Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-29
MORROW GIVES REPLY
Declares James F. Oysters
Statements Are Misleading.
MAKES A SPIRITED ANSWER
Engineer Commissioner Discusses
School Situation.
SAYS BOARDS ARE COMPETENT
Not Created Especially for the Work
in Hand, He Explains-Mentions
"Blind Prejudice"

the committees appointed by the Com
missioners to inspect fire and sanitary
conditions In all schools on the ground
that he is incompetent Capt Oyster
aroused the anger Of the Engineer Com
missioner.
Says Oyster Has Broken Out Again.
With newspapers containing the criti-
cism by Capt. Oyster on his desk. Com
missioner Morrow made the following
statement:
II see with regret that Capt Oyster has
broken out again, and that he has at
last made definite statement of his be-
lief in the incompetency OF the inspector
of buildings. and in a report the anthem
ITCHY of which he will probably not deny.
Il have refrained in the past from en-
tering into press controversy with the
board Of education. I did this in spite
Of a most malicious article published after
the boards meeting two weeks ago, on
which occasion wrote a letter to Capt.
Oyster inviting his attention to certain
statements in that interview. He per-
sonally and subsequently largely denied
its authenticity and I accepted his denial
On this same occasion he gave me as
surance that the appointment Of. COM
mittee consisting of Capt. Kelly Mr.. Ash
fire dangers Of the schools where neces-
sary would be satisfactory to him.
1T did not seem to me that this was
necessary, but 1t was. however. desired,
and In my motion to the board of Com
missioners recommending this committee
be designated to make these inspections
stated that the president of the board
OF education approved Of this commit
tee. ! find now that he doubts the in
tegrity of both Mr.. Ashford and Capt.
tons. The other board for the examina-
ton into sanitary conditions was sug-
gested by Commissioner Mcfarland.
Not Especially Created.
Il would call especial attention to the
fact that these boards are not boards
especially created for this work, but
they are bodies which have already been
created and for long time past used
In the District government for exactly
this same class of inspection and in
exactly this same class OF work In pri-
vate buildings. There seems absolutely
no reason why these boards should not
be competent to handle these matters ex-
cepting that through the blind prejudice
OF the president Of the board of educa-
ton Mr.. Ashford has, at one time or
The further statement is made that
certain work in Washington this last year
has been taken out of his hands and put
under Capt. Kelly. 1t is impossible that
The relations between the assistant to the
Engineer Commissioner and Mr.. Ash
ford are precisely the same now that
they have been for many years.
Capt Oyster also states that he came
to me and suggested that Mr. Richards
toll ho Df
Mr.. Ashford on these two boards Capt
Oyster called me up on the telephone
late yesterday afternoon. and. for the
first time. told me that the board Of edu-
cation would not be satisfied with the
presence Of Mr. Ashford on these commit
tees. told him l regretted the fact, but
did not see that 1t made any difference,
but would be very glad to have him call
at the office so that we could talk it over
before the board of education took such
action. This step he either declined or
neglected to take.
Removal Of Rubbish.
Capt. Oyster makes another statement,
that, due to recent agitation, the en-
gineer department is extremely busy in
removing rubbish from the schools. This
statement Is extremely misleading. AS a
matter of fact, this rubbish is being re-
moved from the schools by the property
clerk. who. for the first time, has had the
board of education place funds under its
control at his disposal in order to get the
rubbish removed. The only connection the
Engineer Commissioner has had with the
removing of this rubbish In the past has
been to remove 1t at such times as the
engineer teams were idle, or stormy
weather. 1t being recognized by us as q
courtesy to the board to use our idle
teams and drivers on such days as they
could be spared, to save the limited con-
tingent fund OF the board of education
from the expense of doing it. The re-
sponsibility for this removal has never
been on us.
Il know the board of education is anx-
ious to have charge of the construction
and repair of school buildings. 1t has SO
recommended to Congress and the Com
m1sS1oners have recommended against this
change. l believe that the transfer of
this work to the board of education would
be q serious mistake, and that the board
ITSELF If 1t should ever induce Congress to
agree to its proposition. would in short
time be convicted Of this fact. l regret
that the president of the board Of educa-
ton should in the interviews given out
within the past few months feel called
upon to further his desire to attain this
end by making unjust attacks upon the
conduct of the work under the Commits
sioners.
Improperly Is Alleged.
Il know, however. that he Is doing so
In an improper way. Let Capt. Oyster
come out now into the open and make
definite statements as to wherein Mr..
Ashford's work Is incompetent, and he
can be assused that the board of Com
missioners will give the matter its earn
est attention. and will remedy any de-
fects that are found. and, in the mean
time, II Is respectfully suggested to him
that such an outrageous statement as
that made by him to the board of educa-
ton at its meeting yesterday should be
withheld.
"One of the duties especially intrusted
to the special committee Of architects and
builders now investigating the schools
was TO inquire into the handling Of this
work by the inspector of buildings. These
men are all experienced In this class of
work and it is doubtful II a more compe-
tent committee could be gotten together
for the purpose. II Capt. Oyster Is not
satisfied to wait until the report of this
committee Is received to assure him that
his criticisms of Mr.. Ashford are either
well founded or unfounded let him for
mulate his charges. present Them and the
Commissioners will go into the matter at
the earliest possible date. In the mean
time he can rest assured that before will
accept his statement as to agreement with
any proposition proposed l will have to
request him to put 1t In writing"
Commissioners mcfarland and West
declined to make any statement regarding
the matter.