Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-01
new SCHOOL PLAN
SLA|D ON TABLE
Proposal to Change Public Ii
brary Control Meets the
Same Fate.
HOUSE D. c. COMMITTEE
HEEDS PEOPLES PLEAS
Today's Action Regarded as Prac-
tically Killing Program of
Commissioners.

hPoI ldllt O1 Tie commissioners
bllls-the bill to change the pres
ent manner OF appointing the
board OF education and the simi-
lar bill affecting the board of
trustees and employees and Off
cials of the Public Library.
At the same time the commit
tee reported favorably the John
son bill making important con-
structive changes in the Juverile
Court.
The committee by a viva voce
vote laid on the table the two
Commissioners bills affecting the
public schools and Public Library
This action is taken to show that
the agitation over the proposed
radical change by which the
commissioners would centralize
the control of the schools in their
own hands has shown the MEM
bers of the District committee
that the people of the District
were practically solidly lined up
against such Capitalization. The
sentiment in regard to the schools
is reflected in the analogous sit
uation regarding the proposal to
centralize further in the case, of
the library and put that in the
Commissioners hands also.
Both Sides Are Heard.
The District committee today heard
arguments on both sides Of the proposal
to include the Public Library if- the "cen.
tralization of control under the Com
missioners" policy. Commissioner
Newman. appearing for the three Com
missioners, told the committee that
inasmuch as the Commissioners have
the responsibility of the library they
should have the authority in matters
of appointment
On the other hand. Theodore W.
Noyes president of the board of trus-
tees of the library, told the COMMITTEES
that the present system, whereby eXcu-
tive control is centered in the librari-
an, who is responsible to the BOARD OF
trustees, whose members are appointed
by the Commissioners under existing
law, is the most effective library sys-
tenn known.
For Better Juvenile Justice.
Prior to the arguments in the library
matter Judge Latimer of the Juvenile
Court gave an interesting legal argu-
ment in favor of the bill now before
the committee making radical change
in the powers and manner OF adjudica-
tion of that court
He was accompanied by Mrs. Julia
Lat hrop chief of the childrens bureau.
who supported him absolutely. stating
that the bill embodies the best modern
in relation to the child and
the law.
Representative Page of North Caro-
lima appeared in argument for his bill.
which amends the present loan shark
law and would allow charge OF 2
per cent month 10 De Induc, tuc
beneft of remedial loan companies
which have gone out of business since
the present loan shark law reduced
the legal interest for those concerns
to ! per cent. He also took occasion
to put in a good word Tor his bill to
change the existing automobile license
law. He would have annual Licenses
on motor vehicles. such as are en-
forced in other states.
Parallels School Issue.
Commissioner Newman opened the de.
bate in relation to the Cemmi ssioners'
bill to place the appointing power OF
library officers and employees in the
han ands of the Commissioners. and much
of the argument and questioning par
alleled the discussion in the case of the
hearing on the bill to change the con-
troll of the schools to the hands of the
Commi ssioners. Representative Wheeler
Of Illinois asked the direct question:
why should there be a change In re.
spect to the library"
Where the Commissioners have the
they should have the
authority" replied Mir. Newman.
What would be the practical effect?'
Mapes asked.
II presume the appointments in the
Library would be made b. the COM
nissioners with the advice OF the
trustees OF the Library
Representative Mapes then brought
,ut the fact that the Commi missioners
ire not familiar with the employees OF
he Library.
"Why not let the President appoint
these officials and employees asked
Lloyd.
II would doubt the advisability Of
inch a change" replied Mr.. Newman.
EXACTLY" continusd Representative
.loyd. "and l agree with you. and {
suggest that merely to point out the
"a ct that no one knows the library
,ituation like the library people"
THE board would be a useless body
,nder this proposed changer suggest
"a Representative Wheeler.
Board Service Poor Sham"
SHOULD not municipal activities be
asked Representative
rinkham of Massachusetts ''in special
yiew of the fact that there is little
by residents in their own
government here?" .
"I should say" replied Mr.. Newman.
that 1t is pretty poor sham to sub.