The Washington times., 1912-07-18
SCHOOL JAN|TORS
ARE DEFENDED BY
. BOARD PRESIDENT
Captain Oyster Declares
Men Are Best'to Be Had
for Money.

The merits and demerits of the school
janitor was the subject of hearing
held today by the Redheld subcommittee
,of the House District Committee at
which Capt. James F. oyster, president
Of the Board Of Education, appeared to
answer the charges of officials of the
Municipal Architects office that care
less janitors are responsible for the
unsatisfactory conditions Of many
school furnaces. Superintendent David
son was also witness. He denied
charges that the Washington schools
are the most expensive in the country,
challenging the figures in the Presidents
message of December rs, 1910. Mr..
Davidson said the comparisons in the
table did not compare" and declared
1t was impossible to compare school
systems because conditions in the va
rious cities are always different.
The figures carried in the Presidents s
message are understood to have been
obtained from the District building.
Captain oysters testimony reopened
the old wrangle between the Board of
Education and the Engineer Depart
ment Of the District. The president Of
the board seemed nettled at times when
referring to the implied charges made
at previous hearings by those who took
the Engineer Departments views on the
subject Of school furnaces and janitors-
Captain Oyster entered n general de-
Tense Of the school jsnitor, saying, that
1t was impossible to get better janitor
| service at the low compensation allowed
under the law.
Then it is a fact" said Mr.. Redfield,
that the school officials in general
aQraa that the IN is nat af
its highest point of Efficiency"
I'VE get the best men we can for the
money" answered Captain Oyster.
Congressman Redfeld then proceeded
by long series of questions, to bring
out that janitors, in addition to their
mechanical work, are expected to assist
the principals of the school buildings in
grounds, fhe effect Of this line Of in
quiry was to lead up to a statement by
Mr.. Redfeld which indicated he was not
at all pleased with that state of AFFAIRS.
Superintendent Davidson interposed a
remark that lit was a custom which
prevailed in every city in the United
States"
Congressman Redfield tourned to Cap
tain Oyster again
"ls It not true" he asked, that the
tanitor at the Western High School was
changed five times last year,"
Five times or more" promptly re-
sponded the president of the Board OF
Education, rather tartly.
And is It not also true that the
changes and dissatisfaction arose be-
cause the principal there insisted on
having the Janitor help in the lunch
room?' continued Mr.. Redfeld.
II don't know, I wasn't there" said
Mr.. oyster.
WAS not a new engine placed in the
Western High School at the beginnina
Of the last school year, and was II
not ruined completely within a week.
pursued Mr.. Redfeld.
"I do not know" answered Captain
Oyster but II it was ruined 1t was
because 1t was defective when Mr. Ash.
ford put. It there"
Congressman Redheld asked why the
coal bills for the schools were con
stantly on the increase, and Captain
Oyster replied that the number OF schoo
buildings had increased by twenty II
the last seven years. He denied the
statement of Municipal Architect Ash
ford that fires should be maintained II
schools only 140 days in the year. HI
produced records to show that 2l9 day
OF the past school years were sufficient
ly low in temperature to require fur
mace fires. Captain Oyster also denied
the previous testimony that careless
janitor service" was responsible fo
large coal bills.