Evening star., 1920-03-17
DR.. NELL CHARGES
SANDER AIMED At
EDUCATION BOARD
Continued from, First Page.)


served on an administrative board for
a similar length of time" replied the
witness.
Did Not Know Of Expiration.
DR.. Neill said that he hadn't even
known when he went on the board that
Mr.. Thurston'S term of office expired
this year. The first intimation he had
of the situation, he said. was when
Dr.. Van Schaick said to him: I'VE are
confronted by an embarrassing situa-
ton. The majority OF the board are
against his reelection. We have been
considering whom we could select to
succeed him.
DR.. Neill said that the president OF
the board suggested that he (Dr. Van
schaick). should go to Cleveland at
the time OF the educational meeting
there to see who might be obtained
as a new superintendent for the
schools here. 1t was difficult to 60
however. for that purpose II there
was no vacancy here. On the other
would not be fair to Supt. Thurston
to discharge him and with the stigma
Of discharge ask him to go out and
get a new job.
"Dr. Van Schaick asked rue how we
could be fair to Thurston and at the
same time act for the best interests
Of the schools" said DR. Neill Il suR-
the board-the seven members who
had served for some time with Thurs
ton, leaving DR.. Simon and myself out,
since we had not been on the board
long enough to form an opinion of
Mr.. Thurston, and that Mr.. Thurston
be notified of the result.
Six Of Seven Opposed.
Later DR.. Van Schaick said that he
had canvassed the board and had
found that six out of the seven were
opposed to his reelection and that he
was sending Mr.. Thurston a letter.
Il did not believe that this would
close the case. l could not conceive
OF superintendent who sat on the
board for five or six years who did
not know some of the members we'll
enough to go and say to them, What
Is this all about? I expected to get
into the game then and to help to
bring about an adjustment
But the superintendent a day or
two Following sent word or a letter
IN way that it was made public to
the effect that he would begin a fight
for reelection; that he challenged the
good faith. the competence and the
right OF the board to refuse to re-
elect him.
Impossible to Remain.
Il felt then that II this was his
attitude it would be impossible for
Rim to continue as superintendent of
schools. l then made up my mind re-
gardtng him. He should either have
seen some members of the board in
an enort to adjust matters or he
should have recognized the right of
the board to refuse to re-elect him
and should have retired"
He just assumed that he was fired"
suggested Senator Harrison.
IoA
fact that Mrs. Gerry, whose vote elect
ed him in 1917. had changed her vote
now. DR.. Eeill insisted that he had
no feeling of prejudice against Mr..
Thurston now. but that ne had to
make decision in the interests OF
the school system.
Il saw that Mr.. Thurston intended
to begin a campaign to coerce the
board OF education. through the force
Of public opinion. into re-electing
him., Dr. Neill said, and added that
he believed such a contest would be
q bad thing for the schools.
At this point the members of the
they were through with their ques-
tions. but that if DR.. Neill had any,
thing to say the committee would be
glad to hear 1t.
DR.. Neil Continues.
! wish to say said DR.. Neill. Il am
performing an unpleasant duty. saw
In the newspapers yesterday after
noon that the application Of seven
members of the board that they be
represented by counsel in this in
vestigation has been refused by this
committee. l recognize the right OF
the committee to determine it's pro-
cedure absolutely However, I feel it
is my duty to make protest. or. IL
that is not proper. to express my pro-
found regret at the decision Of the
committee"
Did the committee deny any one
the right to have counsel?" asked
Senator Walsh.
NO" said Senator Sherman, chair
man Of the committee. Il gave out a
statement defining tn committees at
titude"
The committee did not want to 20
in for an endless series of hearings, T"
said Senator Walsh.
Can Have Counsel to Advise.
Senator Sherman explained that the
committee had agreed that the wit
nesses might have counsel present
who could advise them and who could
suggest questions to be asked by
members Of the Senate committee, but
who could not question witnesses
themselves
This committee wants to get at
the facts and does not want them hid
den behind some lawyer" said Senator
Harrison.
DR.. Neill said that the members of
the board had no desire to hide be-
hind the lawyers. Senator Harrison
insisted II there was anything wrong
about the board it should be brought
out.
Haven't you been treated fairly by
the pmmittee?" asked Senator Sher-
man.
The witness said that he had been
fairly treated.
Wasn't DR.. Van Schaick treated
fairly" asked Senator Sherman.
an attorney. representing the members
of the board, would help the Sena te
committee to get at the real facts. He
insisted that the board apparently
was on trial, that there was a cam
paign being made to discredit the
board.
Senator Walsh Interrupts.
Senator Walsh or Massachusetts in
terrupted to say that the Senate COM
mittee was interested in the best pos
s1ble educational system for the Dis
trict OF Columbia.
"If the board Of education or the
superintendent stands in the way Of
that end. we must find it out" said
Senator Walsh.
DR.. Neill insisted a committee OF
citizens. ostensiblN-created to aid in
the investigation. had constituted it.
self prosecuting body.
This is the elimination Of a cam
paign Of MISREPRESENTATION and SIAN
der against the board" said DR.. Netll
Senator Dillingham; Of Vermont said
that he had received more suggestions
from persons favorable to the board
than from those opposed to it.
why do you want a lawyer to sit
beside you and ask questionsr' de-
manded Senator Harrison.
The witness replied that frequently
the replies of witnesses were inade-
quate and did not bring out the whole