Evening star., 1920-01-13
DR.. VAN SCHAICK'S
FITNESS ARGUED
BEFORE SENATORS
(Continued from First Page.)

that the activities of Or. Van Schaich
! had been responsible for their action
F., Mr.. Stutlar said he believed that 90
/ per cent of tho citizens OF the Dis
| trict were opposed to Or. Van
| Schaick's confirmation.
! Senator Sherman wanted to know
| v hat specific statement can be made
, against Or. Van Schaick.
| The witness replied that he had con-
| fidential information from member
of the school board who had served
| with him and suggested that the com
mIttee call w. T Galiihcr. George T.
. Hamilton and John y. Larner.
Rev. II. J. Calls. a colored minister.
charged that pr Van SSEAicss mad
conducted "a fake investigations II
Asst. Supt. Bruce of the public schools
He charged that Dr. Van Schaick an
nounced the report on Bruce would
be unanimous before the investigation
was begun, and that he had then
brought pressure to bear on Fountain
Peyton. colo-ed. to make the report
unanimous.
Question of Dignity.
"a man who would do thing OF
that kind" said Mr.. Calls. lis not mt
to be a District Commissioner.
"Dr. Van Schaick claims to be man
of education and experience" con-
tinued the witness. Yet In letter
he has classified the negro population
of Washington in this fashion: One
third child, one-third savage and one
third shell-game men,.
IF we are savageS. then 1t does not
speak well for American civilization
1t is beneath the dignity of a clergy
man and citizen to make such a
statement that one-third OF the ne
groes in Washington are shell-game
men.
I'VE contend that a man appointed
ID ;strict Commissioner should have a
proper balance as to public affairs.
We want a man who will be fair with
us. There are plenty of such men in
aShington."
Mrs F. S. Tanner, president Of the
Colored Parents League. repeated the
charge that the investigation of Bruce
had not been properly conducted and
that the verdict had been arranged
before the investigation was begun.
Also that DR.. Van Schaick had sought
to influence the vote of Fountain
Peyton. saying that if he would join
with the others to make the report
unanimous he would ease this man
down later" She said that she had
seen the letter written by DR.. Van
Schaick saying that the negroes were
one third child. etc.
George A. Finch of the Piney Branch
Citizens Association urged that the
committee recommend the rejection OF
DR.. Van Schaick's nomination. He
said that the people of Washington
ment and that was all the more rea-
son for choosing Commissioners with
care. A Commissioner. he said,
should be open minded and willing to
listen.
Recalls Hospital Controversy.
He said that Or. Van Schaick, as a
member of the board of charities. had
assailed the Piney Branch Citizens
Association during the controversy
over the location of the Gallinger
Municipal Hospital, when the citizens
association was protesting against its
location at 14th and Upshhr streets,
He said that in an address al the
had described a public hearing in the
municipal building as a scene o1 mob
spirit" and "unpatriotic."
1T never entered Or. Van Schaick's s
mind said Mr.. Finch, that any one
who opposed him was not imbued with
unpatriotic. What liberation, what
consideration may we expect from a
man of this character" demanded Mr..
Finch. ITO him citizens are merely a
mob, in his own mind he is omniscient
He appears to desire to be omnipotent
He is member of the school board. a
member of the board of charities and
now he wants to be member of the
! board Of District Commissioners"
Senator Sherman interrupted to say
that DR.. Van Schaick had assured the
committee he would resign those other
offices if he becomes District Commits
Sioner.
w. B. Westlake. president of the
Federation of Citizens Associations
appeared las a private citizen" in op-
position to DIR. Van Schaick. He said
that many persons had opposed the
appointment of DR.. Van Schaick, but
that they were connected with the
government service and afraid to
testify in public. He said that the op-
ponents Of Van Schaick would like
to have him summoned so they could
ask him some questions.
Rev. c. NJ. Tanner, pastor of the
Metropolitan A. M. E. Church, ap-
peared in opposition to the appoint
ment also.
Conrad H. Syme, until recently cor
poration counsel for the District. made
q brief statement to the committee in
which he declared that he had gone
over the testimony in the Bruce case
and had found nothing tangible In the
evidence. He said he was willing to
take the blame for any mistake in the
decision in this case.
Several Of the witnesses interrupted
to say that they had reference to the
second investigation. not the first. in
in which Mr.. Syme had been consult
ed. Mr.. Syme replied that he under
stood that the second Investigation
had gone over the same ground.
II have known DR.. Van Schaick for
seven or eight years" he said, land
1 don't believe there is man of wider
found for District Commissioner"