Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-10


Asnin Takes Up Bruce Cnse.
Let's get back to the Bruce mat
ter" said Senator Harrison.
Mr.. Thurston detailed the various
stages in the Bruce investigation. He
asserted emphatically that he was
told he could not attend the Bruce
hearings before the special commit
tee of the board appointed to in
vestigate.
Who told you that?" asked Senator
Harrison.
''Dr. Learned"
The witness said that at the confer
ence where the board decided to go
into the investigation of the general
administrative fitness of Mr.. Bruce no
suggestion was made by members of
the board that the superintendent
should not be present. He said the
law provided that the superintendent
should be present at board meetings,
and he thought that the law gave him
the right to attend committee meet
inEs. MIR. Thurston also said it might
have devolved upon him to make
some recommendation with regard
to Mr.. Bruce, because only on his rec
concentration could the board act II 1t
proposed to get rid of Mr.. Bruce.
AT the first meeting of the COM
mittee, which was held in my Of
tice." said Mr.. Thurston, Il came in
and went to my desk and sat down.
The committee was meeting at the
conference table. My presence seem
Learned. / did not give the matter
attention at the time, but, having
some bushes to attend to, / went
out. The impression 1 had received
was casual. But it returned to my
mind. and later went to DR.. Learned
and asked him If there was any OBJ
lection to my attending the hearings.
He replied there was an under
standing that the witnesses were to
be heard without the presence of
the superintendent. l said at the time
that as superintendent l had a right
to be present"
who else was present at your con-
versation with DR.. Learned?"
There was no one else present. 1t
is merely question of veracity be-
tween u.s." said Mr.. Thurston. "A pos
tive statement was made to me by
DR.. Learned. The idea that l was not
to come to the hearings was not
given me by inference"
Did you confer with any one else
on the board in regard to the mat
ter?"
Mr. Thurston said he had not; that
matter up with the board since no
further meeting of the board was
held until the hearing was over.
Received No Copy of Testimony.
In reply to a question whether he
had ever seen copy OF the testi-
mony, Mr.. Thurston said that he had
not, and that he did not know to this
day what was in the testimony. ex
cept for some reports of parts of it
he had been told about.
Did you ask for a copy OF the tes-
timony?" -
Il did when it was ready. DR..
Learned said he did not think it wise
for me to have it, as it was given in
confidence. 1 said to DR.. Learned
thought / was entitled as superintend-
ent to have the testimony. l do not
remember the exact language. but !
made a positive statement. l felt l
had not been treated properly.
The witness said he had talked over
the matter later with Mr.. Larner and
Mr. Peyton, members of the board.
Why didn't you bring it up at the
Senator Harrison. You showed timid-
ity there. didn't your
None whatever" insisted Mr.. Thurs
ton.
IF you had shown a more aggressive
spirit you might have obtained copy
of the testimony" suggested Senator
Harrison.
NO" replied Mr.. Thurston. Il be-
Iieve that DR.. Van Schaick was deter
mined I should not have it"
Why didn't you ask him for the
testimony"
Admits He Did Not Ask for Copy.
Mr.. Thurston said that he had men
toned the fact to DR.. Van Schaick
that he did not have copy of the
testimony, but admitted that he had
not asked him for 1t.
Il don't know just why ! didn't" he
said; lat the time I was thinking of
angle, and attempt to place
the blame on me for the Bruce situa-
ton. DR.. Learned knew l wanted the
testimony. and in my opinion DR.. Van
Schaick also should have known it."
Discussing a meeting of the board
at which the matter of destroying the
copies of the testimony in the Bruce
case had come up. Mr.. Thurston said
the board was in turmoil.
asked Senator Harrison, referring to
the fact that Mr.. Peyton refused to
turn in his copy of the hearing.
III any cane was raised 1 thought
it was on the other side" Mr.. Thurs
He said that Mr.. Peyton was threat
ened with legal proceedings. and that
DR.. Learned lost his temper
Did you make any protest against
the destruction of the testimony?"
the destruction of a board record
seemed to be a matter for the board"
Mr.. Thurston described his attempt
to attend a conference of the board
in September or October. when the
Bruce case was considered.
Schaick met me and requested me not
to attend. saying that it was the in
tention Of the board to go into the
Bruce case. l said I thought 1 should
be there. He reiterated his request.
/ said 1t was contrary to law. which
hot arivn To- rl,o I
attend the board meetings"
Asked as to Van schaick's Motive.
why did DR.. Van schaick want you
to stay out?"
II have only a suspicion, but I be-
lieve that it was the intention of
board members to attempt to put the
blame for the Bruce situation on me-
still have that suspicion"
The witness said a resolution clear
ing Mr.. Bruce was adopted by the
board before the reports of the COM
mittee were finally drafted and read.
The majority report finally was read
in open meeting.
report?"
as finally drafted of being the source
of all the trouble over Mr.. Bruce. l
had not seen the testimony and I
took no part in the consideration"
The witness said that Mr.. Larner
and Mr.. Peyton, he thought. had told
him that attempts were made at the
conference. to which he was not adj
mitted, to put the blame on him for
the Bruce situation. He said he knew
that Mr.. Larner fought this yigor-
ously.
You don't know If DIR. Van Schaick
defended you. do you," asked Senator
Harrison.
Il am quite sure that he did not"
replied the witness.
Senator Harrison then read to Mr..
Thurston a series of questions pre-
pared by DR.. Van Schaick, among