Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-31
CHANCELLOR TO HUGHES
SUPERINTENDENT REvoKES
AUTHORITY GIVEN ASSISTANT.
Review of the Latest Controversy
Affecting the Public Schools.
Views Of Attorney.

DR.. William E. Chancellor. superin.
tendent Of public schools, has sent an
other letter and added another chapter
to his fight with the board Of education
This letter is directed to Percy NJ
Hughes, assistant superintendent fol
white schools, and revokes authority
given to Mr.. Hughes during absences
from the District of the school head
Mr.. Hughes will advise DIR. Chancellor
1t is understood. that he will accept the
revocation Of authority SO far as the let
ter Of the superintendent covers It,
The letter from the superintendent Of
schools to the assistant follows:
Dear Sir-Authority WAS delegated te
you by me at some time prior to the
summer vacation to exercise certain
powers OF the superintendent Of schools
not statutory. and when necessary, dur
ing my proposed absence or absences
from the District OF Columbia for con-
siderable periods Of time.
Such authority, whether explicit OF
implicit, is hereby revoked, Of which
revocation this Is notice"
Powers Of Superintendent.
The letter Is along the same line as thai
sent TO Harry o. Hine. secretary OF the
board of education. several days ago. In
which DIR. Chancellor gave Mr.. Hine au'
thority to exercise the powers of superin'
tendent. not statutory, during his absence
and In which he revokes any similar au'
tnority he had gwen to any one else
DR.. Chancellor was informed that mig or
der was illegal. under the rules OF the
board Of education. 1t was maintained al
that time that he had given the powers
he wished to confer on Mr.. Hine TO Asst
Supt. Hughes. The letter Of revocation re-
ceived today by Mr.. Hughes ~ result.
While the letter is regarded Is indicat-
ing that an estrangement exists between
the superintendent and the assistant su-
perintendent. 1t is said to be more OF
slap at the board Of education. This par
ticular controversy started with the meet
ing Of the board December 70. at which
1t approved acquisitions for text books or
the signature Of P. NJ. Hughes. assistant
superintendent. DR.. Chancellor objected
to some Of the text books called FOR, 1t Is
declared. andSh In a letter to the Com
missfoners. maintained that the action
Hughes had no authority to sign the req.
uisitions Mr.. Hughes said that he had
letters Of authority from the superintend.
ent and the board paid no attention to
the protest of the superintendent.
Declined to Honor Order.
When DR.. Chancellor tried to delegate
his powers to Secretary Hine and revoke
those given to Mr.. Hughes the board re-
fused to honor the order Of the superin-
terdent, and pointed out that their rules
placed Mr.. Hughes in the position of act
ing superintendent.
He had further authority, the board
maintained, in letters from the super
intendent. Therefore, the letter OF
revocation today is understood as d.
rected against the board. with the view
of preventing it from giving MI
Hughes the power OF superintendent
during the absence Of Or. Chancellor
and from approving Of more requisi-
tions on Mr.. Hughes signature.
Stuart Mcnamara, counsel for the
board. stated today that ne has found
that the acts Of Mr.. Hughes since the
Illness Of DR.. Chancellor have been
within his authority as assistant su-
perintendent, even without any letters
from DR.. Chancellor granting addition
al authority. Mr.. Mcnamara also
stated that Mr. Hughes, assistant su-
perintendent, may sign requisittons for
articles needed in the schools. notwith-
standing the letter today from Dr.
Cha ncell0r - .-.s--