Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-19
Commissioners Willing Change
in School System Shall Come
When Their Terms Expire.
NOW FOR APPOINTMENTS
BY EDUCATION DIRECTOR
Mr.. Newman Says President Sug.
gested Centralized Control of Dis.
trict Affairs at Hearing on Bill.

iiN NolIlllllSSlOlleTS VIII De
willing to amend the centralized
control board OF education bill so
that it is not effective until the
present Commissioners are out OF
Office. and they have also submit
ted a substitute for the original
bill by which the appointing
power OF teachers and employees
shall be with the director OF edu-
cation instead of the board of
Commissioners as originally pro-
posed
These were the most important
points brought out today in the
hearing before Representative
Llovd's subcommittee on cduca-
ton in the first hearing on the
bill which Representative John
son OF Kentucky introduced at
the Commissioners request. the
bill being but part OF the general
scheme to centralizc control Of
everything in the District govern
ment in the commissioners.
Commissioner Newman. opening the
argument for the Commissioners side.
gave the interesting information that
it was President Wilson's suggestions
that administrative reforms might be
made in the District that led the Conn
missloners to their present recon-
mendations. He distinctly said several
times. however. that the present bill
itself is not a recommendation of the
president, as he made no specific sug-
SEesfions. Esm@ns following Following Commissioner
took the stand and argued against
divided responsibility. He made con-
siderable of the information which he
brought with him from the auditor that
the board of education is behind in its
reports.
Substitute Bill Offered.
substitute bill prepared by the
commissioners was presented to the
subcommittee at the opening OF the
hearing. 1t provides that appoint
ments. etc. should be made by the pro-
by the Commissioners as PROPOSED
under the original centralized power
scheme. The substitute bill provides
that:
All appointments. promotions. reduc-
tons, transfers and removals of assistant
directors Of education. directors super
vising principals, principals. heads OF
departments, teachers and all other
employees of the public schools of the
District Of Columbia shall hereafter be
Al f.f cIr
President Suggests Improvement.
That President Wilson had suggested
ment and that the educational recon-
mendation of the Commissioners had
been the result of that suggestion was
brought out early in the hearing. Com
missioner Oliver p. Newman. who spoke
in support of the Commi ssoners' rec
ommendation. being the first to appear
before the subcommittee. admitted that
the proposed plan was due to the Pres
idents suggestion to him.
Representative Lloyd had questioned
Mr.. Newman as to the possibilities of
outside Influences being brought to
bear upon the school system if the
system was changed proposed
1t is certainly true that if the
President of the United States should
make a suggestion regarding the
schools that suggestion would receiye
very careful consideration. said Mr.
Newman. The same is true if :, COM
mittee of Congress should make su9-
geStion
Cites an Example
A number of the committeeman asked
Newman to cite an eN-
ample in which the President had
made suggestions as to the manage
ment of the Districts affairs as tho
speaker had related incidentally in con-
tnuance of his above explanation
Why said the Commissioner the
President suggested the plan of the
present program. which includes this
/ don't mind telling
you very frankly that when the New
York bureau OF research was suggested
to make a modern government here
President Wilson sent for me to talk
1t over and suggested that We might
make survey and investigation our
selves, with the object of centralizing
power in the District. ! want il very
distinctly understood however, that the
President was not responsible for this
specific recommendation.
The President knows that YOU have
made this recommendation doesn't he:
questioned Representative Focht.
Yes" 81 id Mr.. Newman
Upon pursuing the questions further
denial received from Mr.. New
nan that he knew what was the Presi- -
lent's attitude toward the proposed
.ha nS.a.
Causes Listeners to Smile.
Mr. Newman had gone but verN
short way in his explanation of the
proposed change when questions by
Mapes and Ragsdals
ls to the methods of operating the
schools in the District caused him in
urn to question some Of the school
ficials present before E.e could answer.
,miles covered the faces of many in
he assembly present. representing
every civic and school or
,anization in the city.
Upon hearing explained that the SUI
reme Court of the District of Colum-
ia was in the habit of appointing
hree colored members on the board OF
ducation, the entire membership of
which numbers nine, and that the COL
red school population is rather less
han one-third, Representative Rags
ale said:
.Then the colored school population
5 little less than its proportion on
I'd