The Washington times., 1922-06-22
D. c. OFFICIALS
ATTACKED FOR
SCHOOL STAND
Snowden Ashford Declares
Commissioners Are Wrong in
Eastern High Controversy.

The District Commissioners do
not know what they are doing In
refusing to consult with corporation
counsel and with disinterested
parties In regard to the auditorium
OF the new Eastern High School, !"
Snowden Ashford. former municipal
architect, declared last night In the
meeting Of the Connecticut Avenue
Citizens Association at All Souls
Parish Hall. 'If they did they
would not dare to assume the re-
sponsibility. They have not studied
their subject. They have not been
properly advised.
Mr.. Ashford. who was municipal
architect Of the District for fifteen
years and under whose direction the
present building code was drafted.
pointed out that the thing over.
looked in this controversy Is the
distinction between movable scenery
and set scehery. He said there Ia
an enormous fire hazard oocasioned
by using shifting scenery on stages
OF auditoriums. He also declared
that stairways to galleries should
be separate and distinct from stair.
ways to main auditoriums. He said
that the revised plans for the en-
trance does not provide for a single
exit from main floor of building,
that II Is necessary to go down into
the basement where fumes and
smoke are likely TO be thickest.
The denunciation of the commits.
sioners' actions by Mr.. Ashford fol.
lowed the upholding Of their de.
cision to the effect that the audi.
torium was an assembly hall and
In accordance with the building
code by Albert Harris, present mu.
nicipal architect. Mr.. Harris claims
that the plans of the auditorium
and stage as drawn under Mr., Ash.
ford's direction were revised upon
the recommendation OF the principal
Of the school and of the school au,
thorities. He claims that the audi
torium and stage are in accordance
with the building code and that The
room is an assembly hall. He
asked for a reconsideration OF the
resolution Of the association pre-
sented to- the commissioners.
Mr.. Harris read a letter from the
commissioners addressed to the Sec,
retary of the Federation OF Citi
zens' Association. which says: "As
to the assembly hall itself, the com,
missioners accept the responsibility
for its construction, which is, in
their opinion, fully in accordance
with the requirements Of the build
ing code. In the minds Of the com
missioners there can be no doubt
that this is, under the building code
properly an assembly hall"
william b. Westlake. president OF
the association, outlined the history
Of the controversy. He contends
that the auditorium is not accord
ing to the building code. After dis
cussion of the subject, he offered a
resolution requesting the Federation
Of Citizens Associations to again
bring the subject before the com
missioners with the request that
they inform themselves by consult
ing with the corporation counsel and
with disinterested authorities. The
resolution was passed.
Mr.. Harris showed pictures on q
screen Of the various stages OF con
struction of new schools and ad
ditions to old schools now under
way.
A resolution to take up with the
Public Utilities Commission and the
Capitol Traction Company the mat
ter of removing all trolley poles
from traffic space between the looI
and Cleveland Park Immediately
without waiting for installation OF
conduit system was adopted.
The meeting then adjourned fol
the season. Sessions will be re
s,irned in September.