The Washington times., 1908-03-09
Senator CulberSon In
PRODUCES Resolution
Calling for a Rigid In
vestigation.
School Ofic4is inspect
Buildings Fire-Fighting
Appliances and Order
Reports.

The Senate this morning promptly
agreed to q resolution Introduced by
Senator Culberson. which assures safety
from fires In the public schools OF the
District.
The resolution directs the Committee
on the District Of Columbia TO make an
inquiry at once concerning the condi-
ton OF school buildings, both public
and private. as 10 their condition 10
resist nre ana also es &c their equip
merit with iIre-escapes. The committee
Is directed 70 report by a onl or other
wise.
Senator Culberson said he did not
know anything IN detail about the con-
dition Of the school buildings, but re-
gsrded IL as certainly a matter 20 be
investigated. The committee VIII secure
the information at once.
Schools Inspected.
The crusade was continued in other
directions when President oyster OF the
Board Of Education, Superintendent
Stuart and Assistant Superintendent
Hughes this morning made a personal
Inspection OF several schools 70 ascer-
tain n fre regulations were being OBJ
served
"A result Of the tour was the formation
of plans 10 re move the kindergarten
classes from tie upper floors OF the
Morgan and Johnson schools to the low
er floors. where there Is less danger for
smaller children Some time ago. il Is
explained. the children werL moved to
the upper classrO0ms on recommenda-
ton OF the Health Department on ac-
count or the congestion in the smaller
rooms downstairs
f'resident Oyster said this afternoon
tilat the JanitCrs and others seemed
alive 90 tie responsibilities OF safe
guarding against IRE ana the attaches
OF each school visited today was warned
70 observe rigidly every precaution
Reports Not Received.
Superintendent Stuart has not yet re-
ceiyed the complete report which he
called for from all supervising princi-
pals as TO defects existing in the vari-
Gus buildings. The last reports are ex-
peCtsd tomorrow, and at that time the
recommendation will 90 10 the COmmis-
stQners that these defects be renedied
at once, as In the case with the Morgan
and Johnson Schools. II IS said that
rooms may have to be rented ia the
nelgbborhoOd in order 10 move the
kindergarten classes at the latter
school. there being insufficient room on
the lower floors.
Referring 10 the several statements
emanating from the Office OF the Com
misslOners disclaiming responsibility for
lax FIRE protection, Captain Oyster said
today:
1T should be understood that we are
not making a personal fkght against the
Commissioners, and that il is nor spe-
cinCally about the lack OF FIRE DrOtec~
ton that we complain.
1t IS on the general matter OF the
cutting of our appropris tions that the
Commissioners are at fault. We eau
not keep our buildings in good repair
either from the standpoint OF fire pro-
lection or sanitation, II our estimates
are cut as they have been.
For instance. we found this morning
at the Cranch building az antiquated
wooden staircase that the Commission
ers have been asked to replace a num-
Der of times. This is just one instance.
We found lack OF sanitary facilities
at the Blow School that We were given
70 understand some time ago had been
adjusted by the building department.
Says Report Untrue.
These remarks were inspired when
Captain oyster was informed that sur
prise had been expressed by the Com
missioEers that a report had been pub
Iished that the board had asked for
li&E HiatlAt AoAGS III ltE SEnUDtS ana mat
they had been refused by the Commits
sioners. such a report if published
was erroneous" said Captain Oyster
'sT'he board did ask for fire alarm num-
bers for each school and the right to
publish d book giving each school q hre
alarm number which might be phoned
in Just as a box call The Commission
ers did refuse to stand for this expense
and we had the printing done at our
own expense from the contingent fund
This shows the board was alive even
last fall 90 the matter OF fire protec-
ton"
The Wornan's Christian Temperance
Union, through its secretary. Mrs
Emma S. Shelton. has suggested to the
Commissioners that a fireman be de-
tailed in each of the public school build
ing from a. m. until 3 D. m.
President oyster said that the results
sought by the above petition might be
accomplished by wideaWake janitOrs and
an efficient fre-alarm system. although
he voiced no particular objection to the
project.