Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-28

weather. and everybody
ought to try and keep cool.
H. B. F. Mcfarland,
President Board of Commits
sioners.
| everybody ought to try and keep COOL"
was the first thing Commissioner Macfar-
land said today when asked for an ex
preston of opinion upon the criticisms of
the Commissioners made by Capt. James
F. Oyster president of the board of edu
cation.
Mr. Oyster is quoted as of opinion that
the Commissioners did not exert them
| selves before Congress in the interest of
| appropriations and other legislation af-
fecting the public schools.
Deprecates Controversy.
| However Mr. Macfarland. after giving
advice for officials in hot weather. made
the following statement as an answer to
| Capt. Oysters criticism:
Congress has refused the request of
| the board of education to place the con-
struction and repair of the public school
buildings under Its direction. neither COM
| mttee on appropriations favoring that
idea. and naturally the president of the
board of education. who strenuously adj
vocated the change. is disappointed. But
Congress is the supreme authority. and
made its decision after hearing the argu
ments in full and examining all the facts.
Now. in the interest of the public
schools and of the District of Columbia
we all ought to go on without further at
tempts at controversy. The Commission
ers are perfectly willing to stand on the
record. which is open. to the inspection OF
every one.
1T will show as to the past that the
Commissioners have recommended for ten
years every dollar that the board OF edu
cation has asked for repairs to school
buildings. and that Congress has appro-
priated what was asked. OF course ten
times as much might have been used.
possibly. but the board of education did
not estimate for It, although every year
after the appropriation has been made
it has asked for much more repairs than
the appropriation could possibly meet.
LAS to new school buildings the Com
missioners and the board of education in
the ten years preceding the present asked
for S20o0. 600 more than Congress has ap-
propriated This year we asked for the
arrears If Congress had appropriated
all that was asked the schools OF course,
would be $2,00O,OOO better on.
Commissioners Claim Initiative.
linswood disaster occurred. took the initia-
tive in urging upon Congress special pro-
vision for fire protection. l personally or
dered the chief engineer of the fire de-
partment to make the inspections OF
school buildings which have revealed their
necessities. not only as to physical re-
pairs but as to reforms in administrative
measures. especially as to the methods
of ianifors.
&c cd, n
make the necessary estimates. since the
law requires that the estimates snall
originate with the board of education.
and also to take notice OF the sugges-
tions of administrative Improvements,
The board of education made the estl-
mates and issued orders to improve the
administrative conditions.
The Commissioners presented the esti-
mates to Congress as earnestly a. posi-
BILE and also their own motion made
a special appeal for additional money to
improve the fire protection of buildings
for which we were about to make con-
| tracts Congress did not give all that
was asked. but we shall do the best we
/! can with what Congress has given.
I'VE are glad to acknowledge the aid
| of the board of education the Board of
! Trade the Chamber of Commerce. indi-
| vidual citizens. and. above ALL the news
papers. in obtaining what was OBTAINED
There is credit enough for us all.
L1tIle SnOTL Oh CT1nludk
| That District Commissioners and other
District officials who have had and now
| have charge of the construction. MAIN
! tenance and repair of school buildings
/ have "shirked' their duties and, in some
| particulars. have been guilty OF acts
/ little short of criminal and that the
| Bureson amendment to the District ap-
preparation bill affecting the pay of out
! side teachers appointed to positions in
/ local high and normal schools discrimi-
mates against local teachers of long serv-
| ice here We're the statements mace either
/ In reports adopted by the board or by in
| dividual members at the meeting OF the
/ board of education yesterday In the
! Franklin School building.
! In a report regarding repairs to school
/ buildings 10 be made during the summer
out of appropriations recently passed by
| Congress the committee on sites. build
| inss and repairs declares 1t has received
/ complaints regarding a lack or certain
| equipment In buildings, and added that
the neglect to provide all such essentials
/ in school buildings at the time of con-
| struction seems little short OF criminal
Discussing this report. Capt. James r.
| oyster its president. declared: Certainly
| the Commissioners have shirked the re-
| sponsibilities of the schools for the past
ten years and ought to be ashamed to
| face the people after putting up the addi-
/ tons they are building now.
1 Supt. At Stuart. in report discuss
ing the effect of the Burleson amendment
10 the District appropriation bill. calls
! attention 10 the fact that 1.-THE law is
pcrmissive, not mandatory, which is for
lunate in view of the fact that Congress
made no appropriation of money to carry
il into effect and also because our home
teachers have been in effect though per
haps not Intentionally. Disseminated
against.
Report of Committee.
Shortly after the board was called to
order by President Oyster. one-half hour
behind the scheduled time for meeting.
and with Mrs NJ. c. Terrell the on'y alb
sent member the report of the commit
tee on sites. buildings and repairs was
presented by Chairman W. D. Hoover
After calling attention to pile of pa
pers on the table calling for specific re-
pairs for each building needing attention.
the committee said in its report:
They indicate that many public school
buildings of the city are in serious need
J of overhauiing and that their keeping in
repair must necessarily involve large
1 expenditure of money. recent com
muniCation to the board of education from