Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-03
|NYE URGES VOICE"
for CITIZENS At
| SCHOOL DEDICATION
North Dakotan Hits Military
Expenditures in Address
at Murch Exercises.
ADVOCATES CONVERSION
OF FUND FOR EDUCATION
Other Speakers Pay Tribute to
Modern Buildings and Ridi-
Guile Portables.

Nation, which by right it should be, its
people should be given responsibility in
the administration of their city by ac-
cording them a voice in their own af-
fairs, Senator Gerald P. Nye Of North
| Dakota declared in an address last night
at the dedication of the new Ben W..
| Murch School in Checy Chase.
In the same address, Senator Nye de-
cried the Federal Governments stag
gering" expenditures for military main
tenanceS while so little is expended for
education and Constructive" things.
Other speakers on the program paid
tribute to the modern type of school
houses which now are being built for
the District, ridiculed the passing porta-
BILE schools and paid homage to the late
Mr.. Murch, supervising principal of the
first division, for whom the school is
named.
Urging "voice" for Washingtonians,
Senator Nye asserted that the city's
Observation-Disclosures of both Houses
of Congress-come from all quarters OF
an extensive Nation, each bringing with
him the interests of his own home and
a determination to best serve those In
terests. He pointed out that, burdened
with such responsibility to their own
communities, it is impossible for men,
ital in a way which brings the proper
response from the governed people.
Urges Voice" for District.
Despite the widespread sentiment
and feeling that Washington should be
National CITY," Senator Nye asserted,
"the fact cannot be overlooked that
civic responsibility must be created
here by giving a voice to the people who
make up the community of Washing
ton"
He declared also that he hopes for a
reawakening in Congress to the posi-
bilities possessed by Washington, which,
he said, should be model city ''in Its
schools, its identification and its ad-
ministration." Commenting on beauty
and appointments in schools, the North
Dakotan expressed impatience with
those who are afraid to ask for some
thing better" than that which in years
gone by has been good enough"
In his talk on Federal expenditures
for military affairs, Senator Nye de-
clared the Government today is Civ
ing the Army and Navy much more
generous treatment than they deserve
He quoted figures to show that more
money is being expended now for mill
: tary activities than was spent either
before or after the war. While $342,-
600 900 was adequate for the Army and
Navy before the war, and $674,00o, 900
was sufficient in 1923, 1t is costing
1925, 100000 for them in 1880. He
urged the reduction in these expendi-
lures and the conversion of the funds
to educational work and constructive
things"
In conclusion, Senator Nye dedicated
the Ben Murch School, located at
Thirty-sixth and Davenport streets, ito
the future" and not only to the i'm
mediate community it serves, but for all
communities to which its pupils may
go out land build for the future"
"Swan Song" for Portables.
Mrs. Clarence D. Wright, president
of the Ben w. Murch Home and School
Association, greeted the audience of
parents and visitors with swan song"
for the portable schools which served
her community before the new school
was opened. In a rapid-fire speech,
Mrs. Wright said that while many great
men had gone out from the little red
school house, the children of the Murch
community have grown up in portables
which were most convenient buildings
from the children's point of view"
They had movable roofs which every
once in while took to their wings and
few away, and they had nice big stoves
which, according to the way they hap
pened to feel at the moment, would
scorch or freeze our children so that
the boys and girls got frequent holidays
that were not on the official list" she
said. Our portables also had a menag-
erie, including dogs, cats, rats, mice,
reaches and assorted bugs, and, they
do say. snake, although I personally
hnl 40 Ia ctn ,ol,
But just the same, it was right after
one OF the boys said he saw a snake
under the school that they sent Mr..
Harris, our municipal architect, to
Europe to look fog more comfortable
homes for all the little orphan snakes
of the District"
The reference apparently was to the
study made for establishing a reptile
house at the Zoo.
Mrs. Wright expressed the gratitude
for the erection of an auditorium at
the Murch School which, she says she
understood, had been placed on the
luxury list" by the House subcom-
mittee. She said she hoped auditoriums
Will not be permanently stricken from
the specifications of Washington school
houses for they provide not only ia
cilit;eS for the training of children, but
centers for the assembly of District resi-
dents who make up the life and spirit
Of the community.
Murch Picture Unveiled.
The exercises were presided over by
Henry Draper, supervising principal of
the first division and Mr.. Murch's sue
ceSsor. Mr.. Draper unveiled framed
picture of Mr.. Murch which will be
hung over a bronze memorial tablet to
the dead educator In the school cor
ridor. Both the picture and the tablet
were the gifts of the teachers and Of
Ulcers of the school system and they
were accepted on behalf of the school
by Miss Helen G. Gantley, principal.
DR.. Frank w. Ballou, superintendent
of schools, declared that the Murch
school represented the type of school
house which had been adopted as
standard for the District and he de-
scribed its features. He concluded with
his own tribute to Mr.. Murch, as "a
man who dedicated his life to the well
fare of your most precious possessions
your boys and girls"
Mrs. Wright presented the school
with large American flag, the gift OF
the Home and School Association, which
bolic key to the building was given to
Miss Gantley by Albert L. Harris,
municipal architect who designed the
school. George Esch, president of the
Forest Hill Citizen Association, !ex-
tended the greetings Of that body to
the audience. Rev. Henry Teller Cooke
pronounced the invocation.
Music was provided by the United
States Navy Band Orchestra which
played for dancing following the formal
program. "Open house" was held by