The Washington times., 1908-01-30
HEARING IS ASKED
BY BUSINESS MEN
ON SCHOOL FIGHT
Chamber of Commerce
Scores Attempt to Abol-
iSh Education Board.

PercivaI NJ Brown, chairman OF the
Chamber of Commerce committee on
schools and several members of the
committee met today and drafted two
letters. one to the Senate District Com
mittee and the other the House Commit
tee stating that the committee desired
to be heard before both on the Deliver
bill which provides for the appointment
OF a director of education to take the
place OF the board
Members of the school committee are
convinced that the Deliver bill is sim
ply a schem5 TO exploit the public
schools of Washington for political pur-
poses.
Scheme Scorned.
At the meeting of the committee yes
terday afternoon. which was attended
by almost every member, the enormity
Of the scheme was clearly brought out.
That the purpose Of the DoiIiver bin is
to add tot the patronage Of Senator'S
and Representatives the thousands OF
positions under the public school sys-
tenn of the District, without regard to
the welfare OF pupils and totally disre-
garding the people Of the District,
whose children TO the number OF 90. 900
attend Washington schools, seemed TO
be the conviction OF every member Of
the committee.
The total decentralization Of the school
system and Of the schools themselves
wGs clearly pointed out as the result Of
such exploitation.
Similar to Smith Bill.
1t Esas also shown that the DoIiver
bin was almost a copy Of the Smith
bill introduced in the House last ses-
sion a the instance Of DR.. Chancellor.
The former Superintendent, il was said,
bad no sooner taken his place here than
he began schcming to get control Of the
system, and that the Smith bill had
been designed for this purpose.
OF course. il was not considered in
the least probable that the purDoSe OF
the DOlllVer bill was TO put Dr. Chan
cellor in power as director Of educa-
ton but the power of whomsoevsr
plight be appointed 10 that position was
thus made evident. Appointed by the
United States, himself holding office by
appointment, the director Of education
in the District would be ansWerable 10
no one save the appointing power and
the Influences SurrU Jndng that official
The selection OF Olscers, teachers and
employees would be entirely IN the hands
of the director, and he, to curry favor
with the appointing power, would nee
was considered but a step 10 the final
conclusion that teachers and others
from every part OF the Union would
clamOr for places in Washington. and
that IL would be comparatively easy for
Senators and Representatives to find
positions for them here whether they
were 1T or not. Some members OF the
committee went even further than this
in their statements.
The published testimony Of Admiral
Baird. formerly president Of the Board
Of Education, before the Senate sub
committee came in for a severe scoring
Baird Angered.
To his charge that there were cliques
and dissention in the board the report
of the committee was quoted as prov
ing that entire harmony existed. It
was stated that the principal reason
for the resignation Of Admiral Baird
was that the board had transacted con-
siderable business while he was absent
on a two months trip TO California and
became dngcred because anything
should have been done in his absence. /
Not since the meeting Of the Business
Mems Association q year ago, in which
the question of suffrage In the District
was discussed. has there been such
indignation expressed at a public meet
ing OF citizens Of the District over what
they conceive to be inscription of rights
guaranteed under the Constitution.
a determined opposition was decided
upon The report Of the school COM
mittee was ordered printed and sent
with a letter Of information to every
member of both Houses Of Congress. |
Personal work by every member was
also promised.