Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-15
Charge Made Against Public
School Janitors.
CAPT. KELLY'S REPORT
Commissioners Request Board of
Education to Act.
PRESIDENT OYSTER PROTESTS
Declares General Charge Unjust and
Suggests That the Depart
ment Be Specific.

The waste of water in public schools
is tremendous. according to Capt. Will
liam Kelly, assistant to the Engineer
Commissioner. He makes this statement
to show the need for the proper instruc-
tion Of janitors of school buildings ir
the care of plumbing fixtures.
Capt Kelly says:
Il would recommend that the board
some official to consult with the inspect
or Of plumbing. and thereafter instruc,
the janitors in the care of the plumbing
janitor service.
In that connection I would like to
say that the water department is al
present making an investigation of the
use of water in schools. While it is not
ready yet to report I'm full upon the sub
iect of the investigation, it has gone
far enough to indicate that the waste is
tremendous. and this could undoubtedly
be very much lessened IL proper atten-
ton were given to plumbing fixtures by
the janitors.'
Asked to Investigate.
A letter has been written to the board
Of education, based on this report OF
Capt Kelly.
The Commissioners have the honor tC
request" says the letter. that you des-
ignate a representative Of the board OF
education to consult with the inspector
OF plumbing, District Of Columbia. with
reference to the care to be exercised by
janitors regarding plumbing fixtures II
the public schools and to see that the
janitors take steps to prevent waste OF
! water"
Supt. Mcfarland Of the water depart
ment expressed the opinion today thai
the waste of water in the schools Is que
to the carelessness Of the janitors. Re
gardinG the results of the investigations
his department has conducted. he sale
that a detailed report is In preparation
showing the amount Of water used IT
some OF the school buildings, and that II
will prove that there Is tremendous
waste ofwate in some of the buildings
Capt. Oyster Objects.
Il object to the general charges thai
there is a waste of water in school build
ings" declared Capt. James F. Oyster
president of the board of education, this
morning Our janitors have been spe
ciacally instructed to prevent an unneces
sary use of water and to report any leaks
or wastes at once. so that the matter
can be remedied. If there is any waste
| the board does not know 1t. If the water
| department knows there Is a waste OF
water in some school buildings, why dom
they tell us where the waste Is so tina
the matter can be remedied. instead OF
making general charges?
| IF the water department found waste
| of water in my place it would notify me
at once. If it finds a waste of water ir
| the Franklin school building it ought
| to report to the Franklin officials for i'm
mediate remedy.
IF there is any waste of water the
! board wants to know it so to prevent
| it, If a janitor is found to be response
BILE and has not reported leak or waste
| TO the board he will be punished L be
lieve, however. that the janitors are or
the Job for they have been instructed
about turning off the water and prevent
ing any waste"