Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-12-16
CLASH ON CONTROL
/ OF SCHOOL SYSTEM
Commissioner BroWnfoW and
William T. GalIiher Debate
Subject at Banquet.
HOLD CONFLICTING VIEWS
AS TO PROPOSED CHANGE
Member of Board Of Education In
sists Abolition Would Be
Serious Blunder.

Serious Blunder.
Following statement by Commits
| sioner Brownlow outlining reasons
why the board of District Commission
ers has recommended to Congress the
virtual abolition of the board OF edu-
cation, William T. Galliher. a member
of the board Of education, at a dinner
held last night at the New Ebbitt
House by the Washington Credit Mems
Association, made direct answer to the
contentious of the District heads. as set
forth by Mr.. Brownlow.
Mr. Galliher's reply came just before
the adjournment of the gathering and
was not included in the program for
the evening. 1t was made in spirit
of friendliness. Mr.. Gal1iher said he
realized the improperly of making an
swer to statements made by one who
had been invited to address the asso-
citation, but that he felt it his duty to
speak for the continuation of the pres
emit system of school administration in
the District.
Schools in Good Condition.
Mr.. Galliher insisted that never has
the public school system been in such
a good condition as at present. He
spoke of the power which would be
placed in the hands Of the board of
Commissioners by the proposed change.
IF we might always have as Commits
sioners the gentlemen who now occupy
the positions it might not be offensive"
said Mr. GaIliher. II do not believe the
people Of Washington are willing that the
- =
ed in the Commissioners. Commissioners
come and go, but the school system goes
on for ever. 1t is entirely reasonable that
the power to appoint the members OF the
board of education should be vested In the
justices of the Supreme Court Of the Dis
trict of Columbia, who are appointed for
life.
1.-THE appointment Of the present board
of Commissioners was departure from
the plan of former years when home rule
was recognized here in the District.
When the people of Washington go down
to the District building now to attend 20
business affairs they do not have the feel
ing that existed when they were better
acquainted with the men serving on the
board of Commissioners
Would Be Blow to Schools.
Mr.. Galliher spoke of the services
which have been rendered by James
F. oyster, stating that he accepted the
position of president of the board of
education when the school system here
was in a chaotic state. Today school
conditions in the District are in better
shape than ever before, he said.
THE adoption of the Commissioners
suggestions would mean blow to the
school system from which We could
not soon recover. This I say in the
spirit of friendliness which has ever
characterized my relations with Mr..
Rrowniow and which has ever brought
:. generous response in like manner
from him.
Mr.. Brown1ow introduced his re-
marks by stating that the District
Commissioners believe all officers.
boards or other organizations charged
with the performance of municipal
duties should be subject to the direc
ton and control of the executive heads
of the District government and that
in this contention the Commissioners
are sustained by the experience of
other cities and by the general prog
ress of governmental functions every
where.
Waste in Division of Power.
division of power means waste of
energy; waste of energy means waste
of money, and l believe that every tax
payer and every citizen wants to get
as much for his dollar as he possibly
can in municipal service as we'll as in
anything else he buys" said Commits
sioner Brownlow.
Under the present system. the vari-
Gus branches of the municipal govern
ment not under the Commissioners are
co-ordinated only in Congress- and
Congress has neither the time nor the
detailed information sufficient to max.
the theoretical coordination effective.
What we want is coordination, and If
any one can suggest any other body
than the board of Commissioners to
exercise effectively this all-important
function. we will be content to accept
such a suggestion.
Take. for instance the board of edu-
cation. 1t is composed of nine mem
bers appointed by the judges of the
Supreme Court of the District Of Column
bia. but is not responsible either to the
appointing power or to any other body.
The expenditures for public education
form the largest single item of the
District budget: The District Commits
sioners pay out every cent of the
money. buy everything used in the
schools from a Lead pencil to a new
high school building. pay the salaries
Of the teachers and janitors. and yet
have nothing whatever to say with
respect to the uses to which this money
and this property shall be put.
Criticism Based On Misconception.
"Snce the recommendations of the
Commissioners concerning the CONSOLE
dalton of municipal functions have
been made public serious criticisms
have been heard in various quarters in
the District, based upon an absolutely
erroneous conception of what we are
trying to do.
Let me say here and now-and l
| speak not only for myself, but for my
two colleagues on the board-there has
been no thought and there Is no inten-
| ton of injecting politics into the ad-