Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-28
BUSINESS MEN ASK
PROBE OF SCHOOLS
Conference Of Presidents
Asks Why Board of Edu-
cation Debt Continues

An Investigation of the financial and
administrative needs of Philadelphia
schools was proposed today at Il meet
ing and luncheon of the Conference of
Presidents. AN organization Of business
club presidents at the Bellevue-Strat-
ford. The conference wants to know
the reason for the continued debt of
the Board of Education and has offered
to finance the Investigation
\ committee was appointed to appeal
to the Board of Education and ask
that probe be made consisting
Of Franklin y. Brewer, general man
agcr Of the Wanamakcr stores :;
George Burnham. Jr, president Of the
city club. and William j. Eldridge,
president of the Market Street Business
Mems Associations.
The meeting was presided over by
Walker Lee Rosenberger. The speak
crs were Clinton Rogers Woodruff. di-
rector of the League of American Mu-
inequalities: T.. NJ Watson. secretary
Of the Public Education and Child
Labor Association Of this city and
Franklin y. Brewer.
Investigation Of the pubic-school sys.
TEN Of this city has been postponed as
a result .of the Illness Of simon Gratz
vice president OF the Board of Educa =
tIob' according TO announcement made
today by officials OF the board
NJ the February, meeting this COM
mttee was created to determine ways
ana means Of effectng reforms in the
school system, with a view to cutting
down expenses without injurinC the eff
llciency of the curriculum. Mr.. Graz
has been appointed chairman of the
committee by Edwin Wolf, president of
the board. IL was to have met this
Week. but postponement has been
necessary.
For some days there was 4 delay In
the committees getting into action, as
there wds question as to how many
members had been appointed to it, The
original resolution called for five mel.:
beis' 1t was then amended by stiru-
Iat!ng that the committee should be
composed Of the chairmen of standing
committees.
lhele are seven standing committees
It has finally been agreed that all OF
these chairmen are to serve On the com.
mlttee. 1t is. therefore, composed Of
Simon Grstz chairman. Committee or
Normal School. High Schools for Girls
and Requirements of Teachers.
DINNER Beeber, Committee On High
schools for Boys.
Walter George Smith, Committee OF
Discipline.
Thomas Shalcross. Committee OF
Property
John Wanamaker, Finance Committee
William Rowen, Elementary Schools
Committee.
Franklin Smedley Bylaws and Rules
Committee.
With these members oil the commit.
-
''progressives" on the board, will bt
more powerful than with a committed
OF nNe' Thomas Shallcross and william
fowen are both strong Gratz supporters
John Wanamaker and eX-Judge Bee.
Der are classed as "Progressives." How.
ever, the former has been in ill-healtl
ana has taken no part in board activities
Tor some time. The former will sup
port Wolf in many matters, but il Is said
that he will desert the progressive
ranks on any important "nne-up."
Mr.. smith is reported to have refused
to support the progressive program. |.
Is thought he will not adopt any definite
policy and cannot be relied upon by
either party.
Mr.. Smedley has seldom entered into
any, discussions at board meetings. Ht
VIII favor the progressive program
however. it is said
The progressives will thus contio
three votes when they are present ir
strength, if Mr.. Wolf avails himself O
the right TO sit on all committees ey
ofiicio. There will be two doubtful votes
and three members voting with the "olt
guard"