Evening star., 1920-03-31
WITNESS LEARNED
CLOSELY QUIZZEp
At SCHOOL HEARING
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Continued from First Page.)
mony except one kept.for record wer,
destroyed, with the exception of Mr.
Peyton's copy. He said that Mr.. Pey
ton refused to turn it in, saying tina
it would take court action to get i
from him.
DR.. Learned said that DIR. Var
Schaick put Mr.. Peyton on the com
mittee because he did not APPROX
Peyton went on the committee witt
some hesitation" and that he attend
ed seven hearings, but refused to at
tend the last two because he did no
think it was desirable to call II
Bruce.
Was any one else put on the com
mittee because he was favorable u
Bruce% asked Senator Harrison.
Not to my knowledge
As to "kicking Over Traces"
1.-The failure of Peyton to sign esf'
majority report gave rise to DIR. Val
Schaick's comment that he hae
kicked over the traces, did it?' asked
Senator Harrison.
The witness testified that he sup
posed DIR. Van Schaick in using that
phrase in a letter to him under date
of August %. 1919. had referred to the
fact that Mr.. Peyton left the hearings
before they were concluded; that he
had gotten out of the job before II
was completed.
"Did you know at that time how
Peyton and how you and Mrs. Cook
would vote in the Bruce case?"
DR.. Learned said that the report was
not filed until October and that he
was making up his mind at the time
and was examining the testimony In
detail.
Senator Harrison called attention
to the fact that in his letter of August
2S Dr. Van Schaick had said the eVl-
dence proved to him that Mr.. Bruce
should be retained.
"Did that influence you in making
up your mind?"
No" replied the witness.
Defends Method Adopted.
When DIR. Learned told of sending
other members of the board copies of
the evidence taken in the Bruce hear
ing and Of receiving in reply COM
ments and suggestions before he had
made his report, Senator Harrison
asked the witness if he thought such
suggestions fair and proper. DIR.
Learned said he thought no criticism
could follow such a course.
1T was understood that all members
of the board would receive copies of
the evidence. and l urged them to read
over the whole record and send me any
remarks or suggestions that occurred
to them,' said the witness.
Now, doctor. l want to ask you as
a highly educated gentleman-" be-
gan Senator Harrison.
Permit me to say l am not a highly
educated gentleman. interrupted the
witness. Il am man of only ordinary
education"
NO. doctor. you are a highly
iofn he
senator, "and l want to ask you if
you do not believe that your COM
mittee of three was appointed to in
vestigate charges against MIR. Bruce,
and that tie board was to rely on
your investigation and pass on your
report. without that report being in
f1uenced by any other member Of the
board?"
II do not" said DR.. Learned. ''The
board did pass on the report. This
was a very peculiar case, and if any
of my colleagues could find time TO
read through the 140 pages of evil
dence submitted l was glad TO get
their aid. The report as adopted was
the best tie board could get out
"Slush-Fund Letter" Discussed.
The question of the So o-called ''slush
fund letter" was next touched on, the
letter being one formulated by color
ed teachers. with the aid of Mr.. Bruce
suggesting legal action against GER
tain members of the Parents League
The witness said the writer's had
some foolish idea ffat If they got the
lordly sum of 100000 they would
stand in together somehow and cele-
brate." He said that MF. Bruce aad
been summoned before the board
where he admitted having aided in
drawing up the letter. saying he be-
lieved his course justifiabie.
The letter was referred to the cor
poration counsel by the board. who
said it contained no cause for action
against the signers.
Referring again to the subcommit-
tees investigation of the Bruce case
at which Mr.. Thurston was not pres
ent, DIR. Learned said if Mr.. Thurston
had ask ed to be admitted to the hear
ings his request would have been
considered by the board.
Says ThurstOn Gave Little Help.
I'VE gave the superintendent of
schools every opportunity to make
suggestions" said DR.. Learned. land
/ grieve to say that we had SO little
help from him that we felt there was
nothing to do but to go ahead as
originally planned"
The witness said that had any ac-
ton been decided on looking to the
suspension or dismissal of MIR. Bruce
the superintendent would have been
consulted and made a party to what
ever action the board took.