Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-18
JANIT0RS ARE DISCUSSED
CAPT. OYSTER GIVES VIEWS


CAPT. OYSTER GIVES VIEWS
supt. Davidson Challenges Presi-
dents Message Wherein System
Was Called Too Expensive.
All the old disputes between the board
of education and Municipal Architect
Ashford were aired before a subcom-
nittee of the House District committee.
Representative Redheld, chairman. to-
day. including the old question Of wheth-
er or not the school janitors are efficient.
why 1t costs SO much to heat the schools.
why the Washington schools cost more
than other schools. II they do. and sew
eral other questions.
Capt. Oyster, q witness for the first
time before the investigating committee.
produced affidavits to deny absolutely
many Of the innuendoes and charges that
have been made against his adainistra-
ton by witnesses before the subcommit-
tee. He was distinctly nettled whenever
the subject Of janitors was preached. but
at the same time he had prepared q
voluminous statement showing the basis
Of his argument.
Supt Davidson was q witness also. He
challenged the figures in the Presidents
message Of December 26, 1910. wherein
Washington schools were said to be too
expensive and said the comparisons In
the table did not compare"
Mr.. Redfield brought out the fact that
the school officials all agree that the
janitor service Is not as good as 1t should
be, and he also dwelt on the fact that
janitors are expected. in ADDITION TO car
ing for furnaces, to help the school prin-
cipaIs maintain discipline on the play
ground.
Opening Of Hearing.
snowden Ashford, municipal architect:
Alonzo Tweedale. auditor for the Dis
trict. and r. H. Horner. member of the
board Of education. had been summoned
by Representative Redfeld, chairman Of
the subcommittee. and were present, with
several employees of their departments.
when the hearing opened at 1880 O'Clock
this morning. Capt. Oyster. president OF
the board of education; Superintendent OF
Of Schools Davidson and Harry Hine.
secretary Of the board Of education. APP
very far.
Capt oyster was the first witness The
matter Of the military system Of the high
schools was touched on first. Mr.. Red
field inquired about Mai Arthur Brooks'
connection with the colored high schools.
asking whether Brooks had been absent
with President TAFT on a long trip.
He takes trips at times and has per-
Mr.. Redt,sM asked # he mad ever been
absent for several months. and Capt
Oyster read records of the board to show
he had been absent several drill! days. Mr..
Redheld went into the absence OF Maj.
Brooks and asked for a detailed state
ment.
He asked II Brooks had been absent
two months in 1911 with the President
Hands In Statement.
Representative Redfeld then dropped
tine Brooks matter and asked il Capt.
oyster had any statement to make re-
sarding criticisms that had been made in
the testimony against the board of edu-
cation. Capt Oyster handed him = vola-
r,inous typewriter statement.
Mr.. Redheld read It The first para
graph stated the boards side Of the old
light about Temperature in some Of the
three experts had fused with a school
heating apparatus for three days. with
no success the janitor pointed out that
there was q defect in the heating sys-
tenn, and that when repaired the school
had been heated with perfect satisfac-
ton.
Reply to Charges.
Capt. Oyster aleo had inserted q reply
TO the, charge that the janitor Of the
Garfield School had sold ashes from the
school
The statement included afidavits to the
effect that the janitor did not sell the
public's ashes.
Accusation Attracted Notice.
This accusation against the janitor has
received much attention from the officials
of the engineer department Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia.
Capt. Oyster said the estimates made by
Snowden Ashford on the matter of heat
ing schools were too low. Instead Of 10
days OF fires In the schools Capt. Oyster
said 2le was nearer the number. These
figures have a great bearing on the con-
troversy In the District government as
TO whether the schools use too much coal
Gait Oyster produced tables Of dates and
hgures to show that he is right and that
the critics are wrong.
The statement defended the practice OF
keeping fires in schools on Saturdays and
Sundays. Defense of janitors was gone
into in the captains statement. The
statement declared that the District
schools are getting as good janitors as
they are allowed to pay for.
Capt. Oyster said the board Of educa-
ton had tried to get higher salaries. and
that Mr.. Ashford had not discovered any
thing new when he complained OF poor
pay for tanitors. But, he said, CONGRESS
VIII not appropriate more money for bet
ter janitors.
No Money for Caretakers.
Criticism had been made that the prop
erty OF the schools is not properly cared
for. Capt. Oyster replied that the board
knew expert caretakers were needed, but
they had been baked In their efforts to
do better by lack Of appropriations and
lack OF help from the District govern
ment. Lack OF clerical help was dweit
on to q considerable extent.
A statement that floor oil had beer
used to lubricate gas engine at the
Amidon School was vigorously denied
Henry Stoy. superintendent of repairs
had made the original statement
Capt. Oyster also related the histor,
Of the boards requests for coal moneJ
for the last eight years.
Il want to say" he said. that oul
appropriation for coal includes also "a.
and electric light. The cost for heatinl
per pupil at present is $1.5e. Eight year.
ago II was $2.3l per pupil, showing very
clearly there is economy practiced."
Coal Bills Higher.
Mr. Redfield said that there was an In
nrSa