The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-06
CONTROL OF UTILITIES
URGED BY PRESIDENT
Taft in Message Congress- Also Suggests Changes in
the School System-Woud Abolish the School
Board

| Il IS said that their present duties arc
now absorbing and would prevent tbs
proper discharge BY them Of these new
functions, but their present Jurtsdic-
ton brings them so closely and fire.
quentlY in contact with these corpora
tons and makes them TO know in suci
detail how the corporations are dis
charging their duties under the law and
teTest that the Commissioners are Pc
CuliaFly fitted to do this work, and
hope that Congress will impose IL upol
them BY enTuStinS them with powers
10 those Of the public utilities commits
sion Of New York city or similar boards
in Massachusetts
Question of Schools.
President Taft goes into the school
question more extensively than he goes
into airy other District question consid-
cred ia his message. He recommends
most emphatiCally the adjustment of
the school board and the placing OF the
schools under the Jurisdiction of the
District Commissioners, and suggests
the creation OF a superintendent Of edu-
cation. TO be appointed by the Commits
sioners, and OF a board Of advisers. to
be appointed by the District Supreme
Court or .y the President.
4 table on school expenses OF Wash
ingtOn and other cities. compiled oy
Commissioner Judson, il embodied in
the message, and is usec 5v Mr. Taft
as a basis for concluding that the ex-
pense for public schools n Washington
Is greater than necessary, and that il
would be less # the Commissioners con
trOlled the school system
That part Of che message dealing with
schools follows
I do not think the present control
OF the school system Of Washington
cOmmcnds itself as the most efficient
and economical and thorough instru-
H1ent Tor the carrying Oh o. public in
structiOn-
The cost of education in the District
OF Columbia Is thus seen (frOm the
JUdsOn table, TO be excessive as COM
pared with the cost In other cities Of
similar size. and IL IS not apparent
that the results are in general more
satisfactory The average cost per
pupil per day in Washington is about
5 cents, while the. average cost in
thirteen other American cities fairly
comparable with Washington in popu-
lation and standard of education is
about 25.5 cents
For each dollar spent in salaries of
school teachers and officers in the
District about IL days of instruction
per pupil are given. while in the thfr-
teen cities referred 20 each dollar ex-
pended for salaries affords on the av-
eraEe 6-S days Of instruction For the
current hscal year the estimates Of the
Board Of Education amounted TO about
three-quarters OF the entire revenue
locally collected for District purposes.
If I may say so, there seems to be
a lack Of definite pTan In the expan-
sion OF the school system and the ersc-
ton Of new buildings and Of proper
economy IN the use or these buildings
that indicates the necessity for the
concentration of control. All plans for
Improvement and expansion in the
school system are with the school
Board. while the limitation of expenses
IS with the District Commissioners
Il think IL would be much better to
put complete control and responsibility
in the District Commissioners. and then
provide board Of school visitors, to be
appointed by the Supreme Court OF
the District or by the President. from
the different school districts OF Wash
ington. who, representing local needs.
shall meet and make recommendations
to the Commissioners and to the Super
intendent OF Educadon--an educator Of
ability and experience who should be