Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-25
Conflict Between Education
Board and Superintendent.
EACH SIDE CLAIMS VICTORY
Approval of Requisitions for Tex
Books the Issue.
CAPT. J. F. OYSTER EXPLAINS
Charges and Counter-charges-At-
torney Fulton Makes Statement
on Behalf Of DR.. Chancellor.

Il notice that Dr. Chancellor suggested
as the headline for his letter attacking
the board. More Waste of Public
Funds" Capt. James F. Oyster. presi-
dent of the board of education. said to a
Star reporter today. II think that if
there has been any waste of public funds
it was in paying DR.. Chancellor his salary
all this time"
Relying on some old letters written by
DR.. Chancellor, giving the assistant super
intendent authority to act during the alb
sence from the city of the superintendent,
the board railroaded through those requi-
sitions," Attorney c. NJ Fulton for Dr..
Chancellor said today
Both sides are claiming the victory in
the latest conflict between DIR. Chancellor
and his attorneys on one side and the
board of education on the other. At
torney Fulton maintains that Dr. Chan
cellor only did his plain duty when he
pointed out to the board that he thought
it had exceeded it's authority in approv-
ing the requisition for text books without
his signature. President Oyster contends
that DIR. Chancellor's signature is not re-
quired by the law that If it was obtained
on former acquisitions. it was only
through courtesy to him, and that the
board has therefore kept fully within it's
authority.
Capt. Oyster Explains.
Capt. Oyster made a statement last
evening, in which he discussed the letter
of DIR. Chancellor, published in The Star
yesterday.
THE requistion for text books made at
the board meeting of December 20 con-
tanned many books required in the
schools Cant OYSTER saws fbeSa
books, in the first instance, had been ap-
proved by the supervising principals,
proper lists made by them and sent to the
assistant superintendent. P. NJ. Hughes.
Similar lists for these books had been sent
20 Supt. 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
the assistant superintendent, the only Off
GER at his post to do the work of the Su
perintendent, who was and has been alb
sent therefrom for long time.
THE question to 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.
When Superintendent Was Away.
"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
superinte ndent's work. which was neglect
ed by him, was supplied by Mr.. Hughes
being on hand to do his work under the
superintendent's 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.
II might add one word: The board has
been glad to have sent these acquisitions
to the superintendent's house as a matter
Of courtesy, although such action was not
legally necessary. But at the meeting
when the acquisitions were ordered. DR..
Chancellors physician sent a certificate
to the board stating that the superin-
tendent was unable to come to the trial
or to take up any unsettled matter, but