The Washington herald., 1908-03-14

Absolute denial OF any cut in the esti-
mates for school repairs, that have been
submitted to him by the board Of edu-
cation, in the last two years. was made
by Commissioners Macfarland yesterday.
Commissioner Macfarland, when shown
the latest published statement purporting
to represent the views Of the board of
education respecting the responsibility
for the fire protection of the public
schools, said that he only desired 10 call
attention tc that portion OF the Commits
sioner's letter OF December I3, 1907, which
had not been given out in the statement
referred to.
The publication omitted this paragraph
from the Commissioner letter:
The Commissioners have complied with the law BY
recommending 20 Congress 50 much Of the estimates
submitted by the board Of education as they deemed
proper, az the same time transmitting 70 Congress
the full text Of the board Of education estimates
This course has evidently been entirely satisfactory
10 congress. since no question has been raised
IN either house regarding IT, and it is the only
practical way Of executing the law unless the Com
msioners felt that they could recommend every item
IN the board o. education estimate. This year in
former years. the Commissioners gave hearing 10
the representatives. Of the hoard Of education and
went over in detail the board Of education eSti-
mates, giving the most careful consideration 10 every
argument advanced for them, and. as a result, out
OF total OF Albl.2D. recommended S.lEON.
Mr. MacfarIand Emphatic.
Mr. Macfarland emphasized the fact that every
year for seven years the Commissioners had trans
mitted the full text Of the board Of education est
mates although the Commissioners could not always
recommend all Of them, and also repeated that the
Commissioners had recommended throughout the
Ast seven years all 'he board Of education estimates
relating 20 FIRE protection.
Specific estimates were made" he said 'by the
former board Of education. reports received from
our officials and theirs. as for example for fire
escapes, fire eXtingUishers and reproof stair7ravs
recommended by as and Appropriated by Congress.
But no such estimates have been received during
the last three As 10 the estimates for repairs
the board Of education last year estimated S65 COO
the Commissioners recommended il entire and Con-
Sress, on later recommendation Of the Commits
sioners. Appropriated $1,000 $500 more than the
board had asked. The item for repairs. therefore
Tor this year not reduced. but increased For
the next fiscal year the board Of education estimated
10000 FOR repairs and the Commissioners recon-
mended the f,ll amount. cannot understand why
these fact n Official and public record should he
ignored OF misrepresenied. II Is not necessary for
the Commissioners in the light Of the record to re.
mind the community that they are interested in the
welfare of the public Schools and viii continue to
do everything in their power for them"
What Law Requires.
The law requires that the board Of
education shall annually on the first day
OF October transmit to the Commissioners
of the District Of Columbia an estimate
in detail of the amount OF money re-
quired for the public schools for the ensu-
ing year, and said Commissioners shall
transmit the same in their annual esti-
mate OF appropriations for the District
OF Columbia. with such recommendations
as they shall deem proper"