The Washington times., 1910-03-17
BOARD PROTESTS
AGAINST CHARGES
Insists Cost of Education In
Washington Is Compare
lively Small.
CENSUS STATISTICS
QUOTED IN REPORT
Statements of Representative
Peters AS TO Extrava-
gance Denied.

That the cost Of education IN the Dis
tict OF Columbia. when compared with
the various other matters In the mu-
nicipal budget, is not high. is the con-
tention Of the Board Of Education. II
has figures 20 show that the reference
in Congress about the board being high
y eXtTavagant was misleading and
uncalled for. and that on the contrary
the board has been a most economical
and bUsinesslike body In the matter Of
expenses.
The members Of the board were in a
happy frame Of mind yesterday after
noon when they voted to accept the re-
port Of W. Y. Cox, denying the charge
made by Representative Peters of ex-
travagance and showing the low cost
Of school work I'm Washington com
pared with the cost in a number Of
other large cities.
Mr.. Cox had paid a visit to the Cen
sus Office and supplied himself with a
lot of figures and statistics upon which
10 make his report.
Cost Compared IN Many Cities.
He offered figures to show that in
los cities In the United States 29.5 per
cent Of the tOta amount appropriated
cation, while I'm Washington, the per
ceutagc was only 2S2 per cent. This.
ne pointed out is not only below the
average but includes two separate school
systems, which is not the case in the
large majority Of the cities
In another list, Nr. Cox showed that
OF the sixty largest cities, Washington
stauds hfty-th rd in the percentage of
school app-opr ations compared with the
municipal expenses. Baltimore is nifty
second.
MT. Cox concluded by saying that the
board has every reason TO feel salts
ned that IL is operating below the
average cost and that the statements
made to the contrary have been uisIead-
ing He characterized the criticism in
congress as being simply a lot Of
cheap talk"
Regardless Of this criticism. we will
continue 10 ask for appropriations TO
build school buildings and to make the
old ones proper TO house children. until
the children Of the National Capital are
well taken care off, he said.
Teachers in Outside Work.
The question Of teachers in the public
schools iadulging in outside employment
not IN connection with their school
work was before the board After much
discussion, during which r. r. Horner
opposed the practice, the matter was
referred TO Superintendent Stuart.
SnOwdcn Ashford, the municipaI archi-
rect, was referred 10 in a sarcastic man
ner by several members OF the board.
when the committee on building and
sites made its report and called atteu-
uon 20 what il termed bad estimating
on the part Of the architect for certain
schools.
An envelope contribution To be carried
on by the school children. the proceeds
from which are 10 go toward the Wash
lhgion Playground Associations fund
was authorized
The complaint Of citizens IN the south
east section Of the city. regarding the
alleged discrimination by teachers I'm
the matter Of grading In the Dent and
Brent schools. did not come before the
board. and will not he considered until
a protest is put in the form Of a pc
titiOn
Secretary Hine announced that five
scholarships I'm Syracuse University are
open 10 the various high schools in the
District.
According TO a recommendation made
ny superintendent Stuart IL is likely that
each high school viii hold separate com
mencement exercises this year.