The Washington herald., 1907-12-25
OYSTER TAKES ISSUE
Says Chancellor Authorized
Hughes to Act.
APPROVAL OF TEXT BOOKS
AIIusiOn Made to Superintendent's
Illness and Inability to Appear nt
Trial, Which is Said Not TO Have
Prevented Him from Making Criti-
cism of School Management.

| Capt. James F. oyster, head of the
board Of education, last night took issue
with Superintendent of Schools Dr. VIII
liam E. Chancellor. who. earlier in the
day, sent letter to the District Com
missioners, in which the board and as
| sistant superintendent, 2. NJ. Hughes, are
accused Of acting IRE gularly at meet
ing held on December -.
Or. Chancellor's letter was, I'm part, as
follows: Il am advised that at a meet
ing of the board Of education. December
20. requisition for text books for use in
the public schools of the District were
authorized by the board upon the recon-
mendation OF Percy NJ. Hughes. assist
ant superintendent Of schools. am
also informed that Mr. Hughes repre-
sented to the board that 1 had given hiIn
authority to make such recommendations
by letter.
Il feel that, under the law. 1t becomes
my plain duty 70 protest against the
validity Of the recommendation of Mr.
Hughes. and am constrained 10 say that
the action on his part, as well as on the
part of the board, is not authorized by
law. or by any proper authority that
could in any wise give validity thereto"
Tired OF SquabbIinE.
Capt Oyster, although not expressing
his sentiments in violent language was
evidently tired of having to squabble
with the superintendent. and showed that
he desired TO let the public know that
the board has acted regularly all the
time He said:
The requisition for text books made
at the board meeting Of December 20
contained many books required in the
schools. All these books, IN the first in
stance, had been approved by the super
vising principals; proper lists made by
them and sent 10 the assistant superin-
tendent, p. NJ. Hughes. Similar lists
for these books had been sent to Su-
perintendent Chancellor heretofore
The board. therefore. made no new Sc
lection Of text books, and only ordered a
fresh supply from the ones already
chosen. but previously recommended by
the superintendent The necessity of
these supplies was decided upon many
times by the assistant superintendent. the
only officer at his post to do the work
Of the superintendent. who was and has
been absent therefOrm for long time
THE question 10 be considered by the
board then becomes only the one of di-
recting the expenditures. This function is
vested by law in the board and not IN
the superintendent. Furthermore. the su-
perintendent, by three letters Of express
authority, directed Mr. Hughes TO act
for him when he was absent These let
ters have been acted upon many times
within the knowledge Of the superin-
tendent
Mr.. Hughes in Charge.
'All last summer, when the superin-
tendent was away, part of the time with
out the authority of the board, and part
OF the time with authority, some Of the
superintendent work, which was neglect
ed by him, was supplied by Mr.. Hughes
being on hand to do his work under the
superintendent authority.
He may deny that these letters were
written, as he has done before. But that
is unimportant. These letters are fortu-
nately in existence and in proper custody
Il might add one word: The BOARD has
been glad 10 have sent these acquisitions
TO the superintendents house as a matter
Of courtesy although such action was not
| legally necessary But at the meeting
when the acquisitions We're ordered. Dr.
Chancellor's physician sent a certificate
TO the board stating that the superin-
tendent was unable 10 come 20 the trial
or TO take up any unsettled matter. bat
would be obliged to go away where he
would be free from bother Of any kind
and be able 10 recuperate.
His Incorporation seems TO have been
! speedy enough TO render possible this
! fresh libel on long-suffering workers for
the schools. We are glad TO know that
| he is getting better and hope that he
| lraeD his Gtrnro~fh for +vtr, ,u.aal-s.