Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-24
PRINCIPAL ONE OF THEM
Action Due to Slater School Pay
Check Matter.
PENSION BILL IS ENDORSED
other Important Matters Disposed
of-Appointments, Promotions
and Transfers.


ton yesterday at its meeting in the
Franklin School building:
John c. Male. supervising principal, is
suspended indefinitely.
Miss Martha Liggons. teacher in the
Slater School. is reprimanded and sus-
pended for thirty days.
Miss F. r. Turner and D. V. Greene.
teachers In the Deanwood School annex.
have their pay held up from December
IL until December "a.
Mrs. Bell. the janitor Of the Deanwood
annex. Is dismissed.
These actions were taken as the result
of the investigation of two matters in
volv1ng violations of rules of the board.
Both have been the talk of the school
employees for some time. and one of the
cases VS. referred to the United States
district attorney for his investigation. AS
sistant United States Attorney Stuart Nc
Namara. counsel for the board, was also
consulted
The suspension of Supervising Principal
Male and Miss Liggons resulted from
their connection with the cashing of a
pay check for Miss A. c. Waller, who
was dead. Miss Waller died November
-. 1t is declared. but her name was on
the November pay rolls. signed by su.
pervising Principal Nalle. and submitted
to the District Officials for payment. Miss
Walters check. it is declared. was turned
over, with those of other teachers in the
division OF which he is in charge to SUI
pervising Principal Nalle. Owing to the
continued illness Of Miss Waller for sew
eral months previous, Miss Liggons had
received the formers check several times
before, and the check in question was
turned over to Miss Liggons despite the
fact that the person to whom it was
made out was dead.
According to the school authorities. Miss
Lisgons cashed the check. She took that
step, she has explained. so that Miss
Walters substitute could get her share
OF the money. Before she had been able
to pay out any of the money she was
requested to return the check. She at
once returned the money instead.
The recommendation for the suspension
of the supervising principal and teacher
was presented to the board yesterday by
the committee on elementary and night
schools. composed of w. D. Hoover.
Barton w. Evermann. The board APP
proved the recommendation without dis
cuSsion
Failed to Observe Rules.
The action in the case of Miss F. r.
Turner and D. v. Greene. teachers and
Mrs. Bell. janitor of the Deanwood an
mex. was the result of the finding of GER
tain doors OF the building locked, Super
vising Principal w. s. Montgomery
making the discovery on one of his visits
to the building.
Asst. Supt r. c. Bruce. reporting the
matter to the board. declared that the
principal of the school, ]. G. Payne, was
in noWise to blame. and stated that the
two teachers should be made to feel
the seriousness of their negligence and
cuse for her conduct The board COM
mittee recommended the dismissal Of the
janitor 'for failure to observe the rules
Of the board
important matters were brought up and
disposed Of. John F.. Cook was the only
absent member, and 1t was explained
that illness kept him away. The board
members expressed their sympathy to
him.
The Madden bill now before the House
Of Representatives, providing for the re-
tirement of veteran teachers on pen
sions. was discussed. and the board
adopted a report on it. drafted by w. V.
Cox. which will be sent to the District
committees of Congress. In this report
the boarN expresses its thanks to Repre-
sentative Madden for his interest in the
matter
THE bill is an admirable one" the re-
port says. land in many respects similar
to one submitted by the board. but is
even more generous in its provisions. The
placing Of all money received from gifts.
sources in a permanent fund and the
provision for necessary clerical help are
excellent features
Several changes are, however, sug-
gested. The bill provides for the retire.
ment of teachers at the end of twenty
five years service. but the board recon-
mends that the length of service required
be fixed at thirty years. with the provi-
sion that for teachers retired for dis
ability prior to that time an annuity be
allowed in accordance with the length
of service. The board also objects to the
provision that the retirement pay be re-
ground that this uncertainty as to the
amount of pension might cause some
teachers to hesitate about retiring 1t
also recommends that the bill be changed
to meet the decision of the District Su-
preme Court that mo law shall prevent
the board from dsmissng a teacher for
incompetency."
Some Changes Recommended.
The board also recommends that the
bill be amended to provide that the dates
Of retirement be restricted to July and
February l of each year, that the time
and manner Of the payment to annuitants
be fixed and that the retirement pay 10
any teacher who has taught thirty years
be not less than $500 Some verbal changes
are also suggested by the board.
The board approved recommendation
of w. p Hay of the department Of BIZ
ology and chemistry that a fixed labora-
tory fee be charged to students of physi-
cal geography. 1t also granted a request
of May Roper. a former pupil at the
Eastern High School and now a student
at Randolph Macon College. to graduate
from the Eastern High School next June,
provided she re-enters the school after
the completion of her college year and
passes examinations and other tests to be
determined by it's principal, w. S. Small.
A letter from Appleton P. Clark. jr.,
expressing the thanks of the school COM
mission which recently Investigated sani-
tary and fire-danger conditions in the
schools for the boards cooperation, pro-
voked comments on the report of the
commission.
1T was very satisfactory report" de-
clared Capt. James F. Oyster. president
Of the board. 1T should convince you all