Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-07
DENY DESK CHARGE
Witnesses Appear Before
Trade Board Committee.
ACCUSERS DO NOT APPEAR
Mr.. Ashford Wants Other School
Matters Taken Up First.
SAMPLE FOLLOWED, IT IS SAID
After Meeting Mr.. Cans States Re
port Will Be Submitted
Within a Week.
ACCUSERS DO NOT APPEAR
SAMPLE FOLLOWED, IT Is SAID

Charges made by Snowden Ashford, mu-
nicipal architect, and Her bert F. l.. Allen
that desks had been furnished the public
schools during the last four years OF a
grade that did not come up to specifica-
lions, and that the District had lost
thousands of dollars In consequence. We're
the board of education: James l.. Par
sons, builder and expert in woods: men,
bers Of the committee which receives
and accepts the desks for the schools and
by representatives of the firms which
supply the desks. at meeting last night
Of the subcommittee of the public school
committee of the Board of Trade APP
pointed to investigate the matter
Neither Mr.. Ashford nor Mr.. Allen was
present to substantiate their charges.
Mr.. Ashford wrote to Isaac Cans, chair
man OF the committee. that he would
not apepar before that body to take up
the matter of the desks alone. He said
that in the report which he and Mr..
Allen had submitted to the committee
there We're many other matters of greater
Importance, and unless the committee
would take them up he would not attend
the meetings. Mr.. Allen. over the tele-
phone, informed Mr.. Cans that he would
not De III IoWT last IlSHt Sbu,
could not attend the meeting.
Wants Matter Sifted.
Capt Oyster informed the committee
that in view of the fact that no one was
present to press the charges against the
board of education, he did not feel that
the board was called on to give its side
of the case. but that in the interests of
~ haoa he willing
to have the matter sifted to the bottom,
he was willing to give the committee all
the information regarding the desks he
could.
Capt. Oyster declared, however, that
men who would make serious charges
against the board of education, and then
not appear to stand by the charges. or
would not withdraw them. were not hit
for office. In his opinion. the committee
should recommend Mr.. Ash1oru re-
moval from office.
The charges in regard to the desks,
which were laid before the public school
committee at its last meeting by Mr.
Ashford and Mr.. Allen, were to the ef-
feet that the specifications for the desks
called for cherry desks, and that during
the last four years. with the exception OF
two schoolrooms. the desks which had
been supplied and accepted were mace
of other and cheaper woods.
Capt Oyster submitted copies of the
specifications last night. and was borne
out in his statement that the spec1hca-
tons called for cherry-topped desks. but
did not specify that the entire desk boxes
should be of cherry Testimony was
given however, to the fact that the en-
tire boxes of the desks were of cherry,
except In the case of a new kind OF desk,
a few of which had been purchased dur
ing the last year to try. In the case OF
those desks. the tops and sides were
cherry, but not the bottoms.
SAYS All Were Like Sample.
w B. Moses & Sons, who, as agents
for the American Seating Company, sup
piled many of the desks, were represent
ed by Joseph Hummer, who stated that
all the desks supplied the schools were
similar to the sample which had been
selected under the specifications, and
to this effect. A letter from the American
Seating Company to the same effect was
read.
Percy NJ. Hughes, assistant superin-
tendent Of schools; j. A. Chamberlain,
Superintendent of manual training, and
II. +. McQeeny. committee to inspect
all school furniture. testified to the eff
feet that the desks were up to specitica
tions.
Capt Oyster submitted affidavits from
the school Janitors to the effect that
employees of the municipal architects Of
flee had entered the schools without ask
ing permission from any one and had
gouged number of the desks to learn IL
they were really cherry.
Mr.. Cans said after the meeting that
his subcommittee would frame its report
and submit it to the entire public school
committee within week