Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-18

failed to ascertain. The latest report OF
the board. that for the years 1909 1910.
was produced. Mr.. Redfield wanted to
know why the board was two years late
in getting out its report. Mr.. Hine said
the clerical force was numerically weak.
Mr.. Redheld pursued this Line OF inquiry.
Mr.. Hine said the work on reports was
always put aside for other more important
work
do you say" said Mr.. RedAeld, ~that
the service In its present shape Is not
satisfactory"
Il do" replied Capt Oyster. Il think
we would save money IL we paid better
wages for janitors. We would get better
men. capable men. and would make a
saving In fuel"
You want US to understand you are
not getting good men,"
I'VE get the best we can for the
money"
Capt. Oyster told Of the janitor at Reno
school.
Pointed Out Defect.
'For weeks this man was suspected by
the engineer department Of the District
government Of stealing coal. They put
detectives over there to watch him. We
could not heat the building. yet the coal
disappeared rapidly. Finally. this janitor,
to whom we paid $25 a month, had sense
enough to point out to the experts OF the
District government defect in tho heat
ting apparatus"
Mr.. Redneld read q list Of duties of
janitors. 1t consumed several minutes.
He wanted to know whether placing the
janitors under the engineer department
would incur moral loss" to the dis
cipline Of the schools. as testified to by
A. T. Stuart previously.
Capt. Oyster explained that q janitor
has to be q trustworthy character, fit to
associate with children.
"At recess time" asked Mr.. Redfeld,
ARE not children put under the janitor's
care?
II don't know" answered Capt. Oyster.
II am not there"
rs 1t fact that the principal Of the
new normal school asked to have the
heating plant arranged 80 that the
janitor could take care OF the children
at lunch timer"
II don't know. Ask Mr.. Ashford"
Janitors Changed Often.
AT the Western High School were
the janitors changed five times last
winter"
Five times or more"
Because the janitor was called on to
assist in the lunchroom."
IT don't know"
Wasn't q new engine placed in the
week."
II don't know" said Capt. Oyster. "If
1t was wrecked 1t was defective when
placed there"
supt. Davidson was sworn. He said
janitors assisted" In keeping order on
the Fairgrounds. but that 1t was the un-
derstanding the janitor should not lose
time from his heating apparatus.
Mr.. Redfleld brought out the fact that
janitors, even though not good mechanics.
n lad f,eov, he noNf -
sist In the Fairgrounds.
Custom Is General.
And" said Supt Davidson, ut is the
custom everywhere in America"
Representative Redfield made the point
that janitors, II called away half an
put ON too much coal to tide over their
Supt. Davidson said no janitor need ever
be taken away from his furnace for
half an hour at time.
Mr.. Redfield produced janitors' instruc-
tons from other cities. He asked If
they were not concise and accurate COM
pared with the ''hazy'' instructions Of
the Washington janitorial corps.
Representative Redheld produced the
Presidents message Of December %, 1910,
with a table showing the public schools
d. uS0uS0utdSe Will SCHOOLS OF Ot0ef
cities. This was the table prepared by
Maj. Judson and furnished the President
by him. The cost per capita for teach
ing pupils In Washington was shown
In this table to be at the top of the list
DR.. Davidson was asked his opinion.
Do Not Compare.
couldn't complete an answer in half
q day." said DR.. Davidson. "But those
alleged comparisons do not compare No
city can be judged by the per capita
method
He said Milwaukee and Washington,
for instance, could not be compared, al
though the population Is about the same.
This is because the school enrolment is
entirely different.
He took a list Of cities and pointed
out great differences in the school situa-
ton.
washington is different from all other
cities There are only two cities at all
comparable to US. Seattle is one OF them
THE only just comparison is to find
the average cost per pupil based on the
average attendance. That set of figures
there in your hand is a striking mis-
statement of fact"