The Washington herald., 1920-02-22
D. G. SCHOOLS
UP In SENATE
Public Mistrust" Demands
Investigation Of System,
Says Senator Harrison.
PROBE SEEMS LIKELY
Resolution Broad Enough
To Cover Any Phase Of
Public Instruction.
PROBE SEEMS LIKELY

With the statement that conditions
in the public schools of Washington
demanded instant and thorough inves-
tigation by Congress. Senator Pat Har-
rison, Democrat, of Mississippi, yes
terday introduced a resolution in the
Senate that a select committee of five
Senators be appointed to conduct such
4 probe
Owing to a technicality brought up
by Senator Smoot that provision would
have to be made for the pay of stenog-
raphers or other persons employed by
the investigators, the resolution was
referred to the Committee on Contin-
gent Expenses of the Senate.
The resolution provides that three of
the Senators shall be from the ma
Jority party and two from the minor
ity. After the introduction of the reso-
luton a number of Senators expressed
their views. all of which were that an
investigation of the entire public
school system of Washington was
necessary.
VIII Make Facts Public.
My resolution" said Senator
| Harrison. lis not aimed at a par
| ticular man or group in the schools.
Public mistrust has grown to such
/ a point that there is strong
sentiment that the matter ought to
| be sifted to the bottom and the
facts given the public.
1T is universally agreed that the
| pay of Washington teachers has
| been inadequate. and that some of
\ the buildings and much of the
equipment is by no means of the
best"
Senator Harrison stated he had
| introduced the resolution on his
I own initiative, and no organization
was backing it. He said he had
[ framed the resolution broad enough
/ to cover any matter related to
l the schools.
While Mr.. Harrison denied that
| he had the Rev. DIR. Van Schaick
| in mind he admitted that the rec
! ords of all prominent school offi-
cials would be Investigated. Indi-
| cations are the resolution will be
adopted with little opposition.
Text of Resolution.
| The text of the resolution follows:
That a select committee of ave
/ Senators. three from the majority
/ party and two from the minority
/ party. be appointed by the president
| of the Senate to investigate the public
school system of the District OF Co.
lumbia.
That said committee shall investi-
| gate. specifically. the manner Of ap-
pointing the superintendent, princi-
| pals, teachers and other employees OF
| the public schools OF the District. The
j personnel, Adequacy. and pay of teach
\ ers and other employees of the public
Ii schools Of the District. The accom-
\ modations, heating. lighting. ventila- :
tion and sewerage of the public school
buildings Of the District. The num-
bey.of holidays. courses of study, and
/ discs4line adopted by the teachers and
aanaeeusent of the public schools OF
h the District: and such other policies
edoptSds by the management of the
'I public SschooI system of the District,
as, In the discretion of the committee
is advisable to investigate.
II THAI the committee so appointed
! shall be- authorized to select It's own
|! ehairman. to send for persons and
I papers, to administer oaths. and to
4 employ sterographer or stenogra-
l piers, to report such hearings as
may be held in connection with such
Investigated. =.
That said Ncommittee may sit dur
ing the sessions of the Senate. and
it shall report its findings and rec
concentrations No the Senate at the
earliest date possible"