The Washington times., 1908-01-28
SCHOOL BOARD FACES
DEFEAT IN SENATE
lContlnued ION Flrst Page.l

Continued from First Page)
90 10 call them to account you can
never lay your hands on anybody"
Debating Society.
Admiral Baird warmed I'D TO his sub
ject after he had been asked by a
member OF the committee why he had
resigned from the board. His view OF
the hoard. he said. was that it was
merely a little debating society with
the power Of removing a few teachers"
that the board exercised very little of
the IGnctions Of similar boards in other
cities. inasmuch as the Commissioners
had charge of expenditures.
Il found that we couldn't remove a
teacher without n trial. and in the Car
dOZO trial 1t was demonstrated lhAt VIC
couldn't even suspend. Cardozo WAS
punished too severely: / was IN faNor
of suspension. hut our attorney said we
, had 20 dismiss or do nothing
'Ninety-five percent Of the wrangling
seems 20 be among the colored people;
They wrangle and prefer charges, ana
then as soon as charges are preferred
they go on the defensive and pack the
! board room.
Csuas of Friction.
What IS thu cause of the friction in
the schools?" asked Senator Carter.
1T is a matter of general principle,
replied the admiral. Whenever a man
offers you something for pothing you
may depend upon it that he has some
thing I'D his sleeve It seemed 10 me
while president of the board that some
Of its members were actuated by sell
fish motives 1t was apparent that these
gave their work gratis for the purpose
| OF accomplishing some selfish motive
What was your reason Tor resign
I Frrrr glCHr4 an q NJ
signed for peace and harmony The
/ friction in the board vas disgraceIul
and I did not want TO be responsible
for any such conduct. 1 found there
were cliques. forming practically bal
ance Of power in the board, and It came
to my ears several times that board
members met previous 20 regular meet
ings and made plans which were al
terward carried through IN board meet
"Tu,Ice the beard met in special ses-
sion while l was out OF the city ana
took advantage OF me IN this way
day, only TO discover that a meeting had
] been held the day before and some
( thing nut through that l did net think
| right
How Appointments Are Made.
"A specific instance I have In mind,
in where. I am reliably Informed, FIVE
members Of the board met and insisted
/ that the Superintendent nominate a GER
tain teacher Five meant a majority Of
the board and the Superintendent was
given to understand, that, II he did not
make the nomination asked, any other
nomination would be vetoed
Admiral Baird said that he had at
/ first been under the impression that the
/ Superintendent made the nominations,
but that ne soon ascertained that others
made the slate and that the Superintend-
I ent was superintendent IN name only
you think some OF the members SCI We
/ through selfshness2' asked Senator
Carter.
I yves. 1 think Bel1shness is pretty gen
I eTal throughout the board repued the
admiral. positively In answer 10 q
question the admiral said that the board
was about eight members too large
Factions Control Board.
! Admiral Baird said that he would not
mention names. but that he knew Of
numerous times when factions Of the
/ board met, knew the places at which
they met ana the plans made. These
factions, he said. dominated and con-
/ troIled the board.
/ He took occasion TO pay tribute 10
DR.. Chancellor as an educator, and when
! Senator BurlEetJ asked him If II were
/ true Jhat DR.. Chancellor had been hired
]
/ him. replied that only one member OF
/ the board had interviewed Chancellor
/ DIR. Chancellor did not know when
/ he came" explained the admiral. 'tha-
/ there were all these factions to contend
with, / did not at nTst, either"
! Has there been faVOTiJsm shown in
l the selection Of teachers2'
Yes, I think So" replied the admiral
/ Senator DOlIiver made a short state
I menL 10 the committee in which he said
he was tired of the constant turmoil!
( and strife in the school system. For
/ a long while he said, he had tried
not 70 pay any attention TO il, but OF
] late * had become so noisy that II de-
manded attention. Washington had a
wonderful body Of teachers, he said, who
! were able TO accomplish good results
1 despite the bad example set them by
l the Board Of Education. who were al
ways in a constant wrangle. 4 similEr
| compliment was paid the teachers b.
/ Admiral Baird.
Board Turned Loose"
IN other cities" said Senator Dolly
/ er, I'VE hire superintendent and ex-
! pect him to run the schools while the
! board attends 10 the expenditure OF
moneys and other matters. Here we
/ have a board which. IL seems, is simply
| turned loose to NEEDLE with the super
! intendent and teachers. I am not sur
I pElSeQ mat men OF audlTS, ike Admiral
! Baird, should become tired Of the worry
| and the petty contentious and resign. -
! Senator Dolliver made no reference
/ whatever to his recently published re-
| marks that Information had come 10
! him that some Of the teachers were be-
! ing COePCed into signing a petition TO
/ retain the board. In fact, the committee
! seemed 10 pass over for the time the
! matter Of the teachers petition.
/ Senator DOlliver said in closing that
| he lid not propose to be dOgmatic. but
4 he thought something should be dOEe.
/ AIter short executive session the
| subcommittee. composed of Senators
! Carter, Johnston. Scott, Martin, and
/ Burkett, chairman, announced that It
/ would report the bill to abolish the
/ board favOrably.
| Capt. James F. Oyster, president CO
/ the Board of Education, had nothing
! to say concerning the recommendation
| Of the Senate subcommittee. When he
1 was told Of the decision and asked for
| an expression Of opinion he said:
| rs that so? 1 have nothing to say
! just now
Meeting Called.
! Chairman H +. Allen, OF :he subcom-
/ mittee Of the Board Of Trades school
I