Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-16
BRUCE COMPLETES
TESTIMONY BEFORE
COMMITTEE TODAY
CoIored Assistant School Su-
perintendent Discusses Pey.
ton and Calvin Chase.

Asst. Supt. Bruce Of the colored
| schools today completed his testi-
| mony before the senatorial committee
investigating the public schools Of the
District of Columbia. He went again,
at the request Of the committee. into
his opinion regarding Fountain Pey-
| ton. colored member of the board of
education. and. Calvin ChasA colored
editor of the Bee.
The witness declared that he no
| longer had any respect for Mr.. Pey-
| ton. He said that when Supt. Thurs
did not then express any large degree
| OF confidence in the board member
Mr.. Bruce said that he did not think
the District Supreme Court would ever
| have selected a man of Mr.. Peyton's
type If the court had known him
"Beauty Culture" Proposed.
The witness presented to the COM
in February. 1917, to Mr.. Bruce. in
which Mr.. Peyton proposed that a
course in beauty culture" be estab-
lished in the schools. including hair
dressing and manicuring. and pro-
posed the name of young woman to
have charge.
Mr.. Bruce cited this as an instance
OF Mr.. Peyton attempting to interfere
in the school administration, but Sem
ator Harrison called attention to the
fact that Mr.. Bruce had invited Mr..
Peyton to give him his advice and
ters.
The witness said that he had at
tempted to get along with Mr.. Pey-
ton until after the Moens trial and
the attacks of the Parents League
upon Mr.. Bruce. whom he felt that in
he -
lin revealing to Peyton my incom-
potency"
Il threw up my hands then," said
Bruce.
When his first term expired you knew
that Peyton might be reappointed didn't
you?" asked Senator Harrison.
The witness said he did.
Did the colored population object to
his reappointment?"
No Protest ON Peyton Recalled.
III there was any protest / had no
part in it," replied the witness. Il
don't recall any protest"
Did you tell him you were glad he
was reappointed?'
Il probably congratulated him. said
Mr.. Bruce While he was a member
Of the board I was anxious to have his
support and cooperation"
Glad I'm Pickwickian Sense.
Did you mean you were glad he
| was reappointed?'
I'm Pickwickian sense" replted
| the witness.
Senator Harrison pressed the wit
ness as to his sincerity in congratu-
| Iating Mr.. Peyton on his reappoint-
ment. Mr.. Bruce replied that it was
always a sort of satisfaction to him
| to see a man of his own race con-
i tinue in public esteem.
Questioned as to Chase.
Senator Harrison reverted to
photograph of Mr.. Bruce given bv the
| witness to Calvin Chase at one time
ITO the unique, fearless. the recentless
W. Calvin Chase"
The sincerity Of the witness again
was questioned in regard to this in
A., scription. Mr.. Bruce said that he
didn't think there was any question
Of sincerity involved and made a dis
tinction between any action of his
as a public official and as a private
Individual. He said that If Chase
had been intelligent don't think
that inscription" He said that he re-
ferred to Mr.. Chase as unique because
his character was unique. and relent-
less because in pursuance OF any OBJ
ject Chase was without scruple
| Did he take 1t as complimentary?
1
Were you afraid Of him?" asked
Senator Dillingham;.
It do not think co." said the witness.
He added that when episodes had oc-
CURED in his career in the public
schools, when it was a matter Of hon
or to oppose a man such as Mr.. Chase,
he had never been found wanting.
Denies Talking to Witnesses.
Senator Harrison asked Mr.. Bruce II
he had talked to any witnesses called
in the Bruce investigation just before
they testified, or had sought to lead
them to testify to anything before the
committee. The witness denied en-
| phatically that he had.
Senator Harrison asked also II Mr..
Bruce had suggested that the charges
against him should be referred to the
corporation counsel. instead OF being
Investigated. Mr.. Bruce denied this
also. He said that his counsel. Henry
E. Davis. at a meeting of the board
LOT education had urged that all
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