The Washington herald., 1922-03-29
ASKS SCHOOL
| FIRE ESCAPES
Rep. King Charges Build
ings Fail to Comply
With Regulations.
SEEKSCO-OPERATION
Business Manager to Assist
Superintendent Ballou Is
Declared Necessary.

Better schools and a more per-
feet school system for the Dlstrics
can only be realized through closer
cooperation between responsible
citizens Of the District and Con-
gress," Representative Edward ].
King, Illinois. declared yesterday.
There is no question in the mind
OF any member OF Congress who is
at all familiar with the school Sit
uation-in Washington. that the con-
dltions existing here are deplorable
and should be remedied at once.
The question:" Representative King
emphasized, "is the method to pur-
sue and its immediate application.
The people of the District should
realize more fully that Congress
depends to a great extent upon
them when iegislating for the city
OF Washington. In many instances -
King pointed out. information that
would be OF great value to Con-
gress is withheld bv some one who
Is not sufficiently interested to
come before a committee and give
his testimony.
Business Chief Would Aid.
After the bill under discussion
has become a law and in the event
1t proves unsatisfactory Congress
gets the blame" King declared.
The Representative insisted that
much could be done to remedy the
school system in the District by
the appointment of a business man
a oar Thfg oh H..
he said. by a thoroughly trained
business man who should be IL.
complete control of the financial
department of the schools and re-
sponsible to the Board of Educa-
ton.
1t is expecting too much of tn,
superintendent to manage the bust.
ness office together with his other
duties. The office of business man
ager carries great deal of RESPONSE
billty that should not devolve upoI
the officials who are expected to
perfect an adequate educational
system" King pointed out.
Negligence Is aCriminaI.,
The Representative stated that he
had noticed particularly the absence
or hre escapes on the public schools
Of the District, and being familiar
with the practice in other cities was
under the impression that some
means of escape must be provided
in the rear of the building. Not
until he had made an investigation
was ne convinced that the children
on the top floors would be COM
PEELED to descend to the street doors
in case of fire.
The failure to provide fire escapes
was characterized as criminal by
Representative King. who declared
that he intended to investigate fur
Their for the purpose of ascertaining
the exact number of buildings with
out emergency exits.
Representative King declared that
he was anxious to help the people
OF Washington to secure better
schools and other items necessary
for the advancement of the Cap
ital of the Nation. but that Wash
ingtonians must not sit back and
wait for Congress to do II all with
out their ass stance.
There is much that the citizens
Of the District can do to help them
selves and evidence of a desire to
do so would be the first step toward
a better understanding between the
people of Washington and Congress"
the Representative claimed.
Many of the residents here do
take an active interest in the affairs
of the city and their tireless efforts
to improve conditions has been in
valuable to Congress in making laws
for the Capital, but each and every
citizen should feel interested and en-
deavor to assist Congress. which is
only another way to assist himself"
King said