Evening star., 1921-05-06

situation.
Il think that the Engineer Com
missi oner has made a study Of build
ing costs in Buffalo and Cleveland"
yey Of building costs in st. Louis and
Rochester showed that the costs here
for public schools were much lower.
He said that while he would be glad
to See an investigation OF building
costs, he desired to impress the COM
more school buildings.
Discussing the $4,000. 900 program.
DR.. Ballou said that he did not con-
template the abandonment Of any
schools now used. He said that the
absence Of school building construc-
tion here In the last FIVE years had
brought about an acute situation.
Senator Jones asked il standard
school building plans could not be
adopted. with a resulting saving Of
time and money. DR.. Ballou replied
have the plans for one school build
ing apply to those Of another, owing
to the difference in sites.
The superintendent told the COM
mittee that the large number Of small
school buildings here was one OF the
problems Of school administra tion. He
said that there are more. than l50
school buildings here-as many as
there are in Boston, whore there are
twice as many pupils. He said that
the desire Of the board was to adopt
the sixteen-room unit.
DR.. Ballou said that there was M
dlnerence OF opinion between the
board Of education and the District
commissioners as to the emergency
program. This program. he said,
gave consideration to the needs of
He pointed out that the total school
enrolment was between $4,000 and
$1,000. the highest in the history Of
the schools. He said that there had
been steady increase Of from az
TO per cent in the school enroll
that a similar increase is to be ex-
pected next September.
Senator King questioned the su-
perintendent about the children liv-
ing outside Of the District who at
tend the District public schools. Dr..
children from nearby points in Mary
land and Virginia: He pointed out
that Congress had authorised their
instruction in the District schools,
and added that he.' personally. be-
lieved this instruction should be
ployes are unable to nnd homes in
the District and must live across the
District line. and their children
should be given the benefit of the
District schools.
"T have been told" said Senator
schoolrooms in the District which
are used for nothing except storage
of old furniture"
Il am glad to make reply TO this
assertion" said DR.. Ballou. II have
before me a statement which has
ate and House committees on appro.
! priations. which undertakes to show
the capacity OF the school buildings
and which purports on the face Of II
| to be authentic and approved by the
Engineer Commissioner.
! The Engineer Commissioner. Col
Kutz. did not gather or supervise tn
gathering Of these figures. They werl
! gathered by employees of the repair
department Of the ofice of the rnu,
nicipal architect In March, 1919, o.
| its face. the statement would indicat,
March. 1920"
| DR.. Ballou told the committee tha
the data contained in this statemen
was inaccurate. that the work ha,
been carelessly done and that tn,
statement had been repudiated by Col
kutz. because OF confused question:
BILE statements It contained. Goint
into detail he showed that the state
ment asserted there were 106 NOR
classrooms which could be used 70
! classroom purposes in the school
than there actually are.
In reply to questions by Senate
Jones and Senator King. as to tn
reasons for this compilation Of fig
ures by the municipal architect, Dl
Ballou replied that he did not car
to answer.
Senator King suggested that per
haps new municipal architect wa
needed.
1--WE have q new municipal archi
tect," said DR.. Ballou. He said tina
the statement to which he refefre
was compiled under the orders OF tn
former municipal architect. Snowde
Ashford.
the school teachers. DR.. Ballou sal
Senator Jones suggested that Will
the committee was interested in tn
question. he did not think it shoul
be gone into in connection with tn
matter then under consideration-th
need Of school buildings. DR.. Ballo
; replied that the salary question wa
pressing. He suggested that ther
were three things to be considered |
determining the pay Of teachers
services rendered: the schedule of sal
I aries should have some relation to tn
supply and demand Of teachers, an
/, the salaries OF teachers in the Dis
/ trict should be established with re
gard to salaries paid teachers else
where and not with regard to tn
salaries. Of the clerical employees q
tho govsrnment The superiatender
J said .$Aak ths coenrniatss = aow {
bvould De bfo0ght to tho attauSjon q
Lion Hre<a ut the DPoDAr TINA