Evening star., 1920-03-12
Letter to O. P. Newman, Then
Commissioner, Read at
Senate Hearing.
TELLS OF CONVERSATION
WITH "0UR FRIEND S"
Admits He Might Have Referred
to Justice Siddons-Community
Centers Discussed.


man when he was District Commits
sioner. in which DR.. John Van Schaick.
jr.. president Of the board OF educa-
ton, urged the retirement from the
board Of Mrs. Susie Root Rhodes. was
read to the Senate committee inves-
tigating the public school system by
Senator Harrison of Mississippi at the
hearing today.
Before the letter was read it was
identified by DR.. Van Schaick. In the
letter DR.. Van Schaick said that he
had talked the matter over with our
friend s." Senator Harrison asked II
this referred to Justice Siddons, and
Dr. Van Schaick replied. Possibly"
Pressed by Senator Harrison as to
the reasons for writing the letter, Dr.
seeking to bring about q change on
the board. In defense Of his attitude
toward Mrs. Rhodes. DR.. Van Schaick
pointed out that she was a director OF
Fairgrounds and as such subordinate
to the District Commissioners. He
said that he feared this fact would
tend to lessen the influence of the
board of education in its dealings with
the Commissioners. He said that Mrs.
Rhodes always had co-operated with ,
him on the board.
Ina1ires About Dances.
Senator Harrison also took up the
question Of community centers a. con-
trolled by the board Of education and
repeatedly questioned the witness As
to dances in the school buildings. ct
one time making q pointed inquiry as
to whether the ''bunny.hug ana tne
"shimmie" were permitted. DR.. van
schaick said that tho dances held
were always supervised by one Of the
community secretaries and that no
improper dances were allowed. he
uneauivocally Endorsed, the progrAm
Of community center work = 1t mas
Senator Dillinghazm wanted TO know. II
the witness did not think that Allowing
school pupils to stay up = iAse n lO;So
o'clock At community centef entestSM-
ments would not interfere with fnstr
ansVered that the discretion Of the psf.
ents Of The child should be the best
s11es Sssass. e W 49, - ssps1 =. van
schaick's opinion = to 4s psocssey q
Using % The .ehos. esss9 SSasin r,cts,,s s1r " snd
ssss Sssses3 e s 1sanssl ssnUol
tuiidfff ~ 10 uss fr ''hufnAA better
ment.." ana that Within csrtain limits
The name Of Miss Margaret Wilson
was brought into the hearing when
Senator Dillingham; asked the Wit
ness who had been interested in ths
establishment Of the community
getting Congress to authofiss such
When the hearing adjoufned until
10 o'clock tomorrow morning Senator
Harrison had Just taken up the case
charTes as a result Of his visits to
the public schools in the capacity Of
a student OF antheopoloey. and whose
conviction in thu lower courts was
set aside on appeal
ouisseA ~ to Brace Hearing.
Resuming his cross-examination Of
DR.. Van Schaick today. Senator Har-
rison first questioned the witness re.
garding permission granted Assistant
Supt Bruce to sit with the board
at the time Of the investigation OF
charges against him.
''Supt. Thurston say: that Bruce
was allowed to sit with the board.
said senator Harrison. while he.
himself. was requested to stay away.
Yet Bruce was the subject OF charges
being Investigated"
Van schaick. II think that Bruce
was not permitted to sit with the
board until called
The witness testified that in recent
months Assistant Supt. Bruce had
been .stns sskeo TO He set said tha. this vas
in line with the recommendation OF
former President Hamilton OF the
board His recommendation had been
that both assistants be asked to s't
assistant superintendent did not at
tend.
Senator Harrison pointed out that
the law specifies that the superin-
tendent shall ST n rs a.. memosa sa.c c1 In, I'M
says nothing about the assistant sa-
perintendent.
There to Answer 0oestSons.
The witness said thai he made J
distinction in the matter OF the pres
ence of the assistant superintendent;
that they should merely be physicalty
present, ready to answer questions /!
called upon.
.As a matter Of fact said Senator
Harrison. wasn't It a little out OF
the ordinary that Thurston should be
asked to stay away from these meet
ines Of Of The = besrd: sssd.,, when the law says
i Dr.. Van Schaick said that he thought
not.
Taking up the question Of the re-
port in the Bruce case and the evil
dence. 1t was brought out that Nj
les Of tho evidence. Or: Van schaick {
said he did not know whether . cop.
was given to Mr.. Bruce or not
Senator Harrison asked DR.. Van
Schaick what clubs and other organi-
cations he belonged to here.
Asked q to ADliattsss.
~I am a member of the Cosmos Club.
the Monday Evening Club. the Sons of
the Revolution and some other or
answered the witness.
senator Harrison then began q series
Of questions seeking to have set forth
the purpose Of the Monday Evening
club, who its members are and what
part DR.. Van Schaick had played in II. ;
DR.. Van Schaick said that the Mon
day Evening Club was composed Of
citizens Interested In good govern
ment and social progress. both men .
and women. While he could not say
how many members there were At
present, he said there had been. be-
tween 800 and 400. He admitted thai
he was an active spirit In the club In
1914. Among the others he mentioned
as active In the club were MerrfE
(.ates George s. Wilson anc Charles
s. Weller.
Senator Harrison wanted to know II :
Il WAS the custom of the Monday
Club to seek to have ap-
tainted as justices OF the Suprems
Court, District Commissioners. etc. 20
aid IN uplifting the city. nsnbeEp ot
The club.
Continued % Pass s cenaa &
- 49, - - -