF the board o, educa-
ton about the same time. All three at
once received careful attention, and with
the'result that there seems to be no req
son to fear the necessity for closing the
schools" Capt Morrow then discussed
the three cases in detail.
At the Berret School.
Saying that everything essential is being
done as to repairs to the Berret school. 1t
Is stated by Capt. Morrow that the school
is being supplied with an entirely new
plumbing system. including modern toilet
fixtures in both the boys and girls rooms
in the basement
The contract was awarded August II,
1907, and 1t was expected that the work
would be completed prior to the opening
of the school. but a strike Of bricklaycrs
first interfered the delivery OF slate to
the second cause Of interruption, and the
local trouble between the union and the
non-union plumbers doubtless also con-
tributed to the delay. for which the con-
tractor suffered by the deduction of cost
of inspection and penalties When 1t was
hot he 0xynn,d ha
ready for the ope ming Of the school the
inspector of plumbing provided temporary
buildings in the yards OF the school, which
were completed at noon the day the
school opened and temporary water con-
nections were made.
ready for use. 1t Is safe to state that this
school will not have to be closed, the Com
missioner remarks.
In regard to the Petworth school. it is
stated that the cause Of complaint was
due to a temporary clogging up of a
trough in the floor by some debris. which
complaint was remedied at once. and the
fixtures are now in disable condition. and
had been so several days before the meet
ing Of the board Of education Saturday
night last.
As to the Petworth school Capt Morrow
says:
If the health officer believes that chill
dren should not be quartered In these
rooms. of course 1t becomes the duty OF
the board Of education to close the rooms
to school uses. This was recognized by
this office since this report was received
from the health officer. and the inspector
Of buildings took steps to see II q tempo
rary building could not be provided into
which these children, or some Of them.
could be moved. A building was found
near the Soldiers Home which we believe
could be moved to the vicinity of the Pet
worth school, and on October 20. 1907,
addressed a letter to the president of the
board Of education. inviting his attention
to this fact and requesting his views or
the views of the board upon the project,
stating that It would probably take about
ten days to give them this new tempo
rary room. To this letter I have received
no reply.
Explanation of "Criticism."
cit Is observed that at one point of the
is criticised for stating that eports of
of criticism. are unnecessarily alarming
and should not be given any more pub
LEFTY than necessary. This quotation,
without a consideration Of the context,
would seem to be criticism by the In
spector OF buildings of the health ofdcer.
THE letter IN which the statement is
made was a personal letter from ar.
Ashford to Capt. Oyster and was in
tended to convey the idea that the health
officer frequently makes suggestions not
looking to the condemnation Of the Llild-
ing, but IN the way Of suggestions for a
betterment of the situation. and that such
r ports should not be published as they
might be magnifed and cause alarm. 1t
should be stated that all such reports,
when received by this Office, are at once
given consideration, and where the con-
dition can be corrected it Is done.
This statement is made thus full. not
In any desire to perpetuate controversy
between the Commissioners and the board
of education, which controversy. of
course. i regret, because believe the
unusual amount OF publicity that has been
given to 1t Is liable to cause belief in
the public mind, unless officially contra
dicted, that the school children are being
subjected to danger which is not
present"