The Washington herald., 1908-01-28
SCHOOL HEARING ON
Subcommittee to Take Up
DOlliYer Bill To-day.
MAY DECIDE WHOLE QUESTION
Result of Proceedings VIII Have
Important Hearing on Final Action
Regarding Local school situation.
senator DOIIfVeF and Admiral
Baird TO Appear Before Committee.

The subcommittee appointed by Senator
Gallinger three weeks ago to investigate
the public school situation in the District
OF Columbia will meet this morning at
1879 o'clock in the room of the Senate
District Committee.
Senator Dolliver, author of the pending
bin proposing 10 abolish the school board,
and the positions of superintendent, as
sistant superintendents, supervising prin-
cipals, and secretary 20 the board, viii
appear before the subcommittee and eX-
plain his bin and his reasons for pre-
senting il. lie will advocate. as he does
lH the bill. that a director OF education bog
appointed for the District who shall have
full control OF the schools, under the
authority Of the government Commission
er Of Education or Of Congress
Admiral Baird, former superintendent
of the local schools, viii also appear be-
fore the board and give his views on ths
question. Senator Burkett said yesterday
that he had not been notified that any
member Of the school board or any rep
resentative Of the board would appear at
the hearing, but that he should not be
surprised if some of the members pre-
sented themselves.
Way Avert IRVcstiEatiOn.
Senator Burkett said last week. in re-
ply 10 a question proDounded 10 him by
representative II The Washington Herald.
that the Investigation, directed by the
resolution introduced by Senator Scott
and adopted by the Senate before the
holiday recess. would take place He is
understood TO have stated recently. how
ever, that he was surprised to see now
much the sentiment for the solution OF
the school problem suggested in ,ue DolI-
Yer bin had grown among the members
Of the Senate who were interesting them
selves in the question. The hope he's
been expressed in many quarters recent
~ that the Oill might be made the basis
Of the final settlement Of the question,
and the suggestion was made in several
instances yesterday that the result Of to-
days hearing may obviste the necessity
for the proposed investigation.
That the result Of the hearing VIII have
a large part in deciding the matter IS
known. Should the subcommittee decide
20 report 10 the District Committee a
recommendation that the bin be favor
ably reported 10 the Senate the iuveStl-
CATION would be deferred. AT least unth
the course thus opened up had been
taken. whatever might be the final fate
Of the bill. on the other hand il is not
impossible that the subcommittee might
report that the Investigation is inadvs-
able at this time. What view the Senate
question Those VINO express opinions
on the subject. howeve-. are inclined 10
believe that If the DoIiver bin or some
substitute for it is not reported the in
vestigatIon Will 90 on, and senator
BUrketts definite statement of last week
bears out this view.
Want Control Centralized.
Senator Gallinger yesterday offered in
the Senate two documents bearing upon
the school question. one is very strong
set Of resolutions. unanimously passed by
the West Washington Citizens Associa-
ton on January 81. It urges that the
Senate resolution calling for an investiga-
tion be thoroughly carried out, to the end
that the deplorable conditions in our
school system may be promptly cor
TeCted. II recalls the IdCt that the pres
ent unsatisfactory condition has persisted
for a number of years. bringing Tidicule
and OpprObriUm upon the District
The petition also asks that. in view OF
the fact that the supervision of the
schools is lodged in too many hands and
heads for harmonious and successful ad-
some such legislation as
viii properly centralize the administra-
tive authority of our schools be promptly
enacted
Present Law Not Effective.
The resolution which the West Wash
iugton citizens submit was introduced by
John F. Green. chairman of the asso-
cations committee on schools, and VAS
passed at the regular meeting Of the as
sociation on last Tuesday. It takes the
stand that tho present school law has not
improved the situation which has so long
vexed the District, and demands reform
measures that viii give promise Of at
tanning the object at which il aims. The
petition is attested by 4. J. Leonard,
TO the association.