Evening star., 1926-04-07
Gasque Measure Favored by
House District Committee,
With Amendments.
COMMISSIONERS TO HAVE
CONTROL AT ELECTIONS
Qualifica tions of Voters Changed,
and First Balloting to Fill 8
Places Set for May, 1927.

Favorable report on the Gasque
bill providing for popular election
of the Board of Education in the
District OF Columbia was ordered to-
day by the House District committee
by vote of 10 to 3.
The Gasque bill was amended in
two important particulars in an exec-
utive session of the District com
mittee. Instead OF a series OF three
qualifications of voters in the original
Gasque bill an amendment offered
by Representative Reid, Republica n
of Illinois. chairman Of the subcom
mittee that conducted extensive hear
inss on the mea sure. was approved.
This amendment provides that any
citizen of the United States, Il years
Of age or over, without regard TO sex,
and who Is not an insane person or
an idiot, nor person convicted or
felony, who has resided in the Dis
trict OF Columbia for at least one
year, shall be qualified to vote in
school elections in the District of Co
lumbia''
The second important amendment
places the election machinery in the
hands of the District Commissioners
ton. This necessitated changes
throughout the entire bill.
First Election May, 1927.
The bill was also changed provid-
ing that the first election under this
legislation TO fill all nine vacancies
on the Board Of Education shall be
held on the third Saturday in May.
1927.
The bill was favorably reported
from the subcommittee by Representa-
tive Gasque. Democrat. of South Caro-
lima. sponsor of the measure. who as.
sured the committee that no bill af,
fecting the District of Columbia ha s
been the subject of fuller bearings
with opportunity given bsth sides TO
present their case. He pointed out
that most of the civic Organizations of
the District had indorsed the legisla-
tion, as had also the Chamber of
Commerce and the Citizens Advisory
Council. 1t carries the unanimous re-
port Of the subcommittee.
Mr.. Gasque explained that the ap-
pointment Of the school board is now
in fhe hands of the judges and there
is1 no authority anywhere to remove
an incompetent after he has been ap.
pointed for a three-year period. 1t Is
pointing power should be taken from
the Supreme Court judges and they
are anxious to be relieved OF this duty,
MIR. Gasque stated.
Representative Stalker. Republican
of New York, asked II this measure is
forerunner for broad franchise In
the District Of Columbia. Mr.. Gasque
replied that he believed in a limited
system of local self.government, but
not to such an extent that any ad-
vantage could be taken OF the Federal
Government. He insisted that this
bill has nothing to do with the fran
chise, but merely provides way in
which the people of the District can
have some voice in the conduct of the
public schools.
1t provides different method Of
selecting the school board. he said, but
does not give the school board any
larger powers.
Representative Underhill, Repub.
lican. of Massa chusetts. asked If there
had been any serious charges against
the conduct Of the present school sys-
tenn. and Mr.. Gasque replied that
there were very serious charges.
Representative Houston. Republican.
Of Delaware, said that this ought to
have most serious consideration be-
fore being reported to the House he.
cause 1t establishes new principle in
the District. that of election rights
for the people.
Opposes "One.Man Board
Mr.. Houston said that the school
board at present is not responsive to
the desires of the parents or the cit
Nens. 1t is too much a one-man
board and this ought to be changed
Mr.. Houston said that this is the
opinion also of the teachers through
out the school system.
On motion of Mr.. Underhill the COM
mittee went into executive session
while considering the bill. section by
section. At this point Representative
Hammer. Democrat. North Carolina,
declared that the Gasque bill is most
important matter affecting the rights
of the people and that members of the
committee ought to have the fullest
opportunity for conference and free
discussion. The motion for an exec
utive session was carried by vote
of 6 to 5.