The Washington times., 1916-01-18
CHANGE IN SCHOOL
rule DEFENDED BY
OFFICIALS
Corporation Counsel Syme and
Commissioner BroWnIoW An
SWer Critics Of Proposal.

The proposed change in the manage
ment Of the public school system was
defended in addresses last night by
Commissioned Brownlow and Corpora
ton Council Conrad syme.
Citing an alleged deficiency in the
present school system in every other
sentence, Mr.. Syme championed the
change In the administration OF the
schools, before the Central Labor Union
at Typographical Temple.
Mr.. Syme appeared to answer the
critics of the proposed change in place
Of Commissioner oliver r. Newman.
He began by citing the number Of pro-
tests made by certain bodies against
the proposed change and then pleaded
with his listeners to consider the ques-
tion in an entirely impersonal way,
Following his address scores OF ques-
tions relative to the allegation that poll
tics will enter the school system with
the proposed change, were asked OF the
District official by delegates from the
many unions represented at the meet
ing.
Taft Is Quoted.
MIR. Syme quoted former President
! Taft as declaring that "the present
/ system of the District IL not as ef-
| ficient an instrument as we might have
in educating the children of the Dis
trict"
lie also read from President Taft'f
message the Chief Executives criticism
Of the lack OF concentration of euthOr'
lty in the present system.
| Congress enacted the law crcatinl
1 thig gvstaV,, ord plnapd 46n
/ power Of the Boar dof Education in the
Judges of the District Supreme Court"
said Mr.. Syme. "'NNhv this power was
J so placed | do not know. 1t WAS the
object of the law to have the Judges
! appoint u representative citizenship 10
the board. think it is incongruous "a
expect the judges OF this court to keeI
I In close touch with the people of the
| District Their judicial position. thelI
many duties on the bench and tho gem
erei atmosphere In which Federal
Judge lives. prevent them from having
that Intimate touch with the citizens
= OF the community. I deem II impractic-
able for them to appoint a representa-
tive school board.
| That is one point-here Is another
what control are the Commissioner
seeking to take frOmNt present board.
Just 70 per cent of the eNDendi'
lures of the District go to the up-
keep OF the public school system. Who
Is, responsible for the expenditure OF
this money? The board is not. Tho
! expenditure is entircN in the hands ol
the Commissioners, and yet they nave
no power TO denote how this money
= The commissioners have absolutel!
| no intention Ok permitting nOliIIcs Il
enter the schools. Any man who know
anything whatever of organization
/ knows that where men have to co
ordinate their efforts there must b,
some center Of responsibility. We have
not got that under the present system
AS you can readily see. What we arr
i trying TO do IS to bring the system ul
to a standard of higher efficiency. W.
do not claim that the proposed system
Is the best that can be suggested, bu
We do know that It is an improvement
on the present one. We are opeE tc
| argument"
MIR. syme said he did not believe tn
ianitors in the schools would he liabl'
to he victims of politics in event o
changes in the administration.
/ 81 will say this for the present BoarC
| OF Commissioners. that they have no
permitted politics to change the person
mel Of the District service despite tn
! great pressure which is continual!
being brought on them by Senators anC
| Congressman" but added, except n
cases of certain heads of departmnnts
| who were needed because they would
work in harmony with the Commission
|
Mr.. BrOwnlOw's Views.
Asserting that the proposed change is
"a step looking to better local govern
ment through the application of sensi
BILE, plain. modern rules OF business
management to the science of govern
ment." Commissioner Brownlow mad,
his address before the Takoma Parl
Citizens Association.
At the completion Of the address. tn,
association by unanimous vote decided
to postpone action upon the school cues
ton until the committee on education
can consider the additional facts pre-
sented by the Commissioner.
| A report of the committee on educa
ton. which had been prepared. wa
not presented
| The Commissioner asserted tina
there is no intention or desire on tht
part of the Commissioners to make
pie counter out of the schools ant
that. even if such were the desire. I
would "be impossible of achievement
In view OF the fact that the same linIi
tations as to the appointment OF teach