The Washington herald., 1916-01-20

except his conscience and the Congress
of the United States" declared Mr.. Blair.
The Commissioners are in the same boat
with the Board OF Education; they can
not spend money except with his ap-
prevail After leaving the auditors Of
fee. accounts are checked up by the
Treasury accountant, audited by the
United States auditor for the State and
other departments, and approved by the
Comptroller of the Treasury.
Every dollar the Board of Educa-
tion spends is investigated, audited
and controlled as are expenditures for
the District OF Columbia. We do not
see a dollar from one years end to
another. In all my service, the only
money ever handled by the Board of
Education was S12 sent in from two
sources as a conscience fund" to re-
pay for books stolen, and that was
Immediately forwarded to the proper
repository.
We do not purchase the supplies
for the school system. We estimate
our requirements, within the limits
prescribed by the appropriation bills,
and the purchasing officer of the Dis
trict advertises for bids and buys on
competitive basis, and pays for the
supplies. Even the salaries of the
personnel are disbursed through the
DhSNTlCl ulSDuTSlnS Object.
Straw Man Set Up.
."Of these activities-audit, purchase
and disbursements - the Commits
sioners do not know any more of the
affairs of the Board of Education than
the Sultan of Turkey does, and we
know no more about theirs. am not
suggesting that any one has been
derelict in his duties. l mean only
that insofar as statuatory obligation
is concerned, the Commissioners have
nothing to do with these officers.
They set the straw man up and then
knocked him down in order to have a
easOn for the proposed change"
Both Mr.. Blair and Senator Butler
made the point that the duties of the
Commissioners already are too multifari-
Gus for the best interests of the COM
munity, and that this condition would
initiate strongly against a school system
of which they were at the head.
"If there is any good change that can
be suggested to the present system" de-
cIared Senator Butler, 'It is a detail; l,
is not fundamental"
Has any mischief been pointed out?
Then what's the need for a remedy
The Commissioners have used we'll
sounding words-centralization and CO,
ordination-and have said these would
produce better school system. They dc
not tell us how"
johnson Seeks Facts.
Representative johnson wanted to know
If Senator Butler knew of any instances
where the present Commissioners ha6
yielded to political pressure with respect
| to appointments to the police and fire
| forces.
II they have not replied the witness, "
they are the first men l ever heard OF
who didn't yield to political pressure
from high sources. l think II you take
list of the appointments made by the
District Commissioners you will find the
political appointments have been the rule
rather than the exception"
I've seen Socialists appointed to va.
capcies here, and Republicans promoted, "
replied Mr. johnson, but ! have yet tc
see a Democrat appointed to q vacancy
created by removal
Mr. johnson wanted to know If the
daughters of any representatives are
| teaching in the District schools. Sena-
| tor Butler didn't know.
! II have understood that the daughters
| of some Congressman are teaching ir
the local schools" said Mr.. Johnson, land
1 wanted to know II it came through poll.
J tical pressure or not"
/ At the conclusion Of Senator Buffers
statement the committee adjourned un.
| til 1880 o'clock this morning.