Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-05
OPPOSES BUSINESS
HIGH SCHOOL BILL
Education Board to Garry
Fight on Plan for Its Use
to Senate Hearings.

Opposition to the pending Senate bill
designed to give the school board more
latitude in the use of the present Bust
ness High School Building, following its
abandonment was expressed by the
Board of Education late yesterday. BY
q vote of to 2, Henry l.. Gilligan,
chairman of the legislative committee.
was delegated to carry the boards fight
on the bill to the committee hearings
with instructions to urge the defeat of
the measure or, as "a last resort" to
seek an amendment which would au-
thOriEe the use of the building by the
Authorization School.
The board contends that legislation on
the subject is uSurpation of its rights.
In the same meeting the board ac-
cepted the report Of DR.. Frank w. Bal
lou, superintendent, that the two off,
Gals and three teachers who testified
during the Senate hearings on the 1881
appropriation bill attended the hearings
at the invitation of Senate committee
members. The letters, which the five
school people write in explanation of
their activities will be duplicated and
given to each member of the board, al
though indications at yesterdays meet
ing were that the whole question of the
limitation of school employees agitation
in the interest of legislation would be
dropped Is 1t pertained to these f1ve
persons,
The five are Miss Catharine Watkins.
director Of kindergartens: Frank Wood
ward, principal of the Gordon Junior
High School: Miss Selma Borchardt,
Business High School teacher; Miss
Datsie ]. HUFF. Business High School
teacher, and Miss Ethel T. Prince.
Eastern High School teacher. The
school board now has o role specifying
that 1t looks with disfavor" on agita-
ton In the interest of legislation by its
employees and DIR. Ballou was ordered to
investigate the presence of these five
persons, whose names appeared in
the polished hearings, to determine
whether they had violated this rule
Rule Is Being Studied.
The boards committee on rules now
has this particular rule under advise
ment and 1t is probable the implied
curb on teachers and other employees
will be either dropped or altered.
The boards opposition to the pending
senate measure concerning the use of
the Business High School opened an
issue OF ut least two years standing.
When the appropriation OF funds for the
new Roosevelt High School, which is to
made, the subcommittee OF the House
appropriations committee inserted the
legislative provision that the present
Business Building be used as colored
elementary school. The word "colored"
subsequently was dropped, 30 that the
appropriation was made with the Speci-
ncation that the old structure at Ninth
street and Rhode Island avenue be used
rs AN elementary school" The school
hfD ~ nIG1klf d do III
final limitation last year on the ground
that 1t was its own pl vince to deter
mine what use 1t would make OF it's
buildings In the administration of the
school system.
Reporting yesterday for the legislative
committee, of which he Is chairman.
Mr.. Gilligan read a letter which the
Commissioners addressed to the Senate
committee and in which they had de-
clared the pending bill, which would
authorize the use OF the Business build.
ing as combination senior and junior
high school or an elementary school, as
the board should see Mt, was favored by
the school board. Gilligan expressed his
ignorance Of such approval by the board
and asked that the board petition the
Senate committee to insert cor for
Americanizstion School purposes" in
the measure along with the other pro-
posal.
Denies Approval by Board.
Dr. Charles F. Carusi. president of
the board, emphatically denied the
board ever had approved the bill.
II will state that the board never has
given its consent or approval to any
legislation calling for the use OF Bust
ness High School. when abandoned. as
colored elementary school, or as any
other specific kind of school, and the
District Commissioners have been badly
informed II they say otherwise" DIR.
Carusi declared.
DR.. Carusi said further that he was
opposed to the pending bill with or
without" Gilligans amendment. but ad-
mitted that, failing to secure the COM
plete defeat of that and similar legis-
latiOn. he would accept the bill as
amended by Gilligan.
In the discussion which followed Gill
ligan was delegated as the boards
spokesman to seek defeat Of the meas
ure in the Senate. He was instructed,
however. that II 1t is impossible to de-
feat the measure he is to attempt to
secure the amendment which would