The Washington times., 1910-04-01
Commissioners Approve Gre
alton of Directors In
stead Of Boards.
CONGRESS ADVISED
TO ENACT NEW LAW
Conflict of Authority and Expense
Given AS Cause of
Attitude.

That the Board OF Education and the
Board Of Charities should re abolished
is the opinion Of the Commissioners.
Accompanied by a letter setting forth
their reasons for such action the Com
missiOners today forwarded 10 Congress
A favorable report on the bill introduced
by Representative Peters Of MassCChu-
setts Ito provide for director OF edu-
cation for the District Of Columbia and
for director o1 charities FOR the Dis
trict Of Columbia, ana for other pur-
poses"
The object Of the bill is to abolish the
Board Of Education and the Board Of
Charities and To confer the powers and
duties or said boards upon directors to
be appointed by the Commissioners. The
compensation OF the director OF educa-
tion IS fixed al 500 a year and that Of
the director Of charities az S5D00
Duties Sometimes Conflict.
The Board Of Education consists OF
nine members appointed by the judges
Of the Supreme Court of the District
Of Columbia II has control Of al ques-
uons Of general policy relating to
schools. including matters Of education.
The expenditure Of public school funds
Is placed by law under the direction and
control Of the Commissioners.
1T needs no argument the Commls-
sloners say in letter 10 Representa-
tive =. W Smith. chairman OF The House
Committee on the District OF Columbia,
to demonstrate the Disadvantages Of
The existing divided jurisdictions and re-
sponsibllity and the economy and ef-
tcienCy that would result from placing
the whole school administration under
one head.
The line of demar,atiou betv cen the
duties OF the COmmissi iOueTs and those
of the Board of Education is not sharp
~ drawn. and 1t causes frequent CON
ficJs of administration regarding school
matters without any resulting beuehtS
70 tne-Hlistrtct- I'm consequence many
things which are done are accomplished
by compromise in which often the best
results are sacrificed
One Nan Preferred.
The Commissioners appreciate the
voluntary public service that is being
given by the present members OF the
Board Of Education. but believe that a
more businesslike procedure would be
70 have the duties OF this board per
formed by a high-Class official a direc-
tor OF education, possessed Of broad ex-
ecuuve experience and ability.
The Commissioners believe that MANY
economies could be effected under a dif-
ferent system Of administration OF odu-
cauonal matters As an illustration the
commissioners would state that the
Board or Education submitted to tine
Commissioners estimates for the fiscal
year 1911 mounting to S412ZImJ0
In preparing their estimates the Com
mlSslOnerS were required bE law To keen
the total WITHIN an amount double the
estimated rev enueS for the year The
estimates Of the Board Of Education
seemed 10 the Commissioners exceeding
ly large, and out Of proportion. consid-
erlng the total means available and
considering also the. sums expended else
where for educational purposes.
The Commissioners tnfreuuon ,slIea
upon tho Board OF Education 10 reduce
us estimates, bur met with "a refusal,
thus placlnE me duty on the Commission
frs 20 make the reduction. although un-
Acquainted with the items that could be
most advantageous reduced
Would Reduce Expense.
The Commissioners believe that rho
cost OF the school system al the present
time is unduly large. as would seem 10
be apparent II comparison be made be
tween expenditures for schools I'm the
District and elsewhere.
1t occurs 10 the Commissioners that
the farest basis OF cOmpar rison is Inv
relative cost Of pupil per annlm In
washington that cost was $5f15 i'm 1910
an increase Of gas In one wear A.
coTdlng TO the most recently published
hgures OF the Census Bureau. the cost
OF education per pupil in other cities of
the size comparable TO washington
avera Ees t2g 80.
ihe same argument as TO the econ
omy Of administration in the handling
OF educsH Honal matters that vyo,lld re-
suit from the substitution If :. 1.rac-C-
or education Tor the Board OF Educa-
ton, would apply with equal force to
the administration Of charities. Ire
commissioners believe thai these i'm
Portant functions should be Gated and
handled IS a business proposition winch
involves Capitalization os resp5nsI-
bllity and authority