The Washington herald., 1908-03-13
Holds the Commissioners Re-
spOnsible for Bad Schools.
STUART MAKES A REPORT
Declares that Every
Recommendation for Fire Protec-
ton Made by Board of Education
Has Had Their IndOrsement-Re-
spOnsibiIity for Legislation.

1
several school buildings offer little pro-
lection against fire.
Among defects found in buildings, ae
cording TO Superintendent Stuart, are
wooden stairways. doors that open in
ward, unprotected floors directly over
| furnaces buildings heated by stoves. and
rented buildings that lack every pre-
caution against fire.
President Oyster. OF the board Of educa-
tion. said yesterday he approved Super
intendent Stuart's report
'It is conservative" said Mr.. Oyster.
Those who doubt may visit the schools
and see"
Oyster BIames Commissioners.
Mr.. Oyster said the Commissioners /
alone We're responsible for the poor con-
dition Of some of the buildings.
Its time TO cease quibbling and TO
begin work TO remedy these conciuons,' /
he said in conclusion.
] Every fire protection estimate ever
submitted by the board of education TO
US has been recommended to Congress-"
said the Commissioners. after reading
Supt. Stuart's report on the condition Of
the schools in regard to fire protection.
Any one who will read in the book Of
estimates viii see that no estimates have
/ been submitted by the board of education
during past two years for fire escapes, /
/ freproof stair Ways. fire extinguishers. or
any similar items except for the continued
installation of the telephone fire alarm
/ system begun on the recommendation OF
the fire department in IS04.
Board Is RespousibIe
Public school estimates could not be
law. They can only make recommenda-
tions on those submitted TO them by the
board Of education.
Now. as always. the Commissioners
viii recommend 10 Congress any hre pro-
lection estimates that may be transmitted
10 them, and will continue 20 call the
attention OF tho board Of education TO
any facts reported TO them by the chief
OF the fire department or other District
officials that call for such estimates
over appropriations the Commission
ers have no control and can only do
their best with them after they have been
made. The Commissioners viii cooper
ate with every effort 10 improve the con-
ditions. whether they are due 10 lack OF
estimates or lack Of appropriations"
Mr.. MacfarInnd's Sentiments.
These We're the sentiments OF Mr.. Mac
farland. 10 which he added:
The Commissioners win be glad to
/ have this report With the reports that
viii be made by the chief Of the fire de-
partment and the other District officials
who have been investigating the fire pro-
Election conditions in the public schools.
/ it viii he valuable in tseir efforts 10 get
what is needed from Congress
1T must be understood. however. that
as the law distinctly provides and has
! provided since 1900 all estimates for
the public schools SHAH be prepared b.
/ the board Of education and transmitted
/ by the Commissioners 10 Congress with
such recommendations as they may deem
proper. Unless. and until. the board Of
education submits new estimates 10 cover
the needs Of the public schools the Com
Imissioners cannot transmit them to Con-
gress.
/ Whenever such estimates are received
\ they viii be transmitted 20 Congress. as
1 they have always been in the past seven
years. There is no reason for any con-
troversy over the facts. which are all in
/ bAiltHadA ANNNiNo anu HAbA4SAAtn - ANli-
gress.
Not Quarreling or CritIcisinE.
/ THE Commissioners have begun no con
troversy and offer no criticisms The
/ facts must, not be misrepresented, while
the Commissioners now as always. are
doing their utmost for the welfare Of the
public schools.
Every year the Commissioners have
transmitted every item of the board of
education estimates. and have called the
attention Of the Appropriations Commit
tee TO them and then. in their own esti-
mates, have adopted so much of the board
OF education estimates as they could rec
ommend.
They have recommended every fire
protection estimate ever submitted by the
board of education. most of these esti-
mates having been prepared in conse-
quence of reports made by the chief of the
| fire department to the Commissioners.
and transmitted 10 the board of educa-
/ ton.
"A perusal Of the book of estimates will
bear me out. Cooperation. not contro-
versy. is wanted IN the efforts 10 ini-
prove the conditions"
Supt. stuart's Report
Superintendent Stuart reports that these
buildings have wooden stairways:
Brick buildings with two wooden stair
ways
! Eight-room buildings-Banneker. Logan,
Ambush Giddings. Phelps, Towers. Ami
don. Jackson. Madison, Blair. Bright
wood, Monroe, Takoma. TenIey. Blake,
Carbery. Magruder. Phillips. Wormley.
Van Buren.
| The Brookland. twelve-roOm building
has wooden stairways in the old part
and slate stairs In the new part
The Mott. ten-rOom building is part
wood and part brick, with wooden stair
ways.
! The Cranch. although having fireproof
stairs in the new part. had left in il
an old. steep. and dangerous wooden
stairway.
schools with One Stairway.
! These buildings have one stairway only:
Those Of Garfield. Mccormick. Ben
ming, Potomac, and Burvine are especial
| ly bad
The Garfield is a six-room frame struc-
ture. with only one stairway and front
door opening inward. This is a very dan
gerous. condition.
The Berret is a three-story, nine-room
building, with only one stairway; which.