Evening star., 1920-04-02
ARDENCROACHED
ON THURSTON'S lob.
PEYTON TEST|F|ES
Lawyer Hints at Reward by
Promotion to Teachers
Defending Bruce.


tion mas attempted to encroach on the
field that should have been left to the
superintendent of schools were made
today by Fountain Peyton. a member
OF the board, before the Senate select
committee investigating the public
schools.
In reply to questions by Senator
Harrison the witness said that such
interference with the superintendent
could not but fail to react badly
Mr.. Peyton told the committea .ba,
ne mad been led to infer that promo
| uons In the coiored schools have been
iHdoe 10 reward teachers who an
peared IT defense OF Assistant SUPER
| intendent Bruce when Mr. Eruce na.
under investigation.
E1-board Members to BE Heara.
Inc committee finished with Mr.
rey.on today and adjourned until
neAI ~ MONDAY morning. when George
| board. of education. and William r
Iailiner and Ernest II. Daniel, former
board members. will be called
when inquiry by Senator Harrison
brought out the fact that no school
oook puollshers ever have complained
10 the board of education that there
was unfairness or favoritism in the
selection Of text books for the Dis
trict schools. Senator Dillingham; said
mar was remarkable in view of text
oook controversies that have occur
red in many cities.
1t is indeed" said Senator Harri-
Son. The board and its text book
committee are to be congratulated on
having kept such complaints down"
Asked as to CoIored Schools.
At the opening of the hearing Sem
ator Harrison of Mississippi ques-
toned Mr.. Peyton regarding promo
tions or demotions in the coIored
schools after the investigation of As
sistant Supt. Bruce had been completed.
did that investigation play any
part in transfers. promotions or de-
motions in the colored schools?" the
| senator asked.
Certain things have happened"
ion would Justify an inference that
the testimony taken at the Bruce in
vestigation did have an influence on
promotions in the colored schools"
Mr.. Peyton was asked for an in
stance. He said that G.. ID. Houston.
who was employed at Howard Uni
versity had been proposed for the
headship of the department Of busi-
ness at Dunbar High School. Mr..
Houston. he said, had been a valuable
witness .1 for Assistant s,n,s,n.a sugt; Bruce
Dr.. Durkee became the head OF
Howard University he undertook to
ffnstitute some reforms and that GER
tain elements attempted to obstruct.
He said that Mr.. Houston was in
volved. with the result that there was
an estrangement between Mr.. Hous-
ton and DR.. Durkee.
The witness added that the husband
Of Mrs. Cook. q member OF the board
OF education. had been denoted in
ONCE at Howard University.
a ~ the n
pointment as head of the business
department Of Dunbar was promo
tfon or demotion when considered in
connection with the Office held by Mr..
Houston at Howard University.
Urged by DIR. Van schaick.
The witness said he did not know.
He said. however. that the appoint
ment of Mr.. Houston to the Dunbar
School was strongly urged by Or.
Bruce. He said he heard them in the
board meeting discussing the mat
what did Supt. Thurston say"
asked Senator Harrison.
The witness said that he did not re-
call Mr.. Thurston saying anything:
that the recommendation came up
from Mr.. Bruce to Mr.. Thurston. prob
ably. in order to be properly before
the board.
ssNOtWlthStanQlnR MI iiouSNoh
uualifications," said Mr.. Peyton. Il
thoupht this looked like reward for
the Testimony he had given for Mr..
Bruce Furthermore, i was satisneo
that Mr. Houston was not prepared
to be the head Of a business depart
ment."
Were you prejudiced against Hous-
ton because of his testimony in the
Bruce case?"
A. to Qualifying Quizzes.
mot at ALL
Senator Harrison asked whether Nj.
Houston had taken an examination; Inc
witness said that he did not Know
or a ..oualifying" examination. He pro-
tested against so-called qualifying ex-
amjnations, because they have an op-
portunity for showing favoritism.
Senator Harrison asked if he had sr ever
head Supt. Thurston protest against
qualifying examinations.
mo" said the witness
.You assume. then. that they were
satisfactory to him."
Yes, but they were not TO me.
The witness said that in the case ot
the appointment of MIR. Houston the
door had been closed to everybody else.
and that the situation might JUSTIFY a
suspicion of favoritism.
Senator Capper wanted TO know u MI;
Peyton had suggested any one himself
for the Job. Mr.. Peyton said he had
suggested no one in particular. though
he had suggested the names of several
men in the department and urged that
there be a competitive ekaminauon.
Mr.. Peyton in one of his remarks
suggested that Assistant Supt. Bruce
had taken to the board of education
matters relating to promotions ana
transfers over the head OF Supt
Thurston.
senator Harrison asked for an in
stance.
an October or November. while We
were in conference on the school pro
gram of which DR.. Learned spoke.
said the witness, there was one OF
the matters on the program which
related to the efficiency of Supervisor
Knall and DR.. Moten. principal of the
Miner Normal.School. DR. Van Schaick
looked over TO Mr.. Bruce and said;
Isn't it about time you changed those
heads Of departments" Mr.. Bruce
said Yes and started to say something
about Miss Riggs.
'Supt. Thurston Immediately pro-
tested, and said that under the law
Mr. Bruce had no right to take these
matters up with the board and TO
ignore him. Dr. Van Schaick replied.
Wen put 1t over, and you can go to
law about it, If you want"
Senator Harrison asked III these
changes had been carried out. The
witness replied they had not. saying;
After Mr.. Thurston showed his
teeth they retreated
The witness added that Supervisor
Knall and Miss Riggs had been strong
witnesses against Mr.. Bruce at the in
vestigation.
Mentions Other Cases.
Mr.. Peyton mentioned the cases of
several other teachers who had been
promoted since the investigation of
Mr.. Bruce. who had testified in favor
Of the assistant superintendent, in
Guiding Miss Rosie Netherlands. who