Evening star., 1935-11-18
M'CARL |SS|LENT
AS OFFICIALS ACT
TOMEET DECISION
Controller General Refuses
to Comment on Anti
J Communism Ruling.
BOARD WILL STRUGGLE
WITH ISSUE WEDNESDAY
prettyman Reiterates Opinion
That Decision Has Not Changed
His Interpretation.

Controller General McCarl today
continued to maintain a characteristic
silence over his unexpected anti
communism ruling as school officials
went forward with plans to have
teachers and all other school employees
sign a statement the next pay day
that they have not taught or advocated
communism.
The controller general said he saw
no reason for commenting upon doing
my duty" Neither would he say any
thing concerning Mrs. Franklin D..
Roosevelt's assertion that someone in
authority" define what his ruling
might entail.
Tersely McCarl dismissed the whole
subject so far as comment was con-
cerned by saying:
Il have duties to perform. I per-
form them, and I see no reason for
talking about it,
Board to Make Decision.
Without clear Interpretation from
McCarl, DR.. Frank w. Ballou. super
intendent of schools, has taken the
position that the ruling has not
changed the present educational pro-
gram in the schools with respect to
the teaching of the factual history Of
communism. Since McCarl failed to
define the meaning of the word
teach" Dr. Ballou believes the
ruling of Corporation Counsel E. Bar
rett Prettyman should be followed.
The school procedure, however, will
not be definitely determined until
Wednesday when the Board of Educa-
tion will again struggle with the ques-
ton. At that time, DR.. Ballou will
formally submit his statement on the
McCarl ruling to the board.
Mrs. Henry Grattan Doyle, presi-
dent of the board, said she could not
predict the action that might be taken,
but she felt certain there would be
discussion of the ruling on the basis
OF DR.. Ballous report
Ruling Held Unchanged.
Corporation Counsel Prettyman re-
iterated his opinion that the McCarl
decision did not change his ruling
with respect to the word teach" He
admitted, however, the McCarl ruling
has exceeded his in scope by max
ing the anti-communism rider in the
1885 appropriation act applicable to
all school employees in the class rooms
or elsewhere
Prettyman held that the mere in
forming of pupils concerning the his
tory, existence or theories of the COM
munlstic governments or parties is not
prohibited by the rider The mere
recitation or study of factual data. he
said, is not the teaching prohibited
in the rider. He pointed out the word
advocate" means to plead for or urge
the adoption of which, and is SO
easily understood that no interpre-
tation is necessary.
District officials are confident that
unless McCarl gives the School Board
a clear Interpretation of his ruling a
test case ultimately will be taken to
the courts.
Cannon Declines Statement.
Representative Cannon, Democrat,
of Missouri. chairman of the House
Subcommittee on Appropriations,
which handles the District supply
bill and author of the anti-com-
munism rider, declined again today
to comment on the McCarl ruling.
He said his position had been thor
oughly stated and he saw no reason
for further statement.
Soon after the communism contro-
Versy started, Cannon said the rider
was not intended to prevent the teach
ing of the facts of communism and
pointed out that a child's educa-
ton would not be complete without
that information.
Cannon also declined to comment
on reports that efforts might be made
at the coming session of Congress
TO eliminate the rider.