Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-28
SCHOOL BOARD UNFIT
Continued From First Page)

tlne again figures have been paTdueQ
before this House showing that cities
of like size, and in which like condi-
tions may be said to apply, are con-
Quoting their school systems at very
much less cost per pupil.
Il make the assertion that every au-
vanced educator in the United States
has declared unequivocally that the
dual system of supervision Is thorough.
1y obsolete. We should nave mere out
one directing head.
Representative Mann OF Illinois asked
Mr.. Burleson IL it were not true tnat
several years ago he favored the propo-
sition, later carried into effect, to take
the power of appointing members of the
board of education away from the Dis
trict Commissioners. and placing 1t IN the
hands of the justices of the Supreme
Court of the District.
THAT is true" replied Mr.. Burleson. II
favored that proposition because the
board of education at that time in power
was even more inefficient and incOmpe-
tent If such a thing can be possible, than
this present board of education
Mr.. Pearre Cites Mistake.
Representative Pearre OF Maryland next
took the floor, declaring that he enter
tanned definite views on the subject under
discussion. He declared that the great
mistake that had been made in connection
with the school system was identical with
jurisdiction of the District committee of
tn House. of which he is a member, had
been limited, SO that the committee can
only legislate generally, while the appro-
priatiOn committee of the House has
charge of the District annual budget. This
lack of correlation he considered an evil.
so it is with regard to the school sys-
tenn. said Mr.. Pearre. The board of
the Supreme Court of the District. There
are men eminent in the judiciary who
question the constitutional power OF any
judge to exercise any such prerogative.
Mr. Pearre declared that the transfer
of this appointing power to the Supreme
Court of the District was the worst kind
of mistake. He did not consider
judge particularly competent to select
! members of the board Of education. He
considered that the power should be re-
stored to the District Commissioners,
from whom it had been taken.
II am in favor Of this amendment to
change the school system. he said, be
cause it has proved to be an absolute
farce and failure The board Of educa-
ton is inefficient and incompetent"
Points Of Order Continue.
After The Stars report closed yes
terday the House continued its consid-
Grafton Of the District appropriation bill.
reading the measure paragraph by para
graph for amendment. Representatives
Mann Of Illinois. johnson Of Kentucky
and others continued to make points OF
order wherever possible, eliminating a
good deal Of the new matter inserted
by the appropriation committee.
The appropriation committees PROPOSE
ton to appropriate $4,000 for a munich
pal asphalt plant resulted in a great
amount Of discussion. Representative
Mann of Illinois made point OF order
against the paragraph, but after elabo-
nv
Gardner of Michigan. in charge of the
District bill, and other members of the
appropriations committee, he withdrew
But the objection was renewed by Rep
resentative johnson of Kentucky. who.
throughout the entire consideration OF
the bill, displayed a disposition to per-
NIT nothing not now authorized by law
to be inserted in the measure, whether
it would result in economy or be OF oene-
fit to the municipality or not. The point
of order being sustained by the chair as
new legislation not authorized by cur
rent law the asphalt plant provision
went out.
County Roads Item.
A long discussion followed the reading
Of the paragraph appropriating Tor re-
pairs Of county roads, which included au-
thorization for the maintenance OF an
automobile used by the county road
superintendent.
Representative Cox of Indiana, demo-
Graf, who announced that he would not
permit himself to ride In q motor vehicle.
demanded to know why the amount that
might be spent for repairs to TINS auto
mobile had not been limited by the COM
mittee.
"In the last District bill you limited
the amount to $500" cried Mr.. Cox. This
bill does not put Limitation upon it,
Mr. Gardner explained that the commit
tee could not tell until the expiration or
the present fiscal year how much 1t cost
during the year to keep the vehicle In
running order. Consequently no limita-
ton was possible. Mr.. Cox persisted IN
his criticism of the committees action
couple Of pages in the Congressional
Record.
mo living man can tell what an auto
mobile will cost for even q year, Mr..
Gardner again and again explained. The
expense for tires the first year would be
comparatively small, but after year
they begin to wear out and they do not
always wait year to show their weak
ness
''Sometimes they do not even last the
first day." growled Mr.. Cox.
"And $3.50 is not going very far in the
keep of an automobile" suggested Mr.
Gardner. referring to the limit OF expen-
diture for repairs that Mr.. Cox wanted
fixed.
"But have they not a guarantee Of so
many miles," Mr.. Cox innocently In
CURED
HAS the gentleman any figures on the
subiect?' inquired Representative Taylor
Of Ohio.
Never Rides in Automobile.
II have never allowed myself to ride
In an automobile rejoined Mr.. Cox.
Il understand said Mr.. Taylor. rs
the gentleman not rather non-eApert
witness in this natter
Finally Mr.. Cox persisted in his point
of order against the maintenance OF the
motor vehicle in question and seemed
somewhat chagrined when he was
promptly overruled by the chair.
There was considerable discussion OF
the paragraph directing the Commits
sioners to prepare new highway plan
for that portion OF the District lying pc
tween Mount Pleasant street, Irving
street, Adams Mill road. Quarry road and
Columbia road, not less than two-thlrds
Of the damages to be assessed by the con-
domination jury as benefits.
Chairman Tawney of the appropriations
committee explained that this is intended
for the accommodation and benefit of the
public by giving to the people another en-
trance, which is very desirable, into Rock
Creek Park. That is the purpose of It
or course if they take private property
for that purpose they must compensate
the owner of the property"
Mr. Gardner EXPLAINS.