Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-10
Board, of Education United in
Defense Of Administration. :
FIGHT TO UPHOLD RECORD
Engineer Department Collecting
Statistical Ammunition.
FIRST BATTLE OVER CONTRACT
Mckinley Addition Award Expected
to Provide Occasion for Open
--- ing Hostilities. ---.-.


missioner Judson and suggestions con-
tained in the President message that
there should be change in the method
of administering the public schools, the
members of the board of education have
their minds made up for "a spirited fight
to uphold their record, =
On the other hand, the engineer de-
partment of tie District government is
still delving into statistics and is look
ing into cost figures to prove the claim
that the schools are eXtravagantly con-
Quoted. ~
The end of the controversy is not in
sight The air is charged with an cleo
tric feeling that something is about to be
doing. There is evident Strengthening of
the esprit du corps between members
Of the board of education.
Fight to Come Over Contract.
The building of the Mckinley Manual
Training School addition is expected to
furnish excitement for the board of edu-
cation. The militant members of that
body are planning a campaign for the en-
barrassment of the engineer department
of the District of Columbia.
The bids for the work were opened sew
eral DAYS ago. The contract has been
awarded to the Gormley-Poynton Com
pany for $1J4, 700.
Thomas III. Melton one of the bidders.
has signified his intention to start fight
on the Commissioners for the award of
that contract. on the ground that he Of
fered to put up bond to build the big
addition to Mckinley Manual Training
School and save the District of Columbia
about $500. According to the best In
formation that can be obtained. the bids
Will not be reopened and the contract as
awarded will stand.
The board of education sees a chance
in the threatened controversy to open UP
the old and deeply accumulated criti-
cisms on the heating plants now in use
in the schools
1t is understood that Thomas II. Mel
ton bid first the sum of S165,OD for the
building of the school and suggested
that if he be allowed to make certain
changes in the $4,000 heating plant he
could save a tidy sum to the District
and be the lowest bidder besides.
Members of the board of education who
have been collecting figures on the cost
of heating the schools say the heating
plants installed under the supervision OF
the municipal architect eat coal In
manner scarcely to be beaten by large
and heavy battleship running under
forced draft Consequently when they
were informed by Mr.. Melton that he be-
lieved he could put in more modern and
a more economical heating plant at Nc
Kinley than the one asked for they
thought they saw a chance to start some
economical heating reforms they nave
been talking about for several years
The bids were opened. 1t was found
that the Poynton-Gormely Company had
offered to do the work for $4,000, and
by the omission of few fancy articles,
like air washing machinery. etc, the
building could be put up for $1o4, 700.
That concern received the award.
Mr.. Melton lpade suggestions. as stated,
whereby he could do the work for less
provided he be allowed to install another
heating plant.
The reason assigned for the failure of
Thomas Fl. Melton to get the contract
after his suggestion as to a new heating
plant is that it is mot considered good
ing opened publicly" 1t is also said
that his bid was $50 too high. and one
month longer in time than the success
full bidders.
Heating Plants Costly.
Board members are quick to say that
they believe, if any extravaganza is to
be found in school management, much
Of it can be laid to the score of poor
heating plants that consume coal with
tremendous energy Both Commissioner
Judson and some of the board members
have figures on coal for three years back
One of the star exhibits on both sheets
is the Reno School. The figures are kept
in the background for production at a
dramatic point in the controversy. 1t
would appear, however that the little
Reno School uses about one ton a day
for the entire school year. At first it was
supposed some one was stealing the coal
by the wagon load.
If the Commissioners point to that
school as an example Of wastefulneSs
the board will reply that the Reno School
is situated on the highest ground in the
District. is open to the winds, and will
claim it has a set of stoves that would
burn Indefinitely at white heat without
raising the temperature to any remark
able degree.
Just where this controversy will end is
hard to foretel. The one thing that is
evident today, however, is that the board
of education considers itself more solidly
bound together than ever before