Evening star., 1921-10-12
DC. SCHOOL INQUIRY
TO PROBE DELAY IN
ERECTING HOUSES
Senate District Committee
Ordered to Investigate
School Situation.
GALLlNGER HOSPITAL
AR0UsEs CRITICISM
Subcommittee Named to Find Out
Why City Edifces Remain
Unbuilt.

After widening the scope of the in
quiry so as to include delays in build
ing hospitals, particularly the CAL
linger Municipal Hospital. the Senate
District committee today authorized a
subcommittee to investigate the
charges laid before it by Senator King
Of Utah in connection with public
schools of the District.
Senator King told the committee
that the principal complaint made to
him, from many quarters, was the de-
lay in providing buildings and other
equipment for which appropriations
had been made by Congress.
Senator Ball, chairman OF the commit
tee, also criticized the de.ay in the erec-
tion OF school buildings, and Senator
Dillingham; of Vermont wanted to
know what had been done about the
building of the Gaiiinger Municipal Hos
lital, Tor which Congress appropriated
funds two or three years ago. He de-
ared that it was shame that the
time had been allowed to eIapse with
cut this hospital having been erected as
provided.
At the suggestion of Senator Ball, the
committee agreed to include an inquiry
into the hospital situation in the pro-
posed investigation.
subcommittee Named.
Senator Ball appointed a special sub
committee to make this investigation,
consisting of Senators Capper OF Kan
Sas, chairman, and Senators Cameron
of Arizona and King of Utah. The
first meeting of the eubcommittee,
Senator Capper announced. will be
held at 1880 am. Monday in the
Senate District committee Offices.
II was provided that the inveStiga-
oh "a
first, in executive session without ad-
mitting the public or the press. The
hearings may be opened later, 1t was
said, if the committee deemed it wise.
Senator King called attention to the
fact that in the District of Columbia
the care Of public parks and gardens Is
now divided among the War Depart
ment. the District Commissioners and
the Department of Agriculture. He
suggested that the care of these parks
should be consolidated under one agency,
and said that 1t would result in con-
siderable saving. At his request, Sem
a,tor Ball will confer with the authors
ties regarding this matter. and, if neces-
sary. legislation VII be planned to
provide for such consolidation.
The committee decided not to take
up any bills on its calendar at this
time. owing to the congested state of
legislation in the Senate today.
hearing on vice repression measures
no" DelOTe the COmmltIee Will De nelQ
at o'clock tomorrow afternoon.
VIII Answer Charges.
Charges of their critics that they
are responsible for the expenditure
Of $4,000 for revising the plans of
the new Eastern High School and
consequently delaying the completion
of the building, will be answered by
school authorities when they appear
before the Senate committee.
Offcials today are busy preparing
testimony they will give to the
Senate committee.
When school officials appear before
the committee, 1t was said today,
they will strongly defend the action
Of DIR. Ballou in ordering a revision
in the plans of the new Eastern.
1t was pointed out that Snowden
Ashford, former municipal architect,
when he resigned left only sketches
of plans for the new school.
Mr.. AshfordS plans, it was contend
ed, were not satisfactory 10 the super
lntendent and other officials, due to
the fact that a sufficient number of
exits had not been planned for the
new school.
In addition to the small number of
doors provided in the former munici-
pal architects plans, this official said
that there were several other fea-
lures proposed for the new school
which did not meet the satisfaction of
the authorities. Among these were
the Arrangement for the heating plant
and the lunchroom.