The Washington times., 1916-02-01
DEBATE ON SCHOOLS
MAKES SPARKS FLY.
LInCoIn Park Citizens AssoCia-
ton Head Declares Two
Principals Favor Change.

Sparks again flew In respect TO the
change in the Districts school system
proposed by the Commissioners when
speakers hammered on that subject be-
fore the Lincoln Park Citizens Associa-
ton last night The association met at
0he Church of the Nativity.
New light was thrown on the situation
by D. A. Edwards, president Of the as
ISOLATION, who announced that two high
school principals had declared to him
that they favored a change in the pres
ent system. He added that other school
officials also favored some change IN
what they termed the present unsatis-
factory arrangement"
Mrs. Helen a. DOGGY, who had intro
duced a resolution protesting against
the change, stated that three high
school principals had told her they
favored the present plan.
''Then that makes up the five," retort-
ed President Edwards.
A little later Congressman Michael r.
Conry of New York praised the school
system of New York for its liberation
OF politics, and said: THAT man who
would dare suggest that the New York
schools be put back into politics would
be- damned everlastingly.'
Warns Against Politics.
81 don't know much about your sys-
tenn" said the speaker, but I am in
terested in schools, as former
members of the New York board of
education. If the question of change
in your system comes before the House,
intend to look into 1t and see whether
there is niger in the woodpile. and
shall expose him.
This statement brought forth ap-
plause.
Meanwhile counsel you," Mr.. Con-
~ continued. ''to resist with your
might and main, and to the last ditch,
anything that savors of putting your
schools into politics"
The resolution offered by Mrs. DOGGY
vas not adopted. but the, question of
the Commissioners educa tlonal recon-
pendations was referred to the associa-
hon's school committee.
After George Fl. Judd, chairman of
me street Improvement committee, had
read the list of improvements TO be
made in the northeast and southeast in
the vicinity of Lincoln Park, the 1850
ciation voted to thank the commission =
ers and ito congratulate them on such
o remarkable record" For the first
time I'm many years. members said, east
Washington had obtained its full share
Of street improvements.
Indeed" remarked Mr.. judd 'this
year the ration of taxation and popula-
non puts us on top. But that will help
Rtone for the neglect of the past
Want Park LabOrers Paid More.
President Edwards painted a sorrow
~ picture of the trials of the Dis
ktSct Commissioners who. he said, ''get
twenty knocks to one boost"
The street paving estimates show that
t1Ib00 was appropriated for improve
ments in the southeast, and that $751;
900 went to the northeast and south
east within the scope of the Lincoln
Park Associations territory, 1t was
stated.
The association voted to request
Colonel Harts to take some action in
regard to increasing the pay of park
lRborerS. 1t also went on record as
favoring an extension of the age limit
in the compulsory education law tc
sixteen years.
Ray L. Smith. reporting for the COM
mittee that had inquired into the sub
Ject, explained that the child labor
law prohibited children. with only q
few exceptions, from going to work
under sixteen. He said this left a gar
between the time a child might quit
school and might so to work which
encouraged children to loaf.
Congressman Conry sketched the ef.
Tammany. called New York the hest.
governed city of tho world, and said
of Washington: 1.-The political situa-
tion here in the District is a perfect
anomaly and should not exist under
a democratic form of government
Your people are as capable of solving
civic problems as those Of the metropo;
that "the mind of the man who pro-
tected such a political monstrositY IS
something I. as a student Of politics
can't understand"