The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-08-05
Clerk Wilmarth's Work Sc
verely Criticised by Boys
Parents.
MONTMORENCY FIRED
FOR PLAYING CIRCUS
School Authorities Did All They
Could for Comfort of Lads.
Will Close Tonight.

AS a reward for several weeks of
hard and almost cesseless labor. Clerk
r. o. Wilmarth ana his corps Of as
sistants consisting OF voluntary workers
from among the school teachers Of the
city, are being bombarded with com
plants and criticisms that have resulted
in an investigation being Instituted by
the Bureau Of Labor TO determine the
efficiency Of the methods employed at
the Franklin School for registering the
applicants for permits to work
Acting on complaints fled with the
Board OF Charities OF the District, the
Bureau OF Labor has been asked to
make an investigation, with particular
reference TO the charge that the boys
were made 10 stand for hours in the hot
sun.
DR.. Harris, representing the Bureau
of Labor. visited the Franklin school
late yesterday afternoon. and after
looking into the matter thoroughly, de-
cided that the work was being carried
on with as much dispatch as possible,
and that Mr.. W1lmaTJh was handling
the situation satisfactorily.
Montmorency Is Put Out.
Some vigorous complaints have also
been registered az the Franklin school
building by parents OF the children. one
woman called this morning TO demand
satisfaction. or At least an explanation,
why her son. young NIontmorency, had
been put out OF the building yesterday
minus his permit.
The explanation is easy. Several OF
the boys started a trough house" and
refused TO desist in their playful antics
OF throwing a few paper weights, spit
balls, pulling each others hair. and per
forming some aCrCbatic feats. with a
result that they were cOmpelled to
leave the building and take up positions
at the end Of the line.
We simply denoted them a few
points FOR improper conduct" said Mr..
Wiimarth this morning. the same that
would happen TO a bow in school or 2
cadet at military academy
Some very vigorous complaints have
been made Oy parents who have taken
their children to the building and de-
manded that the boys be registered
without delay and in disregard of ths
boys waiting in line The officers on
duty and the school teachers assisting
IN keeping order. refused TO allow
special privileges Of this nature and
got roasted 10 a turn for their insist
ence on regular order.
Work For Boys Comfort.
Mr.. Wilmarth said this morning that
he had had as many or the boys brought
into the Easement rooms as possible. so
the sun while waiting their turn. and
that he had worked hard to secure the
comfort OF the boys as well as to COM
plete the work at the earliest possible
moment.
All the boys who applied for permits /
up 10 $3.50 O'Clock yesterday afternoon
were accommodated, and the line was
again wiped out last night by $40 /
O'Clock. This morning there -yere only I
a rev struggling punches O. boys ap- /
PLYING for permits.
Tonight at 10 o'clock the work will /
De brought 10 an end, and the Offices /
closed. About 1000 permits had been
granted at noon today and about go !.
more viii be granted before the Offices /
close tonight.
This win make 200 boys under four /
Teen years OF age, who, in effect, are
licensed 70 work on the streets. sell /
newspapers, black boots, and doing such
other things as may fall to their LOT. /
The police VIII know that they have
the privilege TO DO these things by their
badges, which viii be pinned to their
coats. The badges VIII contain the
name Of the boy. written by himself
and the number under which he is reg
istered.