The Washington times., 1908-10-20
CONGRESS BLAMED
BY Mr.. MCFARLAND
Commissioner Declares Con
dition of Schools Is Not
Up to Local Officials.

Although Commissioner Morrow tLls
morning appointed the two remaining
members of the volunteer committee
which it has been decided will inves-
tigste and report upon the condition Of
the school buildings Of the District, the
muddle in regard 10 these conditions. in
stead Of clearing. continued TO grow
more dense.
Out OF all the various cross purposes
and statements. stands the one fact
apparently and certainly undenied, that
many OF ire school buildings are ~ need
Of repairs. Both Commissioner Morrow
and Captain Oyster, president of the
Board Of Education, and Commissioner
Macfarland admitted this and SAID fur
ther that they have never questioned
such an assertion
Commissioner M1Cfarland in state
ment 70 a Times reporter said in a
mild way that Congress is at fault If
The schools OF the District are not in fiu
condition for use Commissioner Nor
row IL a statement issued later il the
day practically confirms that - lar
Jne two Commissioners agree.
All Want Inquiry.
Both Of the Commissioners and Cap
tain oyster agree that there should be
an investigation Of the present school
building conditions. Captain oyster is
at present conducting one himself. and
said this morning that at the proper
time he will make public the result.
The Commissioners issued one more
statement, in which they say that on
October Il they resolved to constitute
I two committees Of District officials,
which VIII inspect all new buildings and
! apparently all other buildings, the FIRE
90 If vyrn - in
/ ton. The statement in part says. Upon
the completion Of any new school build
1 ing or when question arises as 10
I the structural conditions or conditions
/ concerning safety from fire in any
I school building. IL viii be the duty Of
| the first named cammitJee, consisting g
( OF the Assistant Engineer Commission
er Capt William Kelly. the Chief En-
/ gineer OF the Fire Department and the
/ Inspector of Buildings to make a
| thorough examination Of the building
( and report its conclusions 10 the Com
! misSiOnerS.'
] The other committee. consisting Of the
| assistant to the Engineer Commission
er. in charge Of the Building Depart
Z ment, the Inspector Of Buildings, and
/ the Health Officer, IS 10 investigate
! buildings.
Must Have More Money
/ CommissionaT Macfarland said that he
: expects the volunteer committee &c
come to the same conclusions as did the
school house commission, which report
ed to Congress in February. He main
tains that Congress must give more
, money 70 the Commissioners if the
/ schools are to be kept in proper shape
Commissioner MOrrOw. in that repOr1
Z of the schOOlhOuSe commission, say!
/ that Congress viii not be induced tC
grant any large appropriation. but that
( the District should endeavOr TO get
8 Something like 10000 each year fol
schools until the needed repairs are
made and the buildings wanted are
erected.
There are, therefore, three committee.
! whIch seem about TO investigate In,
! condition Of the Districts schOr.S- TIL.
/ Senate already had the report Of TIN
| Schoolhouse Commission ami has hearC
the various suggestions of the CoTniS
/ siouers ard the members Of the Boar,
/ of Education in regard IN the best man
ner in which to build up the school sys
tenn. In addition to these three con-
nlittees, the report of one Of which. TIA,
! volunteer committee, viii be made {,
i Congress. Captain Oyster = conducting
! a littia inquiry Of his Ovyn.
/ The only points on which all the in
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