Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-13
ACCUSED OF MEDDLING
CHARGE AGAINST CONGRESS By
JOURNAL OF EDUCATION.
Comment on Local Public School Al
fairs by q Friend Of Superin-
tendent Chancellor.

'Meddling" with District affairs Is the ac-
cusation against Congress In the latest edi-
torial comment on local public school con-
ditions by friends of William E. Chancellor.
AS another side ISSUE the writer of the
comment in question remarks on the differ
ence between municipal affairs here and
In other cities Of the Land, and says 1.-THE
conditions of difference are wholly against
the probability of good government" Fur
Their along the statement is made that the
ideas OF citizens of the District are SC
warped that they are not competent to
Judge their own conditions and actions.
The opinions are expressed in the Journal
of Education. Boston, New York and Chi
cago. of February Z. 1907, of which A. E.
here during the past fall anu delivered the
first of series Of educational lectures to
teachers, as provided by Congress. He
came. 1t Is understood by invitation of his
intendent Chancellor furnished informa-
ton" for the article could not be learned
today. The criticisms, however, are regard
ed as in line with many Of those already
expressed by the superintendent.
Unlike Any Other City.
The comment begins as follows:
Washington Is radically unlike any
other city in its municipal affairs. and
the conditions Of difference are wholly
against the probability Of good govern
merit. Congress runs everything. Not
only do the citizens vote on nothing, but
there are no heads of departments who
bility. If 1t is desirable to have milk
bottles steriliZed in Washington there
must be a bill passed through Congress
ordering that it be done, whereas in any
composed of experts, would be empow-
cred to make all such regulations Con-
gress can NEEDLE with no other city. No
one of. these congressman could NEEDLE
with the affairs Of the city in which he
mo congressman or senator is a resi-
dent Of Washington: none was ever elected
because Of his fitness to handle municipal
affairs; few of them have ever had to do
with the management of any city govern
ment.''
The shafts Of criticism OF" the writer are
next turned full on the Commissioners Of
the District, and the inference Is pretty
strong that the Commissioners, in the mind
Of the writer, don't know anything about
their present. business.
True" the writer continues. there are
three Commissioners of the District, on
high salaries He then states that 1t Isl
not easy to know what their duties are,
except that they are excessively Jealous
lest somebody else should have RESPONSE
bility."
"They certainly are not experts and are
not chosen as SUCH" is the next fling.
Goes for Congress.
Having finished with the Commissioners
and laid them low with several fell blows,
the members OF the House of Representa-.
tives and Of the Senate are dayed for the
way, the writer says, they interfere in Dis
trict affairs and use the local school sys-
tenn to further their political interests.
There are nearly five hundred senator's
and representatives whose constituents are
beseeching them for every kind Of q job
that exists or that can be created In the
District Of Columbia it is asserted. "Natu-
rally this evil Is at it's height in the schools.
With the past there 10 no occasion to deal
because q beginning at reform has been
made. Think of trying to superintend
schools with nearly hve hundred men, who
vote on every recommendation. asking for
appointment of constituents to every con-
ceivable position from tanitor to District
superintendent! And when you say there
Is no vacancy they can create a new posi-
ton for this case II need be"
Merits Of Chancellor Administration.
After a dissertation on the merits Of the
Chancellor administration and the making
of various suggestions for the improvement
Of the evils" the writer takes a final
dig at Congress and the citizens Of the
District in the following words:
There are SO many local influences and
they are SO linked with congressional at
fairs that local opinions are inevitably
warped
The editorial has been read by the presi-
dent of the board of education and a num-
Der of other school officials. Like that
which appeared anonymously few days
ago in the Educational Review Of New
York and for which DR.. Chancellor fur
nished the facts and many of the IDEAS IL
not all of them. 1t has raised a storm of
adverse comment.
'"There seems to be a systematic move
ment on foot" one man said to a Star re-
porter, ito paint the national capital as
black as possible In the eyes of the coun-
try"