The Washington herald., 1920-03-23
|PROTESTSLIDE
TAKEN IN PROBE
Mrs. Gerry Tells Senator'S
They Impughed Motives
OF School Board.
HARRISON DENIES BIAS
Says Quiz Of Tburston Will
Show Only Purpose Is
To Get Facts.


The Senate School Investigating
Committee was placed ON the de-
fensive yesterday when Mrs. Mar
garita s. Gerry. member Of the
school board, at the conclusion of
her testimony. protested against
the line OF questioning adopted by
the committee. which. she thought.
impugncd the honesty and motives
OF the members OF the school
board. The board is on trial."
she said.
Senator Harrison. assuring Mrs.
Gerry that the only object OF the
committee was to get the facts,
declared that its members had gone
INTO the controversy with open
minds and that IL he himself were
inclined toward prejudice 1t would
De In the direction of DIR. Van
Schaick' since he intended to vote
ior his confirmation as Commits.
sioner of the District.
senator Walsh asked Mrs. Gerry
TO suspend judgment until Super
ihtendent Thurston had been heard.
indicating that the examination. of
the latter would be as rigid as that
given members of the board. Mrs
Gerry urged that the committee in
qulre into the motives of the conn
.n,uee on persecution which has
.aken an active part in the de-
'eiopment OF testimony unfavorabIe
to the board" -
Ask for tions.
AT the request of Senator Walsh
the committee agreed to ask mem.
pers OF the school board to make
written recommendations for the
oetterment of District schools,
record.
Rabbi Abram Simon, member of
the school, board since November n
TOOK the stand during the Temporary
absence of Senator Harrison and
Senator Capper.
In reply to questions by Senator
walsh, DR.. Simon said he had NOT
been present at the. conferences of
members Of the board at DR.. Van
Schaick's home when it was decided
10 notify Thurston he would not be
reappointed. y.
He was present, however, he said.
AZ the board meeting following
Thurston's challenge to the board.
and was the only member present
voting against the resolution not to
re-elect Thurston. DIR. Simon said
ne could not vote for the resolution
because he had been a member of
the board only a few months and
mad not the opportunity to study
ihurston's work as superinte ndent.
Saw Only Harmony.
DR.. Simon said he had no opinion
the four months he has been q MEM
Der OF the board he has not seen the
snghtest evidence of anything but
perfect harmony between DIR. Van
Schaick and Superintendent Thurs,
ton. - -. -N'0''
In reference to the charge that
DR.. Van Schaick has been domineer-
Ing. DR.. Simon declared that the
board president had been courteous
and inclined to defer to the judy-
ment of Superintendent Thurston.
DIR. Sim noasid he had no opinion
about Thurston. but was inclined to
favor him. He maintained, however,
that the board was acting within
its legal rights in declining to re-
appoint him. -'..
Plea for Better Salaries.
8 A particularly-strong plea for in
creased salaries for teachers was
made by DR.. Simon at the conclu-
sion OF his cross-examination. He
declared the board had originally
estimated tina: an so per cent In
crease in salaries was necessary,
but that this amount had been
pared down to 40 per- cent on the
advice of District citizens, who
pointed out that a request for too
much might result in Congress CIV
ing no increase at all. He urged the
members of the committee to do
what they could. to reinstate the
original estimate.
Both DR.. Simon and Mrs. Gerry
were questioned closely as to
whether or not clique in the
school board operated with clique
Of school teachers and others to
bring about appointments of friend
ly District officials. Both denied
that such a clique existed.