Evening star., 1926-11-08
M'CARL CENSURES
ENGINEER OFFICIALS
FOR SCHOOL WORK
Criticizes Acceptance of
Western High Addition
Before Completion.
TRIPS MADE BY OFFICERS
ALSO COME UNDER FIRE
Report Presented at Opening Ses-
sion of House Probe of
District Government.

Sharp criticism of engineer officers
and officials of the building depart
ment in the District Government in
connection with additions to Western
High School and securing of a new
site for building to replace the Force
and Adams Schools as contained in
report from Controller General Nc
Carl. featured the opening session of
hearings today before the Bibson sub
committee Of the House District Com
mittee regarding Municipal Admins
tration.
The McCarl report censured the
Engineer Office for accepting the
Western High School Building before
it was completed and emphasized that
the general contractor had sub.let
portions of the work, on a Is per cent
commission which netted. $5,51S.77.
The report declared that consider
able portions of work covered in the
contract were done by the repair de-
partment. and criticized trips by the
municipal architect. the superintend-
ent of schools, the vice president of
the Board of Education and the as.
sistant municipal architect. expenses
for which were not authorized to be
charged against the appropriation for
their departments.
Complaint Brings Probe.
The investigation as regards the
Western High School originated from
a complaint by S. Duncan Bradley,
chairman Of the appropriations com.
mittee of the Home and School Asso-
citation of the Western High School.
The appropriations made for Western
High School provided: An addition to
Western High School. $5s2 500; for
furniture and equipment for Western
High School and addition, Sill ,263,
and appropriation for remodeling the
old Western High School, $47,500.
The section of the McCarl investiga-
ton with regard to the location of a
building to replace the Force and
Adams Schols was made in conse.
quence of letter from snowden Ash.
ford of the Dupont Citizens Associa-
ton. The report showed that the site
purchased was a mile away from one
of these schools and half rnile away
from the other. Mr.. Ashford made
the point that the site selected for
the new school building Is not in the
vicinity" of the old school, a. direct
ed, and that the site purchased Is not
the site mentioned in the hearings
held before the House committee.
The Gibson subcommittee today re.
ceived recommendations in writing
from more than a score Of organiza-
tions and from 10 individuals regard
ing improvements desired in the local
government of the District Of Co.
lumbia.
These recommendation covered a
wide range, starting with national
representation in the election of
President and membership in both
houses of Congress for Washington
residents. Chairman Gibson empha-
sized that some of the matters recon-
mended require an amendment Of the
Constitution of the United States,
which is not in the power of Congress,
but must be submitted to the people.
Report to Go i'm Record.
Mr. Gibson stated that the McCarl
report will be put into the record of
committee will be afforded an oppor.
tunity to answer it.
Other recommendations by various
organizations included one for q
fiscal policy. as between the Federal
and District governments. based on
the careful study of all the equities
and obligations involved; a bond is
sue to provide for park purchases
and other permanent improvements;
broader powers for the District Com
missioners; changes in the coming
law. payment for parks and play
grounds from District funds. not to
be included In Federal ownership; re-
peal of the Borland act, passage of
the Gasque bill providing for popular
election of the School Board, appoint
ment of a board of tax adjusters dis
tinct from the Board of Assessors.
installation of adequate sewers, car
rier mail service in all sections of
the city.
improvements for the care of tu-
bercular children: greater powers to
the Health Department: adoption of
a new Juvenile Court code adequate
full-time school facilities throughout
the District; intelligent supervision
over suburban development; that the
Federal Government should pay the
equivalent taxes on furnishings of
buildings; restriction of costs on
park and school sites to 25 per cent
above the assessed value: increased
medical care for pre-school and
school children; improvements in
standards affecting child labor; regis
tration of architects; physical devel-
opment of the Capital; annual ap-
preparation of the full amount au-
thorized for park land purchase; a
model municipal market. and many
others.
Many Organizations Act.
Among the public or semi-public
organizations submitting recommend
tions were the Washington Chamber
Of Commerce, by Charles W. Darr,
chairman of the special COMMITTEES;
Washington Highlands Citizens As-
sociation, by F. NJ. Cannon. president:
Women's City Club, Mrs. J. Garfield
Riley. president: Kalorama Citizens
Association, George F. Mitchell. presi-
dent. Richmond Park Citizens Asso-
citation. w. Goff Caples. president:
Park View Citizens Association, Fred
F. Walker. president Lincoln Park
Citizens Association, G. S. Jameson,
president; Anacostia Citizens Associa.
ton, by George C. Havenner, who Is
president and a member Of the
Citizens Advisory Council: Mount
Pleasant Citizens Association, by
John D. Lamater. president. with
Charles F. Consaul appearing in per-
son to speak for the association;
Columbia Heights Citizens Associa-
ton. Alton B. Carly. president: Dupont
Citizens Association, Admiral William
L. Rogers; American University Park
Citizens Association, Henry A.
Donovan. secretary; the Arts Club
Henry K Bush. Brown. V0falaas his