Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-20
COMMUNIST FACTS
ASKED BY CARUS|
School Board Wants to Get
at Bottom of Situation
Here, Says Head.

Facts-names, dates and places
that bear upon Communism in District
schools are wanted by DR.. Charles F.
Carlisi, president Of the Board Of Edu-
cation.
Hence any individual organization
having real data on CommuniStic activ-
titles in Washington's schools Is invited
to present the evidence at the mex
meeting of the board, wednesday, April z.
DR. Carusi, who presided over the
boards meeting late yesterday for the
first time since his brief southern vaca-
ton last month, declared that the
school board should take account OF
newspaper reports of Communism'S In
f1uence in the schools. Before making
definite moves, however, he said the
board first Of all should ascertain
whether the press accounts are JUS
4tfed. whether the Communists claims
are substantiated and, IN short,
whether the alleged ComHnunistic &C
&ivities are worth taking steps to OPP
pose.
CaruSi declared that the board Is not
only willing but highly DESTROYS Of hear
ing from persons or organizations who
have facts to present. But he made 1t
plain that factS-"names, dates and
places and not whole lot OF wild
oratory"-are what he wants. A board
member suggested that the testimony be
presented in writing, and while DR..
Carusi agreed such procedure might
save time and aid in bringing out
facts without "bombastic extravagances
of the imagination" he wanted such
written statements to be presented 10
the board in person.
Discussed First Time.
l.
sion of Communism has figured in
school board meetings during the pres
emit flare, and 1t came yesterday con-
current with the presentation to the
board of q communication from the
Stanton Park Citizens Association Pc
titioning for an investigation of the
spread Of Communistic propaganda in
the schools by the Communist party
of the United States, the Trade Union
Unity League, and the Young Pioneers.
It was known in school circles, how
ever, that the school board president
contemplated the action he took yes.
terday even before communication
seeking the investigation was received.
DR.. j. Hayden johnson, dean of the
school board members and coIored,
seconded the presidents proposal when
Henry Gilligan put it in the form OF
motion.
Yesterdays meeting was marked also
by the alteration Of the rules of the
Board Of Education, specifying that
the FIRST assistant superintendent in
charge Of buildings, grounds and
equipment" shall hereafter be known
as "first assistant superintendent in
charge of business affairs" and that
the assistant superintendent in charge
Of business affairs shall have only the
duties and responsibilities accorded him
- -E~AA- -
This action was reported in yesterdays
Star as being taken and is the direct
outgrowth of Representative Robert G.
Simmons attack upon the administra-
ton for not transferring its business
transactions from the hands Of Mai. r.
o. Wilmarth, assistant superintendent
In charge Of business affairs, to Jere J.
Crane, f1rst assistant superintendent In
charge Of buildings, grounds and equip
ment.
Told Of Smoke Case.
The conviction yesterday Of Mr..
Crane for violation Of the smoke NUS
ance law in connection with the ennis
sion Of smoke from the stack of the
Wilson Teachers College was called
to the boards attention by DR.. Frank
w. Ballou, superintendent of schools,
who proposed that the board act Inn
mediately to hold janitors and engineers
responsible for the law violation In the
future. Advised that Mr.. Crane had
paid the imposed $40 fine out of his
own pocket, the board agreed to pass
the hat" in order to prevent the school
ofacial from suffering q penalty which
It feels has been unjustly put upon him.
This was delayed, however, when DIR.
II. Barrett Learned inquired as to the
amount of attorney fee which Mr..
Crane also win be expected to pay, and