Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-26
The Districts Most Urgent Need


In its final consideration of the Dis
riot appropriation bill by the Senate
Committee the question must come VI
quarely for decision whether the pub
ic school system of the District is tC
re given its required equipment now
VIXEN the need is great, and when
here is money available to meet it
This need has been effectively stated
rrevarious communications, by the
Commissioners, by the board of edu
alton and by organizations of citi
ems after an exhaustive examination
nto the situation. The latest presen
alton of the case is that of the super.
'ntendent, in a letter addressed to the
commissioners for transmittal to the
Senate committee.
Many details are given of this ur.
cent requirement, pointing to the alb.
;oIute necessity for the immediate
PROVISION of more buildings. Struc.
lures now advancing toward expected
completion in September will provide
,orty-eight clasSrooms. These are
not, enough, by many rooms, to pro-
vide for the present school population.
By,next September the number of pu-
pills will have increased so that even
if the buildings at present under way
were sufficient to meet the now cur
rent need there would remain a sur
plus for which no provision is made.
So long continued has been the fail
ure to provide for the growth of the
Districts school population that the
arrears at present require a building
program entailing the expenditure of
would help greatly. Ten million, it
has been estimated, would put the
District in position later to catch
up without strain. Some have esti-
mated the total present and imme-
diately prospective requirement at
thirty millions.
There is certain limit to the
amount that can effectively be used
in a single year. There is a limit to
the. capacity of the Districts building
department to handle plans and con-
tracts. 1t has been suggested that, in
part, the present arrears OF school
housing are due to this latter condition.
The. Commissioners can advise the
Senate committee as to the maximum
capacity Of the municipal architects
Office IN this regard. and it is then for
the committeeman it is to be hoped
Congress eventual1y-to grant that
amount that will represent the largest
possible annual contribution to the
structural plant.
The funds for such an extensive
building project are available. If they
cannot be spared from the current
revenues, on whatever basis or ratio
the appropriations are made. without
Gripping the District in respect to
other urgent needs, there remains the
accumulated surplus of District tax
revenues awaiting in the Treasury ap-
preparation for local necessities on an
equitable basis, the same basis as that
On which they were collected from the
people. If those funds are not appro-
priated for this purpose. on such a
biiity of an advance Of funds from the
federal Treasury, on terms such as
those that governed when the District
some years ago was compelled, or
rather was permitted, to borrow from
the government to meet large appro-
priations for permanent works. II
such an arrangement cannot be made
the District may be permitted. as
other communities permit themselves,
to borrow the necessary money by
means of a bond issue, thus spreading
the funding of this large project Of
necessary work over a future period,
and admitting to a part in the liqui-
dalton those who will mainly benefit
by the constructions.
BY whatever method this plan is
financed. there should be adopted a COM
prehensive system Of school construc-
tipps. starting Immediately and COM
pIeted as quickly as conditions allow,
providing at once for the necessities
OF the present school population and
eventually for those pupils who are
to come. By whatever means chosen,
the Districts school system must be
equipped, SO that every child living in
the National Capital will have a
chance to be properly educated.
According to reports. it seems posi-