Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-08
SCHOOL FINANCING
BEING W0RKED0UT
BYBOARD0F TRADE
Three Plans for Obtaining
Funds Will Be Submitted
by Committee.

Emergency methods Of financing a
building program to alleviate over
crowded conditions in the District
public schools are going to be worked
out by the committee on schools of
the Washington Board Of Trade. Roy
G, Claim, chairman Of the school
committee, stated today that within
tan days he would cali a special meet
ing to consider feasible plan of OBJ
tanning funds to meet building pro-
gram which would afford a seat in a
suitable school for every pupil.
Three plans for obtaining funds for
the erection Of new schools are sug-
gested by Mr.. Claflin. and they will
be submitted to his committee at it's
for the use Of the District govern
ment's surplus fund. which amounts
to approximately $4,300,000, and is
lying idle in the United States Treas
ury. The other is to ask Congress to
grant a lump sum appropriation for
new school buildings, and the third
calls for floating a bond issue.
Most Feasible Plan.
Mr.. C1afiin is Of the opinion that the
plan for using the Districts surplus
revenues is the most feasible of any
VI tne tnIee ne suS6estco. however,
he will leave it to the school COM
mittee to decide the method for rails
ing the necessary money.
The Districts surplus fund of $4,-
100000 has accumulated since 1916,
when the revenues received under the
larger than required. This money al
though deposited in the Treasury to
the credit Of the District, is not rec
ognized as belonging to the municipal
government. Special legislation by
Congress only will make it possible
for the use Of the schools,
Therefore, it is the intention of Mr..
Claflin to have the school committee
Of the Board of Trade approve of the
use of this surplus fund. Then the
attention of the entire organization
will be attracted to the school COM
mittee's plan, and campaign started
to impress Congress with the vital
necessity Of using this fund.
Congress should take some action
to give Washington the necessary
schools" said Mr.. Claim. present
deplorable conditions should not be
allowed to exist. We are absolutely
in need of more schools. and some
thing should be done to obtain them
as soon as possible
Bond Issue Scheme.
Although Mr.. Claim believes that
tue use Oh tle DlSlrlcL s surplus is the
most feasible plan in an emergency,
if the Board of Trade will not ap-
prove it he will ask the organizations 8
support of his other misunderstanding
bond issue, or the appropriation Of
a lump sum for school buildings.
Flotation of a bond issue to meet
immediate needs of the schools was
recommended by former Superintend-
ent of Schools Ernest L. Thurston in
his annual report. Mr.. Clafln favors
a bond issue, If it is underwritten by
residents of the District Congress,
however, would have to approve the
bond issue, and Mr.. Clafln is doubt
full If it would take such action.
A lump sum appropriation of s5.ooo.-
900 or $6,000,000, said Mr.. Claf1n,
would ".go a long way in providing
some Of the necessary school build
ings." II, the use Of the Districts
surplus fund is not approved by the
Board of Trade. 1T is likely that Mr..
Clafin will ask the organization to
consider asking Congress for a lump
sum appropriation for this amount.