The Washington times., 1916-01-20
Charles w. Darr Asserts Action
Was Based on Decision Of
Less Than a Majority.
, WOULD END CONTROVERSIES
Thinks Placing Power in Com
miSSioners' Hands Would
Cause Cessation Of Friction.

That the action Of the Board OF
Trade in opposing the proposed transfer
of administration of school affairs was
not representative of the boards opin-
on and was based on the report of less
than n majority of the committee on
schools. is the statement made by
'harles W. Darr. a member of the COM
mittee. who dissented from the report.
Asked why he could not agree with
the committee, Mr.. Darr said he favored
the proposed legislation. not Because it
provided for change in the method OF
appointment of members of the hoard
OF Education. but for the reason that at
present the responsibility for the man
agement of schoo! affairs Is divided.
He considered the judges of the Dis
trict Supreme Court highly competent
nc said. and to be relied upon to appoint
board in the best interests Of the
'chools. but this phase of the case, lie
declared, is merely an incident
Continual Controversy.
He declared that even by the board
itself it cannot be denied that since
the present plan has been in opera
ton there has been an almost contin-
uous conflict OF authority and contro-
versy between the Commissioners and
he board relative to some branch of
"chool management.
1T is, therefore, best in my opin-
ion," said Mr.. Darr, ito have the
schools of the city managed entirely
by the Commissioners, who are re-
SponSible heads of our local govern
ment."
He further said that the fear of
politics entering the management OF
the schools cannot be entertained
with the present Commissioners in
office, as they have shown conclusive
~ they do not play politics. In cities
cited by the committee of the Board
OF Trade, where the school system has
been divorced from the general mu-
nicipal government, he added, 1t must
be borne in mind that the commits
5loners are elected, while here resi-
dents are given no voice in the selec-
lion and the District heads owe no
political debt to school officers,
teachers or employees.
Less Than Majority.
My further objection to the action
of the Board of Trade" said Mr.. Darr,
lis based on the fact that the report
of the school committee was author
lied by less than a majority of it's
members. The school committee con-
.sists of sixty-five members of the
Board of Trade.
AT the meeting which authorized the
report opposing the proposed legisla-
ton In relation to the schools less than
thirty members were present The sug-
Sestion from me that the matter should
receive more general consideration by
greater number of members of the
committee was frowned upon, and a
statement made that it was the purpose
~ the committee to rush the report in
4rder to present the opposition of the
Board of Trade TO the subcommittee on
education of the House District Com
mittee at its meeting Wednesday, More
than that, 1 am informed that the Board
~ Trade consists of in the neighbour
hood of 1850 members. The meeting
which adopted the report opposing the
proposed bill, had less than seventY-five
members of the board present, and I
maintain that the report presented to
The committee does not represent the
continent or opinion of the Board Of
Trade.
Wouldn't Permit Amendment.
AT the meeting Tuesday afternoon
the president of the board decided that
the committees report had to be ap-
proved or disapproved, and would not
permit an amendment to the report nor
would he allow consideration at that
meeting of a resolution providing that
the Board of Education should be elect
ed by the people of the District of Co
lumpia rather than appointed by any
existing, officer board, or commission.
believe that the Board of Educa-
ton should be elected by the people
the right to vote. however, to be re-
stricted to taxpayers and to the par
ents of children attending schools, Civ
ing the mothers an equal right to vote
with the fathers. II the proportion OF
membership present at the meeting of
the Board Of Trade at which the school
commuters report was adopted was
maintained at all the meetings of the
various citizens associa Aons, then the
COMMITTEES of Congress having this
matter IN charge is a long way from
having before it anything like an ex-
preston of the desire of the people in
aspect to this important legislation. :"