The Washington times., 1908-10-29
Commissioner Makes a Wig
orouS Statement on
School Squabble.
SAYS ALLEGATIONS
ARE UNWARRANTED
Declares Object of Board of Edu-
cation Is to Control Build
ing of Schools.
Continued from First Page.l

blind prejudice OF the president OF the
Beard OF Education, Mr.. Ashford has,
at one time or another incurred his
s3Tbe further statement is made that
certain work in Washington this last
wear has been taken out Of his hands
and put under Captain Kelly. 1t Is i'm
possible that Captain oyster can believe
This to be true The relations between
the assistant to the Engineer commits
sioner and Mr.. Ashford are precisely
the same now that they have been Tor
many years.
Captain Oyster also states that he
came to me and suggested that Mr..
Richards and Mr.. Davis should take
the place OF Mr. Ashford on these two
boards. Captain Oyster called me up
on the telephone late yesterday after
noon, and. for the first time, told me
that the Board Of Education would not
be satisfied with the presence of Mr.
Ashford on these committees. / told
him ! regretted the fact, but did not
see that IL made any difference, but
would be YsTV glad 10 have him call at
the office so that we could talk il over
before the Board of Education took
such action. This step he either de-
clined or neglected TO take.
Is Misleading.
Captain Oyster makes another state
ment. that. due 10 recent agitation, the
Engineer Department is extremely busy
in removing rubbish from the schools.
This statement is extremely misleading
AS a matter OF fact. this rubbish is be-
ing removed 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 70 get the rubbish removed.
The only connection the Engineer
Commissioner has had with the remOy-
ing OF this rubbish in the past has been
Ia remove il at such times as the en-
weather, II being recognized by US AZ
q courtesy TO the board 70 use our idle
teams and drivers on such days as they
could be spared, to save the limited
contingent fund OF the Board Of Edu-
cation from the expense of doing IT.
The responsibility for this removal has
never been on as
81 knew the Board Of Education IS
anxious to have charge of the con-
structiOn and repair Of school BUILDINGS.
iJ has so recommended to Congress,
and the Commissioners have recon-
meuded 1g1inss this change. ] believe
that the transfer OF this work 10 the
Bcard of Education would be q serious
mistake. and that The board itself III
II should ever induce Congress to dgrcE
10 ITS proposition, would I'm a short tfwe
be convinced to this fact. I regret that
the president of the Board OF Education
should, IN tho interviews given out
within the past few months. feel called
upon 70 further nis desire TO attain
this end by making unjust attacks upon
the conduct OF the work unGeT the Com
missioners.
Improper Attack.
II know, however. that he is doing
so In an improper way. Let Captain
Oyster come out into the open and
make definite statements as 10 wherein
Mr. AshfoTds work is incompetent and
he can be assured that the Board Of
Commissioners VIII give the matter
their earnest attention. and will remedy
any defects that are found, and, in the
meantime, IL is respectfully suggested
TO him that such an outrageous state
ment as that made by him to the
Board OF Education at its meeting YES
terdRy should be withheld
"One or the duties especially intrusted
10 the special committee Of architects
and builders now investigating the
schools was to inquire into the handling
or this work by the Inspector Of Build
ings. These men are all experienced in
this class OF work. and IL is doubtful il
more competent committee could be
gotten together for the purpose. If
until the report Of this committee is
received to assure him that his criti-
cisms OF Mr.. Ashford are either well
founded or unfOunded, let him formu-
late his charges, present them, and the
commissioners VIII go into the matter
at the earliest possible date. In the
meantime, he can rest assured that be
fore viii accept his statement as to
agreement with any proposition pro-
posed ! VIII have TO request him TO
put IL in writing"