Evening star., 1933-04-07

Deploring Washingtonians' lack OF q
voice in Congress as truly as tyrannical
as the taxation without representation,
which the British imposed upon Ameri-
can colonists more than $50 years ago
an audience of 1000 teachers, parents
and civic leaders in q protest meeting
at the Roosevelt High School last night
voted to petition President Roosevelt
and the House and Senate committees
for relief from the staggering slashes
in the Districts appropriation bill for
1884 which the House already has
voted.
Charles I. Stengle, president of the
District of Columbia Public School
Association and himself former men,
Der of the House of Representatives
brought applause when he condemned
the denial to Washingtonians OF the
right to spend their own money In the
way they choose, and forecast the COM
ing to Congress of pioneer who VIII
convince and lead that august body to
believe that If taxation without rep
resentation was wrong $50 years ago
1t is wrong now."
other speakers, including George Sui
Ivan, representing the Federation OF
plea on behalf Of voteleSs washington
pointing out that the Districts schools
libraries and Fairgrounds are denied
adequate funds because the will OF the
citizens here not only was not sought
but was ignored completely.
Mrs. Saunders Presides.
The meeting was called by Mrs
Joseph N. Saunders, president Of the
D c. Congress of Parents and Teach
ers, who presided.
Earlier in the day the Board Of Edu-
cation met in executive session as q
committee of the whole to study the
1884 budget slashes OF school items
Following the meeting DR.. Hayden
johnson, president OF the board, an
nounced that no action was taken by
the board looking to solution OF the
problems created by the cuts, but that
a concentrated study OF the effects OF
the reductions now in the bill was
made. Further action at this time, DR.
johnson explained, would be impos-
sible until the final action on the bill
was taken by Congress. The board did
agree, however, he admitted, that 1t
considered the reductions of the salary
items most serious of all" and he re-
iterated for the board its intention OF
seeking hearings before the Senate.
Last nights protest meeting was
called to order by Mrs. Saunders at
8:45 O'Clock, and it was adjourned at
about 1890 o'clock. Harry N. Stull
legislative chairman of the D. c. Con-
gress of Parents and Teachers, was
the first speaker.
Holding copy of the printed report
of the brief hearings conducted by the
House Deficiency Committee for the
District Commissioners and the Dis
trict Auditor, Mr.. Stull declared that
contrary to popular conviction, the
playground items were not made by
Budget Director Lewis Douglas but by
the District Commissioners and the Dis
trict auditor themselves. The director
Of the budget, Mr.. Stull declared, SIM
ply advised the District heads that the
total D. c. budget would have to be
reduced by q specific total and the Com
missioners and auditor allocated and
determined the reductions.
Declares Cuts Arbitrary.
Even after the chairman of the
House Deficiency Committee asked ths
Commissioners and the auditor wheth'
er. In view of the haste with which
they had to prune the 1884 estimates
they would not want to change any o
the cut ALLEGATIONS, the District Off
GERS said that would not be neces'
sary. He quoted the Ccmmissione
| and the auditor as saying that with
| their knowledge of all District depart
ments they were able to apportior
the necessary cut without consulting
with departmental heads Consequent
| ". Mr. Stull said, DR.. Frank w. Bal