Evening star., 1912-01-20
House Refuses to Insert Pro-
visions in District Bill.
MANN ASKS FOR FAIRNESS
Party Lines Drawn on Educational
Propositions.
CARLIN STANDS By DISTRICT
Colored High School and New
Building for Central Go Out on
Points Of Order.

Columbia appropriation bill in the House
of Representatives today the two political
parties took opposite sides on the school
question. the republicans. under the
leadership of Representative Mann OF
Illinois. voting solidly to Increase the
school appropriation and to provide for
additional buildings recommended by the
board of education and the Commission
ers while the democrats stood by the
committee and resisted these attempts.
Immediately after consideration of the
hill was resumed today Mr.. Mann de-
manded a vote by tellers on his amend
ment TO appropriate $4,000 for an ad-
dition to the Chevy Chase School. which
was pending when the House adjourned
yesterday afternoon. point of no
quorum having been made just after tho
Mann amendment had been rejected. 1t
was voted down again today by vote
OF 55 to %.
Mr.. Mann promptly introduced another
amendment to appropriate $4,000 for
four-room addition to the Birney School.
Pleads for Fair Treatment.
'Tn making their Recommendations. this
year" said Mr.. Mann. 1.-THE board Of
education and the Commissioners recon-
mended six new school buildings. none
of which the appropriations commitfe fee
saw At to allow. The House has voted
down the proposed additi m for the Chevy
Chase School Mr.. Saunders OF Virginia
said yesterday there was more reason for
the construction OF an addition to the
Birney School than to the Chevy Chase
School.
'I have no doubt he will be able to give
excellent reasons this morning why the
Birney School addition should not be con-
structed. Any one can give reasons when
determined to find them. The District OF
Columbia should have fair treatment. We
certainly should provide some new build
ings. I don't believe they would have
been recommended II they were not need
ed. / would take the Judgment Of the ap-
preparations committee il they had rec
commended single new building or q sin
gle addition.
But this situation is plainly the result
of the committees determination not to
make these appropriations. under the mis-
taken theory that the people OF the coun-
try will sustain their false theories OF
economy. This whole business Is merely
committee strikes at the school facilities
for the people Of the land I must raise
my voice in opposition.
Mr.. Saunders. replying. said II was not
the purpose Of the appropriations COM
mittee to provide money when it was not
necessary. The committee. he said, had
made an investigation and found that no
new buildings or additions were neces-
arrangement Of the school district in
which the Birney School was located
every child could be accommodated with
out going an unreasonable distance.
Not Enough Seats for Pupils.
Reading from the hearings before the
appropriations committee when the Dis
trdct bill was being prepared, Mr.. Mann
pointed out that in the Birney School,
which is attended by colored children
there were 100 pupils In the main build
ing, with seats for only no. and that
conditions in the annex were almost as
bad.
do these gentlemen Of the appropria-
tions committees" Mr.. Mann asked, take
the position that these children should
not have seats? The fact that they are
reason for supplying them with educa-
tional facilities"
Comparison With Baltimore.
Representative Burleson Of Texas, ir.
charge of the bill. insisted that the COM
mittee did not wish to hamper the schools
in any way. and declared that political
considerations had not entered into the
matter of fixing the appropriations for
the. white and colored schools. He re-
ferred to the fact that Washington had
195 school buildings, to take care of an
enrolment of 5000 pupils, while Balti-
more, which also had q separate system
for white and coiored children, had only
202 buildings to take care OF an enroll
ment of 50 1853 pupils.
What has Baltimore got to do with
this situation?" demanded Representative
Payne of New York.
Baltimore has got this much to do
with it," responded Mr.. Burleson, 1--WE
use Baltimore for purposes Of comparison
just as the President of the United States
used Baltimore for purposes Of compari-
son when he declared the school system
of the National Capital to be unduly ex.
iravagant."
Mr.. Payne insisted that comparison with
Baltimore had nothing to do with the
specific Charge of overcr0wding at the
Birney school.
This question was all fought out yes
terday," said Mr.. Burleson. "and sim
liar amendment offered by the gentleman
from Illinois was rejected by vote ol
practically to 1.
ksCiatocut8Itt xyo VI 1Mluucz5Vtd ASk6C
how the situation could be remedied.
BY simply redistricting the city" Mr..
Blrieson replied. Another reason we
didn't take action on these new build
ings and additions at this time." he add
ed, was to give Supt. Davidson a chance
to study the situa ton and work out the
problems involved"
!. Amendment Defeated.
Mr.. Mann's amendment for an addition
10 the Birney School was defeated by a
vote Of - to 81. Mr.. Cariin of Virginia
was the only democrac who voted with
the solid republican side.
Mr.. Mann promptly offered another
amendment proposing an appropriation OF
$4,000 for four-room addition to the
Takoma School.
This" said MIR. Mann, 'is another OF
the schools cited yesterday by the gentle.
man from Virginia (Mr. Saunders) a
more worthy of consideration than ths
Chevy Chase School On all these amend
ments you Will notice that the republican
side votes for the schools.
THE democrats, with the exception o.
the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Carlin)
vote against the schools"
1.-THE republican side Is wrong as usu
al" interrupted Chairman Fitzgerald O
the appropriations committee.
The gentleman from New York has (,
vote with his party" replied Mr. Mann
but in my opinion. he knows these in
creases should be granted.
AT the Takoma School there are a.
ffu