Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-30
statement that 10000 children are on
part fimc2v
Capacity for All Children

SWR8CItf IVT SA1A NhhuO1
''That may be true In q sense" said
Mr.. Rowen, 'but it's only a half
truth and mischievous. In the first
place. as far as the number Of schools
concerned there Is sufficient school ca.
age in the city.
"Shifting population. however. has
resulted in having more schools in some
localities than are actually needed, while
other neighborhoods do not have enough.
''I.et the people Of Philadelphia sus-
pend judgment. until they get both
sides Of the subject. Then they will
be able to reach an opinion rs to what
Is right and what Is wrong
Thomas Shallcross. a member Of the
board. does not agree with DR.. Fine.
gan as to an elective school board.
t''It would be a great pity for Phila-
delphia II this system should be adopt.
er," said Mr.. Shallcross. and IL We
can Judge the future by the past, the
system would not work.
shallcross Opposes Elective Board
II would refuse absolutely to be a
member Of board that was elected. In
that case the members would be sub
ject to the will Of politicians and the
superintendent would have to answer
to a political machine. At present
the board Is free to act.
"I agree with DR.. Finegan on his
building program. We intended to build
up the schools. but during the war
period 1t was almost impossible to raise
enough money to pay the teachers. Then
the Legislature gave us the opportu
nifty to levy a higher tax rate and We
saw our way clear to start improve
ments. We cou Id not borrow none,
during the war. but now we can"
"Thc new buildings program proposed
by DR.. Finegan may be needed. but
do not think the taxpayers wish to pay
chat amount Of money said Thoma.
s. Boyle, another board member. II
the S35 900 900 voted by the board II
put in a reasonably good condition.
system would not be wise. We canno
afford to let the board get into poll
tics again, a condition that we do no
lhave now.
/ Our building program would hav
gone ahead more rapidly, but it was hell
up by the war. No money was avail
able for the purpose. Not until 1872
did the legislature give us the right t.
raise the tax rate
Lane Fears "Politics"
David II. Lane, eighty one year oil
member of the board, said:
"Of course, no system is perfect, an,
We know that certain improvements ar
desirable, but money is lacking to max
them. as 1t has been in the past.
,"As to electing the board. op
pose it. Politics would surely be drag
ged in. I have been in politics lonl
enough to know.
"It Is foolish to talk Of another su
pervisor above the Superintendent o
Education. If they keep ping super
visor OH supervisor, they will build VI
cumbersome and shaky edifice withou
any end. There is plenty of super
vision at the top right now.
"Therc are certain limitations in ou
schools here, but ! know Of no othc
city where there are special schools TO
tubercular, imbecile and crippled chill
dren, with free transportation for tn,
latter. Unexpected shifts In population
made our problem more difficult. too.
"What is needed now Is not
changed system, but more money t,
carry out the present one properly
..CaKatioR is the. only splHticnag r~....
total of 10000 tonsD. both indicate
bookings by bridge and structural shops
ut Il rate Of over 100 per cont. March
orders in export trade show an improve.
ment. rate being over 40 per cent of
average for 1920, which was 4l3,m0
tons per month. 4 6O0O-ton rail in.
quiry for Japan is pending