Evening star., 1920-03-17
"Campaign Of Misrepre.
sentation," He Says, Pro-
testing Denial of Counsel.
MEMBERS ION TRIAL"
HE TELLS COMMITTEE
Mrs. Gerry as Witness Tells About
Financial Transactions and
Vote on Superintendent.

Charging that campaign of mis-
representation and slander' against
the board of education was under
way in Washington. DR.. Charles p.
Neill. a member of the board. today
protested to the Senate committee in
vestigating the schools. because the
committee had not agreed to allow
members of the board to be fully rep
resented by counsel at the hearings.
Senator Sherman. chairman of the
committee, and other members of the
committee pointed out that the COM
mittee had not refused to allow the
board members to have counsel beside
them to advise them. but that it had
determined not to permit such counsel
to question and cross-examine wit
nesses.
Insists Board Ii on Trial.
DR.. Neill insisted that the board of
education was 'on trial. in this in
vestigation. He expressed the opin-
ion that members Of the Senate COM
mittee would be absolutely fair to
the board. But. he said. a trained
lawyer would know what questions
should be asked to bring out the
whole truth.
Senator Harrison. declaring that the
committee wanted to get at the whole
facts in the case. asked il there were
certain members of the board who
were afraid they will tell some-
thing"
to this suggestion.
In support of his charge that a
campaign of Misrepresentation about
members Of the board is being carried
on. DIR. Neill said that q report was
being circulated that Mrs. Margarita
est conviction as a member of the
board because DIR. Van Schaiek. presi-
dent Of the board, held mortgage
on her house.
This story is absolutely untrue"
said DIR. Neill.
Mrs. Gerry q Witness.
Dr. Neill was on the stand but an
hour and a half. and was followed by
Mrs. Gerry. who asked to have the
matter Of her financial standing heard
by the committee Ut once. ahS' In
troduced evidence to show that the
Washington Loan and Trust. Comnapys
held ,s = deed Of srqst fera IS, small
no time did DR.. Van schaick have any
connection with Ii.
Mrs. Gerry said she supposed the
rumors originated from the fact that
in 1917 Dr. Van Schaick, knowing
ficulty had offered to indorse q note
for her. and she had accepted the
offer. with the result that he had In
dorsed such note for $500.
Mrs. Gerry read into the & record a
dent of the Second National Bank.
showing that the note in question
had been renewed twice. the second
time on October l. 1917. and thar
shortly thereafter it was taken up.
IN Y,,lv 1917 xsrho m
the note was outstanding, Mrs Gerry
had voted to re-elect Mr.. Thurst1A as
superintendent of schools. although
DR.. Van Schaick had voted against
had been liquidated that, she voted
with the president Of the board
against retaining Mr.. Thurston.
Questio.eA By Senator.
DR.. Neill was questioned by Senator
Harrison regarding the Monday Even
ing Club and what 1t may have had
to do with his appointment as a mem
ber Of the board Of education.
The witness said that after George
E Hamilton left the board, DR.. Van
Schaick. president of the board of
education, had asked him to suggest
the names of some men Of similar
caliber to succeed Mr. Hamilton and
that DR. Van Schaick had asked him
to write to the Justices of the Su
preme Court in regard to the matter.
II did not write to them. however"
said DR.. Neill.
He himself was asked by DIR. Van
Schaick II he would accept the ap-
pointment.
Il said that I would not" continued
DR.. Neiil After Mr.. Larner's resigna-
tion DR.. Van Schaick again asked me
if would consider the appointment,
but l replied that l would not. Com
missioner Erownlow also asked me if
I Wnnld tho
] said that would prefer not to do so
He said that men of my caliber should
be willing to go into public service.
Finally Judge Siddons talked to me
over again that should accept. that l
should consider myself drafted into
the public service. In the end said
! would accept as drafted"
Not Asked Of Thurston.
Senator Harrison asked the witness
IL anything had been said to him in
regard to Supt Thurston when he
was approached to go on the board
NO replied DR.. Nein. He added
however. that at a public meeting he
had heard Supt. Thurston criticise
the reorganization program proposed
by the board of education.
II expressed my surprise to find the
board of education at apparent CON
fict." said DR.. Neill. DR. Van
Schaick said it was most unfortu-
nate that this was the case. When
went on the board / knew only in q
general way of the controversy be.
tween the board and the superintend
ent. ! knew nothing Of the opposi-
tion in the board to the recollection
of Mr.. Thurston in 1917. thought
that the controversy was only over
questions of policies I never mad ar
idea that the board questioned his
fitness for office. l went on the board
without prejudice or feeling agains,
Mr.. Thurston.
My personal intention when I wen,
on the board was to bring about Z
settlement of the controversy BY at.
tempting to bring the board and Mr.
Thurston together.
Mr.. HAMILTON Asked of 1Tine.,
MI hamilton gave me two hours OF
his time discussing the situation, ant
said to me, You are in for a storm,
time 1 said that I hoped to be able
to bring about settlement of the con
troversy and a better understandings
between the board and the superintend
ent. If you do MIR. Hamilton said t.
me, you will do q good service
III ! had known the feeling agains
Supt. Thurston by members of tn,
board who had served with him for fiv.
/. or six years 1 would never hav.
=, thought Of being able to bring then
together"
The membsss o. the board had fxee
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