Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-02
BOARD W|THDRAWS
BAN ON VETS PLAY
Legion Post Explains Pro-
CeedS viii Be Used in Re-
facilitating Veterans.

Permission to use the Mckinley High
School Auditorium was granted the
Vincent B. Costello Post of the Ameri-
can Legion by the Board Of Education
late yesterday, when the veterans or
ganization explained its proposed show,
"Songland'S Romance was benefit
for educational purposes.
The school board had refused the
auditorium to the Legion post two weeks
ago when it was given to understand
the proceeds from the show were to
be used merely to buy new uniforms
for the drum and bugle corps.
Will Provide instruction.
The school boards new action yes
tsrday was taken after Lieut. Charles
Rein1er, spokesman for the Costello
Post, explained the receipts from the
show will enable the organization to
provide musical instruction on band
instruments for World War veterans
who otherwise could not receive such
training. Thus, he explained, the post
was aiding in the rehabilitation of ex-
soldiers. Without additional funds, he
said, the post would be unable to pro-
. vide a sufficient number of musical in
struments for the veterans and, there
fore, some of the money "Songland's
Romance" is expected to produce will
40 ICI Vi dldltAO4lo4 al
stTIments. The purchase OF uniforms,
he added. was only one phase Of the
posts work.
DR.. H Barrett Learned, president of
the board, admitted Lieut.. Reimer's ex-
PLANTATION provided the board with evil
dence it did not have when it took its
first adverse action. At that time, DR..
Learned said, no claim was made that
the post was engaged in rehabilitation
or educational work Of any sort, but init
mated that 1t was seeking only funds
with which to buy its drum and bugle
corps new uniforms. He explained II
the board had had a complete explana-
ton Of the purposes of the show two
weeks ago, it probably would have
taken different action.
Show to Open Monday.
The Costello Post will open its per-
Torrance in the Washington Audito-
rum next Monday night. Lieut..
Reimer explained that following the
boards refusal of the Mckinley Audi
torium two weeks ago, the post had
contracted with the Washington Audi
toriurn for q one-night performance.
On wednesday and Thursday, April 8
and 9, however, the show will be pre-
sented in the Mckinley High School
Auditorium.
Following the benefit performances,
the post will present its entire show at
Walter Reed Hospital on April 10.
Later it will present the same enter
tainment at the Soldiers Home and at
st. Elizabeth's Hospital. The public
will not be admitted at any of the hos
pital performances, however, as these
are for the sole entertainment of the
soldier patients.
Seek Attendance Statistics.
-
instructed the superintendent Of schools
to ascertain the number Of District OF
Columbia children who attend schools
in Maryland and Virginia. This action
was taken on the recommendation of
Daniel G. Roper, new board member,
who suggested that the board should
be in possession of this information II
Congress IN the event 1t proposes to
bar nonresident pupils from Washing
ton public schools.
The new elementary school to be
constructed at Fourteenth street and
KaImia road In Shepherd Park was
named the Alexander Shepherd School
in honor Of the last mayor Of Wash
ington. Phoebe Hearst was the name
chosen for the new school In the vicin
ity of Connecticut avenue and Upton
street. The name honorS the mother Of
William Randolph Hearst, the editor
and newspaper publisher.
Public pay-Station telephones will be
installed in all public schools by the
telephone company following authority
given it by the School Board yester-
day. An increasing demand for this
service has been voiced by parents who
declare they want some means Of COM
muincating with their children at
school. The demand was aggravated by
the refusal of principals to permit
pupils TO use the school telephones to
call their homes on the ground that
excuses given by the children did not
constitute emergencies" Under the
plan by which the pay telephones will
be placed in the schools, the Board Of
Education and the District are exempt
from financial responsibility in connec-
ton with their operation.
Delays Insurance Approval.
The board yesterday refused to ap-
prove, the recommendation of DR.. Bal
lou, superintendent, that he be author
lied TO distribute appropriate info-ma-
ton on the proposed group insurance
plan TO District school teachers. The
plan is being evolved for municipal en-
ployes and it was presented to the
school board at its meeting two weeks
ago. Despite DR.. Ballous approval fol-
lowing his own study Of the plan, Mrs.
Philip Sidney Smith yesterday sought
TO have the plan tabled" because she
said she objected to the manner in
which it was presented to us" Other
members pointed out however, that
that method probably would be unfair
TO the teachers, who have right TO any
benefits which may be derived from
group insurance. 1t then was proposed
TO postpone action on the plan and this
delay was approved.
The school board will request the
Commissioners to instruct the Police
Department to provide better protection
for school buildings In view of the sew
eral recent rCbberieS.
Controller General McCarl notified
the school authorities that he would ex-
tend the period Of grace" on salaries
to be paid TO employees appointed by the
school superintendent prior 10 formal
action of the board until 1882. Mr.. Nc
Carl has ruled that there was no legis-
lstion under which teachers or other
school employees could be paid for the
time they work between their appoint
nent by the superintendent and the
school boards approval Of the appoint
ment. He said, however, that he would
continue TO pay these salaries for the
remainder Of the current fiscal year.
The board requested him to continue
this period until next year in order to
give it time to secure the necessary
legislation.