Evening star., 1923-11-10
CHARGES,M|STAKE
BARS SCHOOL AID
Peyser Says Corporation
Counsel and Board Are
!, Wrong on Secrecy.

Citizens Of the District are being
schools by serious mistake of the
corporation counsel and the board of
education in interpreting the Dis
trict law, 1t was charged today by
Capt. julius I. Peyser. president of
dhe Public School Association.
i BY ruling that preliminary requests
for school improvement and expan-
sion shall be kept secret until the
final estimates are published by Con-
gress, the board is inhibiting the
efforts of the school associations
committees, Mr.. Peyser said. Unless
the corporation counsel shall modify
his decision on more careful consid-
GRAFTON, our association will ask for
Il special ruling from Congress itself
on the subject" he said.
Heads of departments cannot make
budget estimates within the meaning
of the law. Theirs are only prelim
mary statements OF needs. These are
cut down and altered IN the final
estimat tes."
No Restriction for City. -.
THE law was made to prevent ex-
posure of state secrets, Army and
Navy intelligence and the like, and
never contemplated restrictions on
Washington citizens which would not
be tolerated in most despotic govern
ments.
This committee is unable to see
how, under the present system of Sc
cret suggestion, the people are to
know whether their school needs are
being taken care Of at all. They
have been asked to back the board of
education's appeal, but when con-
gressmen whom they approach ask
Tor specific information as to the ap-
peals. ciIlzenS are unable to do more
than generalize and become laughing
stalks.
The opinion of the corporation
counsel could not have been made
with full consideration of all the
facts.
1T stultifies the people and inca
pacitates them from Intelligent action
IN tne behalf of their cnliuren.
Following action by the school as
sociation last Wednesday night when
that body, with only two dissenting
votes. determined that it would not
be rubber stamp for the board of
education ana would not indorse
blindly the projects which it knows
nothing of, or limit it's activity to
school budget estimates only. Capt.
light for open publication of the main
needs of the schools as seen by the
board.
If they do not care to give us definite
estimates as to land to be purchased
and the like, at least they can inform
us of the general needs, the various
items of the program and the main
points on which We can base our argu-
ments before the District committee
men," Capt. Peyser said
The law which has caused the trouble
refers to the District Commissishers
only, and follows:
Hereafter the Commissioners Of the
District of Columbia shall not submit.
nor shall the Secretary of the Treasury
transmit to Congress regular annual es-
innate for expenses of the government
of the District of Columbia for any
fiscal year that shall exceed in the ag-
gregate sum equal to twice the amount
Of the total estimated revenues Of the
District of Columbia for such fiscal
year. Said estimates shall take into
consideration and embrace all charges
against the said revenues arising under
appropriations other than the regular
District of Columbia bill. Such annual
estimates shall not be published in ad-
vance of their submission to Congress
at the beginning of each regular session
thereof
Section s. All laws and part of laws
to the extent that they are inconsistent
with this act are repealed. Approved
March 3, 1903. 80 US. Stat. at Large,
p. 72S.''