Evening star., 1935-01-06
SCHOOL POLITICS
FEARED IN BILL
Commissioners Reported
Seeking Power to Make
Appointments.
Continued From First Page.)

the other agencies now independently
| operated"
Under the terms of the bill actual
! management of the Independent
agencies would be left where it now
rests, generally speaking. DR.. john
son last night put his finger on one
! provision which would transfer juriS-
diction from the school board to the
Commissioners. This would authorize
| the Commissioners ITO issue, deny,
suspend or revoke permits to any in
stitutions not incorporated by an act
of Congress claiming the authority
to confer any professional or academic
| degree"
Such authority now is held by the
Board of Education under the terms
| of March 2, 1929. Dr. johnson ques-
tions the reason for such change of
jurisdiction.
The Commissioners powers bill
| covers many subjects, but the section
particularly at issue would give the
District heads power:
ITO direct or prohibit action by
any official, employe, agency, commit
tee, commission or board financed in
whole or in part from revenues from
the District of Columbia Except the
judges, officials and employees of the
courts and those of the Public Utili-
ties CommiSSion), whenever in the
judgment of the said Commissioners
such direction or prohibition is advis-
able in the public interests.
Such resolution of direction or pro-
hibition, when received by any such
official, employe, agency, committee,
commission or board, shall be treated
and have the same effect as though
it were the official act of such recip-
lent"
Sees Dictatorial Power.
What DR.. johnson seeks to ascer-
tain definitely is whether this is in
tended to give the Commissioners
power to direct the appointment Of
teachers without regard to the results
of examinations required by the act
of 1906, the recommendation of the
school superintendent or the Judgment
of the Board of Education. Dictato-
rial powers over the whole school sys-
tenn would be placed in the hands of
the Com nisisoners If this proved the
case, he believes. It is pointed out
school authorities are trying to deal
with a specialized subject of this
character, whereas the Commissioners
profess no such qualifications.
In addition to the Board of Educa-
ton, some of the other agencies
financed out of District revenues and
subject by the terms of the bill to the
same control are the National Zoo,
the District Parole Board, the Board
of Public Welfare and the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion.
In the case Of the superintendent of
schools, it was explained by one in
tereSted party last night, the Com
missioners could, if they saw fit, pro-
hibit the Board of Education from re-
appointing DR.. Ballou and then, later,
tell the board who should be ap-
pointed.
Reports were circulated recently
that the position of superintendent of
schools had been placed on a secret
patronage list made up by influential
Democrats here. This could not be
confirmed. Some officials deny knowl-
edge of it. Some credence was given
the report, however, by the statement
to The Star that one of the objectives
OF the Commissioners was to gain the
power over this appointment.
DR.. Ballou recently was asked to
consider the presidency of st. Lawrence
University, Canton, N. Y. He de-
cided after some. study not to take
that position, but to remain here.
Those opposed to the Commission
ers' plan argue that if there is to be
Board of Education at all, it should
remain as independent as it is today.
Power of appointment of members of
the board it is emphasized, was placed
in the hands of justices of District
Supreme Court to prevent turn
over of school personnel after each
change in the political administration.