Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-08

present method is that of doing a poor
best with the money provided. The COM
in 1910 by the board Of education that
| experience had taught them that the
| janitor's service had been satisfactory.
Evidence of Incompetency.
The evidence shows that while there
are some good men in the janitOr service,
| many of them are incompetent for the
work they have to do, and there are
| very good firemen.'
That a letter paid force from which
a higher efficiency could be properly de-
manded would be a good investment.
Insofar as limited funds have prevented
the board of education from employing
higher class Of men to take charge of
| valuable heating apparatus they cannot
be criticised for unsatisfactory results
The business methods of the office of
| the board of education receive COM
mendation nowhere in the report.
1t says:
The management of the business
Office OF the board of education has
been incompetent. The president Of the
board generously contributed his time
amid many cares, but cannot be ex-
pected; under the present system, to
normal to expect that for salary to
the secretary of $4,000, an officer can
be secured competent to handle eff
cient!y the large expenditure and the
complex management Of SO great a
business. The inefficiency of the bust
ness side of the board Of education is
an example of penny wisdom and
pound foolishness.'
The subcommittee recommends that
the post or secretary to the board be
changed to that OF business manager
for the school system. He would be
under the supervision of the superin-
tendent OF schools, with salary of
1t,
board of education. the report refers
to the present alleged system of pur-
chasing for the board of education"
and describes the requisition method
now In use as "perfunctory." The
board OF education has asked five times
for superintendent of supplies and
to the extent that this officer would
have improved matters the board of
The question will be solved, says the
report, when the board gets the services
of good business man (who cannot be
had for 5000 per annum), who will keep
will have nothing elese to do but that.
II this is Well done there should be no
question that the present system would
work without any exceptional friction or
difficulty
The old row between the board of edu-
cation and the municipal architect would
cease, says the report "by the adoption
OF better business methods by the board
Oh educatlon and the provision OF COM
petent force Of janitors."
The form Of contract used by the Dis
trict leaves the quantity to be purchased
eventually an indeterminate matter The
report says 1t is of doubtful wisdom and
that it has led in the past in other cities
to collusive bidding under which fraud
was perpetrated. 1t has in the District
operated to work Injustice
The recommendations in the report
cover in detail plan Of bidding by con-
tractors, specifying that the lowest bid.
der shall always be the successful one
except only by formal action Of the Com
missioners on the written recommends
ton of the officer in charge of the depart
ment for whose use the purchase is
made.
The fire hose situation as outlined by
the committee would be prohibited if the
Of the report were made
law. A cabinet maker to keep school fur
niture In order Is urged by the report.