Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-13
aty II IT had increased the number OF

duty If it had increased the number OF
schools
The per capita cost Of the school sys-
TENS of the District and SIX other cities
were then referred to by MI. buriesU son
lie said the per capita cost IN = the g. D' IN
Buffalo, $5.97: In San Francisco. 49,
in Milwaukee. $4.97; in New Orleans
S3s1, and in Indianapolis. $4.N.
Representative Fowler OF Illinois w2nt-
ad ,o know what was the cause Of the
excessive per capita cost OK the local
school system.
An excess of buildings" Mr.. Burieson
replied. land high salaries to school OF
iicals as a result or the Iee1s'auoh PiO
vding longevity pay
Police Force Large Enough.
Mr.. Burleson said that another thing
for which the committee which prepared
the bin had been subjected to criticism
was on account Of the Recommendation
that the police force had been reduced
by twenty men.
The Commissioners estimated for hf-
teen additional patrolmen," he SAID put
we thong the force was already 100 Dis
and should he cut.
Continuing, Mr. Burleson said that In
addition to the police force or the city;
the watchmen of the public buiid1ngS ana
parks contribute to preservation Oh the
peace and supplement the force OF guard
ians of the city He COMMENDED that
Washington, not being commercial city
docs not need the police force OF such
city as Cleveland, Ohio for example, or
Buffalo.
Washington Is a tame quiet. peaceful.
Orderly city said MIR. Bureson, and
moreover there are the troops at Fort
Myer TO be called upon In case or riot
He cited the case of Baltimore. which
he claimed to be twice the size or WASH
ington. and with ony go policemen,
against Washingtons $50. ,
Wants Model Of Economy.
1T is the desire of every man." said
Mr.. Burleson. that Washington city
should be made m~del city. i voice
the idea of every member of our sub
committee. but IT also Is our idea. that 1t
should be a model of economical admin
istration.
In all candor and i'm all fairness" said
Mr. Burleson I'VE bring this bill before
you. not moved by political consideration
I submit this bill to you with the conf
dent belief and expectation that you will
uphold the hands of the committee to
bring about economy"
Mr.. Burleson, answering query. said
that items for new parks were ON tied
from the bill because they will be sub
ject TO points of order as new legislation
Mr.. Taylor's Explanation.
Mr.. Taylor of Ohio. a member Of the
subcommittee. said he does not share the
alarm expressed by citizens over the re-
auctions in the appropriations. He
claimed that the actual cut In the running
expenses of the District of Columbia
amounts to but $467153 and that the re-
mainder of the reduction under the
former year was due to the expiration OF
nNed charges heretofore necessitated.
Mr.. Taylor said he could not believe the
District would suffer from a reduction Of
half million dollars In its running ex-
penses. adding that 1t took several weeks
OF earnest work on the part of the sub
committee to do this pruning.
Speaking of the teachers longevity pay
proves to be less than actually neces-
sary. legal deficiency will be created
ami will be subsequently met.
On the item of schools, he admitted II
is not economy to allow the two school
sites purchased last year to remain va
cant But the great mistake has been that
there have been built too many small
school buildings. which Immediately be-
come overcrowded.
When we start a building" he said.
I'VE shall build one large enough to al
low for the future growth of the terri
tory in which it Is located"
Suspects Something Is Wrong.
Mr.. Taylor said there must. be some
thing wrong in the situation here. when
there are 1900 vacant seats in school
buildings owned by the District, while
the city is paying $4,000 year rentals
for school quarters.
why don't you sell the school property
in the District where the invasion of
business has crowded the residences and
the school children out, and add to the
accommodations in the congested dis
frfn 80 Skad Mr.
Has the school board the right to do
that?' asked Representative Victor Ber-
ger.
Well. Congress has the right" said
Afr. Taylor
He deprecated the overcrowded condi-
tions of the high schools, and said that
the best work could not be obtained on
account of this overcrowding. He sug-
gested that instead of commencing work
on LIE proposed new high school build IN :,
10 accommodate only 1000 pupils a group
of academic buildings should be COM
mencea. which would ultimately provide
for 5000 pupils.
Favors Park Projects.
Il am heartily in favor Of most of the
park projects" declared Mr.. Taylor.
.'One of them is the Lovers Lane project.
winch Will not cost cent, and only
needs our own act to take it over. And
also favor buying the Klingie Ford ad-
ultlOU, ana i want 10 say tndt II We DO
not take it now it will be lost to us for
ever. because ii will be turned into
building lots"
Mr.. Johnson suggested that the Klingle
Ford property Is being offered for less
money than 1t was a year ago. with
more acreage.
Mr.. Taylor caused to be read letter
from former Commissioner mcfarland
taking exception to some statement made
in the colioquy on the floor OF the House
last evening between Mr.. Taylor and
Representative Borland of Missouri re-
Sarding the funded and unfunded debt of
the District. Mr.. Macfarand contended
that some of the remarks in that COL
loquy reflected unjustly upon the former
board of Commissioners.
Criticises Half-and-Half Plan.
During general debate on the bill in the
House yesterday afternoon Chairman
Johnson OF the District committee, secur-
inG time from Representative Burleson Of
Texas. in charge of the measure, made
4 speed j criticism Of the half and half
principle.