Evening star., 1920-03-13

geSbeC tEdt congress i,aS the supreme
| power in the District and that any
| report of the committee would have
much weight y also suggested that
| Congress- coLl ass u bill practically
leg Stating the board out OF business.
| 'tDo you think it would in the in
| tereSt 6t the schools, because Of all
| this controversy. to have the board
/ of ed cation aud Supt. Thurston all
go out?" asked senator Harrison.
/ y dent care to express an opinion
| on that urS il | see the report OF tho
| c.. smittae.'
! Senator sherman asked il DR.. Van
Scbaick Thought that the same body
! that APPOINTS the board Of education
! should also ,Vppoint the superintend-
/ emf Of schools
! ..r'hat's new suggestion" COM
mentei Or. Van Schaick. Il had not
, thought of il
! 40 YOU think that the majority Of
( the patrons Of the schools believe
! that Tfurston should be expelled or
/ discl!arged2' asked senator Har-
| riscr.
Il DO not know. There is no way
! here to find out"
n III you were impressed with the
I idea that a majority wish ID Thurston
retained. would vou feel that he
sHouid b" rntained? persisted Sena-
tor Harrison
IF this responsibility was placed
I on me- and my colleagues, the matter
! would be carefully stadicd. But 1
t
! be-
Asks Opinion as TO Tribute.
Senator Harrison said that he had
read IN the newspapers that 1.400
teachers of the schools had Joined in
sending bouquet Of American beau
ties to Mr FhUrston token Of their
esteem, ana asked DIR. Van Schaick
what lie thought of IT.
\. l.,v, ,,t,
demonstration was organized" replied
Dr. Van Schaicil. and the manner in
whlch principals and teachers OF
sel""is were called Up on the phone to
contribute, / would have to consider
the matter"
He saiu that his consent had not
been asked regarding the denonstra-
tion, but that under the circumstances
ne certainly would not have objected
if he HI } been asked.
Senator Harris II as'.ed il there were
any better judges than the teachers
Of whether Nr Thurston was a capable
superintendent.
They can judge on some phases, not
all, was the reply.
Taking UP the appointment of DR..
Eeiil aHa DIR. Simon as members Of the
board Of education. Senator Harrison
asked The witness if he had urged their
| selection.
My opinion was asked about both
q them, was the reply, and i said
that both of them were hish-ninded
mon
Or Van scaa'ck said that he had
met Justice Mccoy at the Cosmos
Club and that Justice Mccoy had
asked him what lie thought of DR..
Nell.
Had You written to any justices OF
the Supr me Court endeavoring to
have Dr. %hiI appointod?" asked Sem
ator Harrison
i don't know"
Did you write about DR.. Simon?"
4 don't know.
| The witness admitted that he had
ta Iked to Justice Siddons about them.
He said his recollection was that he
had talked TO Justice Siddons at the
Cosmos Ciup, too. -
( Have you ever recommended any
cne fer appoin tnItnt TO the board to
Justice Siddcns who was not appoint
edr' asked Senator Harrison
DR. Van Schaick replied that he did
not recall but that in justice to the
justices Of the Supreme Court he de-
sired +" say that they had maintained
Il high-minded attitude lie said that
they had asked his opinion and that
sometimes he had volunteered ii re-
aardinS possible appointees to the
, board.
knows Other Justices.
Replying to questions by Senator
Harrison. DR. Van Schaick said that
Justice SiGions was not the only
member of the court with whom he
was acquainted or with whom he had
J discussed questions relating to the
welfare of the District of Columbia.
u consla"r Justice Mccoy a very
dear friend he said Il have talked
to nim in his apartment. and our dis
cCasions were not always confined to
SciaDoi matters
And you urged the appointment OF
Or. Simon and Or. Neili to the school
board ?' asked the senator.
! Il have given testimony favorable
TO hoan of them. but l also spoke
highly Of others
VINO were the Others"
Il TOLD of the high character of Mr..
Dan Edw ards and SIR. Evan II Tucker,
whose names had been suggested"
But yoE said you had rather have
| NO, / cannot say that l did"
Questions by Senator Walsh.
Senator Walsh then took up the.
questioning. Sn what he told the COM
mitlee was an effort 10 fnd how IA
nliliar pr. Van Schaick was with GER
tain phases Of the school work. He
asked the number of teachers in tho
schools here. and was told that the
number was about 2.0g0." On ref
erence to the Official record it was
found TO he cess.
What is the cost per capita for the
education of 4 child in the District
OF Colum bia ~ as ked Senator Walsh.
81 do not know" said the witness.
Isn't such fundam entail question
as that one that member of the.
board ought to know" .
Il should say yes" 80
Have You any record that would
answer that question:"
Yes. / have here the report of tho
statistician that would show that"
said DR.. Van Schaick.
The senator then went into tha
question Of the cost of educating q
high school pupil and the cost OF edu-
eating a grade school pupil. the wit :
| ness replying to each question briefly
! by saying he Gid not have the figures
in his head.
y would like to ask you a little
more about this club that met on Moa- :
DAY evenings at Jour home" said
Senator Walsh
You refer TO the Monday Evening
Club" asked the witness. :.
| Yes"
That organization never had any
! meetings AT nay home but met at the
Cosmos Club. 1t might be cailed a
| good government club or social sery-.
ice club
| Attitude Of Club.
Did you ende&vor to place in Office
| the men that you thought would carry
out the Ideals you believed in?",
| As AN Individual, yes. As an or
! gan iZat-on. no. it is only Just and fair
| 20 say that the club did not interest
;itsef in the appointment of indiy;d-
ualS"
ITO what extent has the club been
isn@ce5stui in having appointments
: ~. 8