The Washington times., 1908-04-05
SCHOOL BOARD
SCORED IN HOUSE
Criticised for Rows" When
Provision for Legal Advice
Comes Up.
Fairgrounds Voted Down
AS Pampsring
Children.

Washington's school system and play
grounds had harsh things said about
them by members of the House yester-
Gay during the consideration of the Dis
tIict appropriation bill, on which 10
vote was reached before the House adj
Journed.
The debate started when Representa-
tive Mann Of Illinois made a point OF
order against the paragraph compelling
the Board OF Education to get all its
legal advice from the Corporation Coun-
sci of the District and prohibiting the
board from employing outside lawyers.
Mir. Gardner of Michigan, chairman of
the subcommittee which prepared the
bill. explained that, in the recent trOu-
bles between the board and the superin-
tendent. the board had employed As
sietant District Attorney Mcnamara TO
give legal advice and then had asked
the Committee on Appropriations for
$1,000 TO pay him for his services.
The request was refused said Mr..
Gardner, and the subcommittee put in
the bill a section forbidding the en-
ployment Of outside counsel in the fu-
ture.
Mann Not interested.
Replying to a question from Mr.. Clark
OF Missouri as to who had been advis-
ing the board In the last twelve months,
Mr.. Mann said:
Il don't know I take no interest in
what seems to have been an unseem-
~ squabble between somebody and
somebody else"
well" said Mr.. Clark. "thIs school
board has been in a constant row ever
since I've been in Congress. Recently
we remodeled the whole system, or so
we thought, and we believed we had it
all fixed"
He went on to say that. II the Presi-
dent had not appointed or detailed an
assistant district attorney to advise the
board there would not have been half
the trouble in the schools that has been
the case in the last year. He thought
the corporation counsel could easily
look after the legal business Of the Board
of Education. and expressed the belief
that a man could do this work by work
ing one day week.
Scarcely had we passed the new
school law he concluded, when the
board got up a worse row than it had
ever had. and. so far as I know, 1t is
sill going on"
Mr. Mann, however, insisted on his
point of order, and the provision went
out Of the bill. leaving the board free
to employ outside counsel If it can get
an appropriation 70 pay for such serv-
ices
Opposed to Fairgrounds.
On the question Of public Fairgrounds.
in an unexpected manner When this
Fairgrounds paragraph was reached.
carrying $500 for their maintenance.
Representative OIcott of New York Of
fered an amendment increasing this sum
20 $4,000. To this Mr.. Gardner objected,
saying the Olcott amendment was a
repetition of the old story of people
having an idea and expecting Congress
TO care for it and carry it through
Mr.. Burleson of Texas, a member of
the subcommittee which prepared the
bill. seemed particularly opposed to
Fairgrounds He reminded the House
that the school children of the District
have free text books. free pencils. and
other free things"
But, in addition to this he said
''the Commissioners asked us for s., Co.,
600 for Fairgrounds. to pamper the
children during vacation time. The
people OF the District should provide
themselves with playthings and play
grounds
81 still believe in free schools and
public Fairgrounds, in spite of the gem
ltleman's virile argument" said Mr.. Oh
tcott
Wants District to Contribute.
Mr.. Norris of Nebraska expressed
the same belief. saying:
1T IS the custom in all large cities to
provide free schools and free text
books. But there is another phase to
the situation Good. healthy bodies are
necessary for the children, and money
should be provided for the Fairgrounds.
suggest, therefore. an amendment to
this measure requiring the people of
the District to raise a sum for play
grounds equal to the amount that nny
be appropriated by Congress"
Mr.. Keliher of Massachusetts,. the
new member OF the District Committee.
pointed out that Boston. New York,
and many Of the large cities are spend
Ing millions Of dollars for Fairgrounds,
aid he argued that Washington should
follow their example. Mr.. Gillett of
Massachusetts also favored the Olcott
amendment.
The people of the District" he SAID.
have raised $500 for Fairgrounds. 1t
is true that we have been killing civic
spirit here by taking away suffrage
from the citizens, but there is still some
left. You must have somebody to
supervise the play OF the. children. This
has been the experience of all Zig
cities"