Evening star., 1924-01-05
DONOVAN D|D|l|N| DEFENDS
bALLoU IN LETTER
Auditor Says Superintendent
Had Nothing to Do With
New Pay Bill.

several members of the board of edu-
cation ana Supt. OF Schools Frank w,
Baflou over the teachers salary bill
became more complicated today as
the time neared for the special con-
ference of the school board this aft
ernoon. at which the superintendent
will be asked to explain why he failed
to inform the board that the Commits
sioners were preparing a substitute
Tor the original salary measure
Maj. Daniel ]. Donovan, District
auditor came to the defense of DR..
Ballou with an explanation that the
superintendent did not have any
thing to do with the drafting OF the
substitute pay bill. The auditor.
however. admitted that DR.. Ballou
had conferred with him regarding
the teachers salary legislation, but
pointed out that the superintendent
consistently advocated the adoption
of the original bill prepared by the
school board
No statement concerning the dtspt,te
was forthcoming from DR. Ballou.
He explained that the whole matter
burst like a bubble while he was out
or the city yesterday and that all in
formation concerning it had been OBJ
tanned by him through the news
Says AHreeme ent Broken.
Capt. Julius I. Peyser, who, with
Ernest Greenwood. constituting the
so-called progressive wing" of the
school board. was instrumental in
calling the special conference at
which DIR. Rallou will be quizzed, de-
clared today that further investiga-
tfon of the affair had led him to be-
lieve that the superintendent and the
commissioners had violated the gen
tlemen's agreement to inform the
BOARD II any changes in its original
salary bill were contemplated
When the bill was transmitted to
Peyser said. there was an agreement
that II the measure was to be changed
IN any way. DR.. Ballou was to have
been notified. and he, in turn. agreed
was not carried out, he declared, be-
cause after DR.. Ballou had conferred
with Maj. Donovan. he told the board
at Its last meeting that the bill had
DIR. Ballou Is not the school board ~
declared Capt. Peyser. He is only a
paid employe of the board. We OF the
board are the ones that the District
not him."
Defense of Ball0u.
Maj Donovan's defense of DR.
Ballou Is contained in a letter he
ssrs today to James T. Lloyd. presi-
dent of the school board. which was
made public by the board head. L,
MI James T. Lloyd. president. board
OF education, Washington. d. c.
Dear Mr.. Lloyd: Permit me to say
regarding certain statements that
have appeared in the newspapers
that no public school official or mem
ber OF the board of education was In
any way identified with. or respon-
sible for. the so-called substitute
teachers salary bill. I did ask DR..
my office and give me the benefit OF
certain Information regarding pro-
visions of the bill prepared by the
coard or education; but in these con-
ferences nothing whatever was saij
70 Dr. Ballou as to the preparation OF
substitute measure.
TT Is also true that at my reuues,
Or. Ballou attended an informal con
Capt. Stephens, assistant to the direc-
tor of the bureau Of the budget, Mr.
Bailey, the chairman Of the personnel
classification board. Mr.. Kennedy Of the
budget bureau and myself, for the
purpose of discussing the salary
schedule and other features of the
bill of the board Of education. Even
at this conference nothing was said
OF the substitute bill nor do 1 recall
that at the time it was then in mind
the Commissioners and the bulge,
bureau.
II believe that for the purpose OF
obtaining all essential data regarding
the bill OF the board of education II
was entirely proper for me to ask the
beneht of conferences with DR.. Ballou
and obtain from him information
necessary to the proper study and
nf
can be no question but that it also
was proper for DR.. Ballou to further
discuss the bill 70 the board of edu-
cation, even though informally. with
representatives of the bureau Of the
budget.
II am sending you this letter so
that you may know-and, if you de-
sire, inform other members of the
board Of education-that neither DR..
Ballou nor any other public school
ucation, either directly or indirectly.
was responsible for, or had anything
TO do with, the framing of the so
called substitute bill.
TT Is only fair to DR.. Ballou to say
that In our severa! conferences he
consistently advocated the adoption
of the bill of the board Of education
Very truly yours,
DANIEL J. DONOVAN.
Auditor, D. c."
Reason for New Bill.
Maj. Donovan explained to news-
paper men that the substitute teach
ers salary bill was written at the
District building because the Com
misstoners did not want to change
in any way the measure prepared by
tho school board. By drafting an en-
tirely new bill and submitting both
to ehe budget bureau. the Commis-
sioners. he said. were able to give
that agency the opportunity to pass
carefully upon the views Of the
school board and the municipal Off
cials as to what salaries should be
granted the school force.
Although the Commissioners would
not reveal the details OF the substi-
tuto bill. II was learned that it diff
ferS from the school board measure
in maximum salaries, but does no,
change the minimum figures. The
new bill also contains a clause pro.
viding for the appointment Of the
school board personnel by the Com
missioners Instead of the District
Supreme Court.
Capt. Peyser construes this claus.
a. move to oust him and Mr.. Green.
wood from the board. The Commits.
sionsrs. however. scoffed at this
poindng out that they were not seek
Ing to got RID OF any one now on tht
board.
For twenty years the Boards o,
Commissioners have been recommend.
ing that all municipal agencies b.
under the control Of the Commis.
ssioners." one District official said.
The statement also was made at tn,
District building that the substitut,
salary bill is substantially the sam.
as the Capper bill. which failed Of
passage at the last session of Con.
gress. It will give all teachers a:
much as the Capper bill provided ant
for some II allows more, It was said.
SHOT FATAL TO ESCORT.