Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-05
|OIH|NG BACK DAz MOI TORE1URN FIVE SOON TO QUIT
Publishes An Denies Report That He Will But Four OF Education Board
eter Evidence Go Back to Mexico Members Will Remain.
"CANDDAE FRANCE SEND SHIP AWAIT APPROPRIATION BILL
March South Urged Before Step Taken
Mrs Muse
A. MunseyLa Last
President
But Four of Education Board
Members Will Remain.
AWAIT APPROPRIATION BILL
Changes in Organic Act Also to Be
Urged Before Step Is Taken.
CAPT. OYSTER ONE TO RESIGN
Hoover, Tunnel, Mrs. Mussey and
Mrs. Hoeke Others-Blair
May Be President.

That five members of the nine who
compose the board of education of the
District of Columbia are to tender their
designations became known today. Those
who are to step out are Capt James F.
Oyster, president of the board: Mrs Ellen
Spencer Mussey. vice president: William
D. Hoover. chairman of two of the most
important committees: William V. Tun-
nell and Mrs. Elizabeth Hoeke.
The designations of Mr.. Hoover and
Mrs. Mussey have been expected almost
weekly for the last two months and it
has been only the earnest solicitation of
DR.. William NJ. Davidson, superintendent
of schools, which has prevented them
from severing their connection with the
board of education until the present Dis
trict appropriation bill has been passed
served three terms on the board, has
many times expressed his intention of re-
signing, but the opportune moment has
not presented itself
Ill Health Prompts Mrs. Hoeke. !
her recent bereavement in the death of
her husband are the natural reasons for
her wishing to lay aside the heavy du-
ties which fall on the shoulders of any
one Of the nine who regulate the enor-
Sohn01 nrnhIona nf ha nictr -; of
Columbia DR.. Tunnels resignation is
expected because he has served a full
term on the board and it is understood
he does not seek reappointment by the
Supreme Court Of the District of Co
lumbia.
Just what program will be followed in
rendering their designations is known only
to those five members 1t is quite GER
tain. however, that none will resign until
after the appropriation bill has been
enacted. When they do step down it also
is understood they will recommend GER
tain changes in the organic act which
created the present board of education.
They Will not recommend, however, that
the control of the schools be placed under
a director OF education who would be
subordinate to the Commissioners.
Although the wholesale dropping out of
the five members named has an ominous
look it is difficult to connect their action
with any unpleasantness. The resisna-
tions will be rendered because the men,
bers concerned tired out with their
school work and will have the chance to
resign at an opportune moment.
Delay Their designations.
The new terms would start in July, and
the short interval between the time that
Congress passes the appropriation bill and
the last day of June is scarcely ever an
important one in the history of school
affairs here.
1t was learned today that Mrs. Mussey
had been contemplating resignation for
several weeks. but that DIR. Davidson and
Capt. oyster had asked her to remain
until the present problems had been set
tied. Mr.. Hoover has been about to re-
sign for several months, but he has been
so earnest a supporter of the boards
policies and has done much practical
work that he has been importuned to
stay.
The difficulty of having more than half
the board of education resign at once has
caused Capt. Oyster and Supt Davidson
considerable thought and worry in the
last few weeks When Mr. Hoover began
to talk about resigning both the presi-
dent of the board and the superintendent
of schools urged him not to take any such
move for a few weeks, at least Capt.
Oyster has in Mr.. Hoover firm hacker
of the boards present policies.
Then Mrs. Mussey let it be known she
wanted to resign, saying she had too
much work of her own to attend to. and
as she. too. is d supporter OF the boards
policies, she was asked to remain longer
until after congressional action on the
school estimates, at least.
Blair May Be President.
Mr.. Hoover did not want to resign i'm
mediately following Capt. Oyster. as it
would appear that he resigned because
the president Of the board did, and Capt
Oyster did not want to have every one
resign at the same time. But when the
program is arranged, his resignation may
surely be expected.
Members who are to resign are of the
opinion that Henry +. Blair viii be the
| next president of the board of education.
Other than Mr.. Blair the members of the
| board remaining will be Ernest H. Dan
ie. Richard r. Horner and Mrs. Caro-
| line w. Harris
The loudest voices raised in the praise
| of the present board of education are
those of the two thousand teachers of the
public school system. The personal
| friendships existing between the teachers
and the board are evidence of the close
| relations existing between the executive
officers and the young women in the ranks
| of the public educators. That the board
| has had a fine record is evidenced by the
cOmmendation Of the teachers themselves.
| 1t is a noteworthy and undeniable fact
| that the schools are in much better con-
dition than they were when the board
was first established several years ago.
| Law Hampers Schools.
| The members of the board will ask for
changes in the school laws. because they
believe the schools are hampered by the
present anglements Of the organic act
! They have had great difficulty in maxi
/ ing changes, appointments and transfers