Evening star., 1928-04-11
SCHOOL VOTE BILL
! DIVIDES CITIZENS
commissioners and Trade
Board Oppose PIan-Fed-
GRAFTON FavorS Election.

The people OF the District are di-
.vided over the proposal TO have an
elected Board of Education. it was in
dicated at q hearing before the Senate
District committee yesterday afternoon,
A bill to take the power of appointing
the board away from the justices of the
District Supreme Court and set up ma
Echinery for direct election was opposed
| ny the District Commissioners and the
Board Of Trade, while the Federation
lsof Citizens Associations, the Citizens
Advisory Council and the Congress OF
Parent Teacher Associations supported
the measure.
Commissioner Doughertv told the
committee the Commissioners are not
In favor of the bill, because they are
| satisfied with the present method of
! appointment He said If there is to be
any change the power of appointment
should be transferred to. the Commits
SionerS. where il at one time was
placed.
Sees No Demand.
The Commissioner testified there is
no general public demand for a change.
Men and women of unusual ability have
been appointed TO the board and have
served patriotically without pay, he
said,
Charles I. Stengle. speaking for the
Advisory Council. said the council
davorS the bill on the theory that there
should be a closer contact between the
parents and those who govern the
schools.
The support of the federation was
presented by DR. George c. Havenner
and Harry n Stull. the latter speaking
also for the Stanton Park Citizens As
Sociation. The views of the parent
teacher associations were outlined by
AIRS. Giles Scott Rafter and Mrs. w. r.
Bannerman. Mai Gen. Amos A. Fries.
u. S A. Endorsed the bin as an indi-
vi6ual and parent. Fred S. Walker in
CiorSed the bill for the Park View
Citizens Association. and stated the
Central Labor Union also has ap-
proved It.
Reasons 1t would be unwiSe to under
take election Of the school board were
presented on behalf of the Board of
Trade by Thomas p Littlepage, chair
man of the school committee, and by
Robert j. Cottrell. executive secretary
afr. Littlepage stressed the point that
there is no existing condition to be
cured by electing the school board, and
that the holding of such an election
merely for the sake of voting would
Representation.
The proposal for national represen-
kation is q different question and one
The Board of Trade favors. Mr. Little
page said. adding. however that the
Capital Of the Nation should be kept
under the control of the Government
Mr.. Cottren read a report on the bill
prepared by q subcommittee of the
trade board. which concluded by ex-
pressing the belief that If suffrage is
70 be extended the District, it should
not start with the schools, but instead.
should end with the schools after the
electorate has had sufficient experience
70 know what suffrage means The Sec
retary said the Board of Trade has
acted on the question twice, once with
1000 members present and again with
T20 IN attendance.
The supporters of the bill laid en-
phasis on the argument that the justices
OF the District Supreme Court, because
OF their judicial position, do not come
in close contact with the people They
contended school affairs should be
handed by persons who have children
In the schools and that n an election
parents would be more likely to be
chosen than Under the appointive sys-
tenn.
Chairman Capper OF the Senate COM
1nittee, and author Of the bin. con-
Quoted the hearing.
Before the school board election bill
was heard the committee ordered ia
yoraole report on q measure 10 give
the Commissioners more authority in
settling claims against the District.
particularly In refunding taxes such as
BoTland street paving assessments, after
the courts have rendered decisions af-
fecttng taxes already paid. The COM
u1ittee agreed 70 an amendment slg-
Eested by Senator Blaine of Wisconsin,
limiting the time within which such
settlements may be made.