Evening star., 1920-03-02
SCHOOLS INQUIRY
TO BEGIN TUESDAY;
CALL VAN SCHAICK
Senator Sherman Would De-
lay Confirmation as Com
missioner Pending Probe.

A bill providing for the election
of the board Of education Of the
District of Columbia by residents
of the District was introduced by
Senator sherman, chairman of the
District committee. today by re-
quest. In submitting the bill SEN
ator sherman said that he had not
had an opportunity to examine 1T
carefully.
The bill was drafted by the cit
izens' joint committee for the
elective school board, comprising
representatives Of fthirty-threc civic
and business organizations. 1t
provides. with other things. that
to be eligible for election rs
member of the board Of education
the candidate must have been an
actual resident of the District for
seven years. and that he must be
twenty-five years old or over. The
electors must be tvventy-One years
Of age or over, and there II no dis
crimtnatiOn on account Of sex. To
be an electOr a man or woman
must have resided here for at least
one year prior to the election. The
board IL to be composed of nine
members elected for terms Of three
years. The bill provides n system
Of registration and election and
provides penalties for violation of
the law and fraud. 1t was referred
to the District committee.
Investigation of the public school
system Of the District of Columbia in
a tc n n
Tuesday at 10 am. in room 235. Senate
office building, Senator Sherman.
chairman of the Senate investigating
announced today.
The first hearing was to have been
held Thursday, but Senator Harrison
of Mississippi. a member Of the COM
mittee, will be absent attending the
funeral of Senator Bankhead OF Ala
oama. and in consequence the hearing
has been postponed.
DR.. Van schaick to Appear.
The first witnesses heard. Senator
Sherman said today. will be DR.. John
Van Schaick. jr., president OF the
board of education, and the other
of the board.
Senator Sherman expressed the
opinion that the nomination Of DR..
Van Schaick to be District Commits
he pending investigation Of the school
system Is concluded
II am opposed to DR.. Van Schaick's
said Senator Sherman.
but even il I were not. I should feel
hat no action looking to his confirma-
,rior to the conclusion Of this investi-
cation.
ut may be that the committee will
TX blame for conditions In the schools
upon some one. and it may be that
the blame may be fixed upon the
president Of the school board. II the
Senate should confirm his nomination
a. District Commissioner now the
of the investigating COM
mittee might make the Senate look
foolish
DC Will Protect Witnesses.
Senator Sherman said that in some
quarters 1t had been urged that the
fact a potential District Commits
sioner is head Of the school board
might terrorize teachers and other
persons who desired to give testi-
mony about the schools. He said that
he did not believe this was so, since
the committee would be able to pro-
tect any witnesses that appeared, and
il it could be shown after the hear
punish witnesses the committee and
Congress would know what to do
about it.
ANY danger Of our not being able
to obtain witnesses seems to me to be
r. the danger Of con
irming Dr. Van Schaick before the
is completed" said SEN
ator Sherman.
The committee will investigate the
physical needs Of the school system,
as we'll as the administrative process
IS Of the school board, superintendent
and the teaching in the schools, Sena-
.or Sherman said. If it is found that
more school buildings are needed
aere, recommendation for new build
ngs will be made to the Senate.
If the committee finds that there Is
anything wrong with the administra-
lion Of The schools. it will make rec
to cure these admins
trative evils, he added.