Evening star., 1934-11-15
PARENTSTHREATEN
STRIKE IN FIGHT.
ON SCHOOL SCOT
BIair-Hayes Heating Plant
Renewal Pledge by To-
morrow Demanded.
1884 EQUIPMENT
HIT BY ULTIMATUM
Six Representatives of PIT.
Group Promised Case Will Be
Outlined to Commissioners.

away, and after spending two hours
In conference with minor officials, left
this ,.atimatum:
I'VE will have final decision on
CHS case before tomorrow afternoon
or we will organize a parents strike
and take the children out Of the
school,
The heating plant in question was
Installed in 1884 and is of the old
hot-air type. 1t has been repaired
frequently, but still sends SCOT and
gas into the atmosphere in which the
children must work, it is said The
SCOT gathers on desk tops and dirties
faces, hands and clothing, as we'll as
entering the lungs of the children,
the mothers say.
To Meet Tomorrow.
They have called a meeting for
pm. tomorrow, when they threaten to
call the strike to take effect Monday
morning.
Their six representatives today
gained from Maj. Paul A. Hodgson,
Assistant Engineer Commissioner, a
promise he would outline the problem
to his superiors and that a study
would be made to see if funds allotted
for other purposes could be used for
0 new heating plant
Maj. Hodgson anticipated action by
the Commissioners at their meeting
scheduled for tomorrow morning
Later, however, it appeared the ses-
sion might be postponed because En-
gineer Commissioner Dan I. Sultan is
scheduled to attend another meeting
OF the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission.
The militant mothers who went to
the District Building were Mrs. Edwin
Green, president of the Blair Hayes,
PIT. A.; Mrs. Richard S. Franklin
and Mrs. Sargent Elliott, past presi-
dents Of the association; Mrs. S. J.
Brill, Mrs George Nussbaum and Mrs.
Ernest Perry, vice president. =
The delegation found that Commits
sioner George E. Allen was out of
town, attending convention of hotel
executives in New York Commits
sioner Melvin c. Hazen was reported
hunting in Virginia. Col Sultan is
attending the Planning Commission
meeting.
Call On Maj Hodgson.
Not to be stopped by this develop
ment, the group marched to the Office
of Maj. Hodgson and there poured
out their complaints about the old
heating plant which, they said. 'en.
dangered the health of the pupils
Maj. Hodgson said he was in SYM
pathy with the group, but that the
Commissioners were faced with the
problem that the amount of schoo,
repairs always exceeds the available
appropriations.
He revealed that Col. Sultan hao
sent an engineer to examine the plant
again today and promised he, per-
sonally, would take up the matter with
Col. Sultan. He said any action would
have to be taken by the Board oi
Commissioners.
Members of the group said they
wanted action and not promises. Two
years ago, they said, new heating
plant equipment actually was placed
in the basement of the Blair Building
only to be shifted to another school
because a promise had been made that
the other school came first.
When the delegation described how
children were being affected by SCOT
and gas, Maj Hodgson suggested they
see the District health officer to see il
he found the condition so bad as tt
require the closing of the school.
Visits DIR. Fowler.
The delegation then went to the
Office of Dr. William C, Fowler, health
officer He was there, but is tax,
ing leave Of absence prior to his re-
tirement scheduled for November "a
The delegation was interviewed by DR.
Joseph A. Murphy, head of the Schoo
medical inspection service. He pro-
duced reports of inspectors since 1925
urging that the heating plant be re.
placed.
"The Blair School mothers want
new heating plant for the building
and we want to give it to them, but
there is nothing we can do without
the money" said Jere j. Crane, as
sistant superintendent of schools in
charge of business affairs.
This movement is an old, old story
Last year it was the parents at the
Ketcham School. There are about &c
old hot-air heating plants in oul
schools and we are replacing them al
q rate of about three year.
Nothing could be done at the Blail
School now even if we had the money
because it would take a month to si1
weeks to install a new heating plant.
A study Of the 1885 appropriation
act shows there is an item OF $375, ,0Ol
for repairs and improvements to schoo
properties, covering the whole field o
necessary work. During the Summer
$4,000 was spent for replacing thu
heating plants in the Randle High
lands, Ketcham and Payne Schools
Last year heating plants were replaced
at the Cleveland, Henry D. Cooke
Morgan and Towers Schools.
The delegation was not at all salts.
fed with the explanation of lack o.
funds. One member said, eff som'
hiehfaluting section asked for a plan
they would get it." Another said, ii
somebody wanted cupola on the Taf
school he would get it. There mus
Re monew some place"
Mai. Hodgson told the group it al
ready had been planned to replace tht
Blair plant next year, but the mothers
said they wanted it replaced during
the Christmas holidays.
The women suggested that money fol
the plant be taken from the payment
to be made to the District by the
st. Ann'ss Parochial School for the
old Tenley School. Maj. Hodgsor
said that could not be done under law
since 1t would have to be appropriated
by Congress.
Then we will have to see Congress, >
said the women.