Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-09

ness to know II ne was not opposed to
the personnel of the board OF Com
missioners because he thought he
replied that his opposition was based
more on the idea that there would
be many changes made in the school
system. He said that the school sys-
TEN was running smoothly at that
time and progressively.
You shouldn't jar q school system
when it is running smoothly" he
added.
sare Wan ScAaick Unfavorable.
II was sure from the day that DR..
Van Schaick came on the board that l
was persona non grata to him. said
Mr.. Thurston.
You felt that If the Commissioners
were given power to appoint the board
friends on tho board would not be
reappointed, did that influence you
in opposing the change Of the ap-
pointive power to the District Com
missioners?" asked Senator Harrison.
The witness insisted that was not
ing for q principle and TO avoid
changes in the school system He
said that Mr.. Blair was not q man
to be Influenced by any talk OF nom
reappointment
If Mr.. Blair. Mr.. Larner and Mr..
Galliher had been District Commits
sioners, in view of the fact that you
theoretically are better qualified to ap-
point the board. would you have
favored tho changer" asked Senator
Harrison.
Il would have had moro confidence
In those gentlemen"
them"
IT think that the friction that de-
veloped would not have occurred"
Court Personnel Not Considered.
In reply to questions the witness
said that the personnel Of the Su-
preme Court had not entered into his
conclusions in the matter.
What did you think when Judge
Siddons went on the benchr' asked
Senator Harrison.
Mr.. Thurston replied that he had
always thought that the justices Of
the court. being removed from politics
and the ordinary pressure from the
people. should be able to handle the
appointment very well.
should be elected by tho people?'
That might result in tho election
Of q politician rather than An edu-
Might that not DO true II the board
OF education were elected?" asked
Senator Harrison
Mr.. Thurston said that he did not
think that 20 likely to occur, particu-
larly as the members Of the board are
not paid.
Senator Harrison asked how Mr..
Thurston felt today on the question
as to whether the Commissioners or
The witness replied that he had not
thought of 1t.
DO you think that the Supreme
Court judges have acted wisely in
making appointments to the board?"
Regrets Less Of Msnbrs.
Il wish you wouldn't press that
question" said Mr.. Thurston. II don't
think that the plan has worked we'll since
Or. Van Schafck came on the board.
feel that the elimination Of members
OF force and wide administrative ca
pacity from the board has been most
Take men OF the tyne
who have been testifying here the
last few days. I feel that they were
q loss to the system."
why did they 60 OF the board?'
Il cannot answer that"
Has that shaken your confidence
in the appointments Of THO courtr'
The witness said 1t had. Pressed
again as to whether he favored ap-
pointment by the board or the court.
the witness said:
II am not in favor Of either. I be-
lieve in the election Of the board by
the people. think 1t would give US the
best results, and that experience else
where has shown that to be the case"
States Case Of Conflict.
Asked By Senator Harrison in what
way he had been embarrassed by the
action Of the board. Mr.. Thuryton said
that 4 slight incident. but q recent
one. occurred At the conference Of the
tx,o rAh he tn A<yti nn
ular meeting last Wednesday.
At that time. he said. DR.. Van
Schaick introduced q plan for a num-
Der Of debates in the schools, and
had gone a. far as to get prizes for
tho winners The board members were
polled and the majority favored the
definitely and directly In the province
of the superintendent, and he told
the board. he said, that he could not
approve the plan until he had dis
cussed 1t with his educational council.
composed Of the high school prln-
oipals. He added that he wps em-
council might not favor the plan, he
could not well bring 1t back to the
board. which already had approved it.
DR.. Van Schaick then submitted q.
question through Senator Harrison
indicating. that the prixes had been
OH0teu Ot u "Oncn patr1OtlC organ
i1ation, and that the time for holding
the debates was % short that there
was no time to walt for the usual
procedure. Mr.. Thurston in answer
said that IT was an educational mat
ter and that the superintendent
should have known Of IL before It was
laid before the board.
Questioned a. to his recommsnda-
lions Affecting the ofIicers and teach
ers OF the local eohoolA Mr. Thurston
said that he had made moro than
1900 such recommendations since be-
coming head Of tho school system,
and in not moro than i've Of those
instances had he brought tho matter
Of the appointment before tho board
without first making = definite REQ
ommsndAtien.