Evening star., 1920-03-11
THREELEFT BOARD
AFTER OPPOSITION
T0DR. VAN SCHA|CK
Only One of Members Who
Were Against Him for
Leader Remains.
BRUCE CASE UP TODAY
AT HEARING ON SCHOOLS
President of City Education Body
Cross-Examined by Sen
ator Harrison,

SASS0- -ASAo&AAAAS0 Wy SSA
ator Harrison.
Every member of the board of edu-
cation who opposed the election of
DR.. John Van Schaick. jr.. as president
of the board, with one exception, has
since left the board. it was testified
today by DR.. Van Schaick at the public
school investigation now being con-
Quoted by a select committee of the
Senate. The one exception Is Mrs.
Cook.
Senator Harrison of Mississippi.
who conducted the examination Of
DR.. Van Schaick. said that the failure
of these members of the board to be
reappointed seemed strange" to him
and asked DR.. Van Schaick IL he knew
why they had not been reappointed.
DR.. Van Schaick replied that he was
unable to say what Influenced the
| minds of the justices of the District
Supreme Court in making the. ap-
pointments.
The members Of the board who vot-
ed against his election and who are
not now members of the board, Dr.
Van Schaick said are william r. GAL
liner, Ernest H. Daniel and John B.
Larner.
Review Of Bfuee Case.
A large part of the hearing today
was given over to- a review of the
Bruce case, and in reply to questions
by Senator Harrison. Dr.. Van Schaick
said that the board might have ac-
cepted the informal offer of Assistant
Superintendent Of Schools Bruce to re-
sign il the parents league had. not
resorted to deeds Of violence, picket
ing. noise and clamor." The witness
said the board feared to encourage
such methods Of influencing it's action.
Senator Harrison questioned the
president of the board at length on
the reasons for Superintendent Of
Schools Thurston's being absent from
| the hearings in the Bruce controversy.
In previous statements DR.. Van
Schaick had said he had requested"
Mr.. Thurston to remain away, for fear
that his presence might embarra0
some Of the witnesses. Calling atten-
tion to the law, which reads that the
Superintendent Of schools shall sit
With the board the senator asxe4 II
the witness did not think the law had
been violated.
IF it had been anything but a re-
quest it would have BEEN" said DR..
Van Schaick.
The witness said that. although the
initiative in the Bruce case might
have been taken by the superfntend-
ent. that onicial has shown dispo-
sition to "sidestep" the case. DR.. Van
Schaick said he believed the assista mt
superintendent to be a man OF "supe-
rior ability"
Senator HaFfison's Q0esti0n0.
Senator Harrison resumed the Cross
examination Of DR.. Van Schaick a.
soon as the hearing began today. He
asked what members of the board OF
education who voted against DR.. Van
Lob i,L of . n p
still members of the board.
Mrs. Cook is the only one" replied
DR.. Van Schaick.
Then Mr.. Galliher. Mr.. Daniel and
Mr.. Larner. the others who voted
against you, are now OF the board?"
asked Senator Harrison.
The witness replied that this was SO.
Senator Harrison asked il George f.
Hamilton was still member of the
board.
mo" said the witness.
At this point DR.. Van Schaick said
that he desired to correct a statement
made yesterday that the vote on his
election last summer was five to three,
as suggested by c. C. Lancaster.
II discovered on examining the rec
ords that 1 was elected unanimously"
said DR.. Van Schaick.
Mr.. Lancaster suggested that the vote
stood 5 to 3, and then, on motion OF
a member Of the board, the election was
made unanimous.
DR.. Van Schaick said that he was not
present and that there may have been
an informal vote. but that the record
did not show it.
Senator walsh Surprised.
Senator Walsh of Massachusetts ex-
pressed surprise that where there was
division on a vote. and the election
was later made unanimous, there should
be no record Of the fact.
Senator Harrison. continuing his ex-
animation, said:
s.It is strange to me that all those
members of the board who opposed you
and who usually supported Supt Thurs
ton are not now on the board, and that
those who supported you are, for the
tkat?"
ST cannot TELL" answered Dr. Van
Schaick. II would hesitate to say what
Influenced the judicial mind" referring
to the fact that the members Of the
board are appointed by the justices Of
the District Supreme Court
perhaps the memorandum which you
testified yesterday you submitted to the
justices in opposition to the Reelection
Of Supt- Thurston may have had some
it to ycl?" suggested Senator HarYi-
81 may say in that connection" re-
piled DR.. Van Schaick. that Supt
lhufStOh SuOmltteo d memorandum In
reply to mine to the Justices"
Senator Harrison questioned Dr. Van
Schaick about the qualifications Of the
men who had left the board, bringing
out the fact that William T. Galiiher
was president Of the American National
Bank, that Ernest H. Daniel was presf-
dent of an ice cream company, that
John b. Larner was president Of the
Loan and Trust Company
and that George e. Hamilton was presi-
aent Of the Capital Traction Company.
The men who opposed you are ali or
the board" said Senator Harrison.
DR.. Van Schaick said that he was
not sure that Mr. Hamilton had op-
posed him.
Q1aliAeati0ns 81 Supporter.
Taking UP the members Of the
board who had supported DR.. Van
schaick, Senator Harrison asked
3chaick replied that Mrs. Gerry had
been a teacher and an author and
that she was q woman Of broad cul.
ture. He said that he did not know
what Mrs. Rhodes experience had
been. but that she took q great in-
rector of the playground movement.
Mr. Peyton, he said, WAS q Tu&n Of
lbility and Q successful lawyer. and. s
IN many respects. valuable member
He has made some bitter ana not
secentiy." said DR.. Van schaick.
s.Sometimes he doesn't do what he
asked Senator Harrison.
Dr. Van Schaick then began Q d.
yussion Of Q letter written By him o s
Dr. Lsarn4d. In whteh ~ sai9 -