The Washington times., 1920-06-04
EDUCATION BOARD
FACES DISSOLUTION
Senate Votes to Abolish II.
Similar Action Likely in
House Today.
The present Board of Education

The present Board OF Education
may soon be no more
The Senate voted to abolish 1t last
night: the House will take action to-
day. A point OF order in parliament
tAry tanglc might knock 1t out in
the House, but its chances OF passage
are good.
The school amendment rider" put
into the general deficiency bill by the
Senate Appropriations Committee.
was passed by the Senate after sena-
tor Pat Harrison OF Mississippi had
succeeded in gaining unanimous con-
sent to suspend the rules so that 4
point of order might not be made
against it When Senator Jones of
Washington later tried to have II
ruled out Of the supply bill he found
he was too late.
The amendment provides for the
abolition of the present Board of
Education and the appointment Of d
new board of six members by the
President, the nominations to be con-
firmed by the Senate. When the
President signs the bill the board au-
tomatically passes out OF existence
and a new one comes into being
Under the conditions the President
viii have to make recess appoint
ments for the board Immediately. 1t
would not surprise his friends IL he
gave recess appointments to several
members of the present board, includ-
ing John Van Schaick, jr.. as a means
of vindication. The situation has
been thrown into confusion by the
coup executed by Senator Harrison In
getting legislation at the present
session, and IL Is impossible to fore.
cast what a few hours may bring
forth.
The fate OF Superintendent of
Schools Thurst on still hangs in the
balance. although II is a question
whether the order of his dismissal
will stand after the board has been
abolished.
The text and the amendment to the
general deficiency bill adopted by the
Senate last night provides the follow
ing:
The control Of the schools Is vested
In a board of education, consisting of
six members, all of whom shall have
been for seven years Immediately pre-
ceding their appointment bona fde
residents OF the District of Columbia"
They shall be appointed by tho
President for terms Of three years
each, except that the original appoint
ment shall be two for one year two
for two years and two for three years.
Eligible for Rcappointment.
The board is to meet for organiza-
tion within thirty days after appoint
ment. 1t Is required to meet at least
once month, and to have all meet
ings public, except committee meet
ings dealing with the appointment of
teachers.
The bill provides that no appoint
ments, promotions, transfer or dis
missal of any director. supervising
principal, head Of department teach
ers or any other subordinates to the
superintendent of schools be made by
the Board of Education, except upon
the written recommendation of the
superintendent of schools"
The general powers OF the present
Board OF Education are retained in the
new act. The board is required to
transmit to the Commi issioners OF the
District OF Columbia an estimate of
the appropriations required for tho
coming year and "the Commissioners
shall transmit the same In their an
nual estimate for appropriations for
the District OF Columbia and with
such recommendations as they may
deem proper"
The sum OF $4,000 is appropriated
for survey OF the District public
schools.
Just the Thing; Horsford's Acid Phosphate
A. -