Evening star., 1935-01-20
17C|T|zEN GROUPS
NOW OPPOSED TO
COMMISSION VETO
Power over Education
Board Practically Only
Part of Bill Considered.

Citizens Associations In the District
have voted Overwhelming opposition to
the proposed bill to give the Commis-
sioners enlarged powers over the Board
of Education. A survey Of civic activi-
ties since the measure was submitted
by its author, Corporation Counsel z.
Barrett Prettyman, Q little more than
three weeks ago. reveals that II asso-
Citations to date have gone on record
against the proposal, and one unit
favors plan whereby members OF the
Board of Education would be elected
by District residents.
Although the proposal, which would
give the Commissioners the authority
to order and veto acts by the Board
of Education, Is but one angle OF
Prettyman's bill, 1t is the only feature
which, with few exceptions, has oc-
cupied the attention of the Citizens
Associations, as well as other organi-
zations in the city. This feature also
took over practically all the discussion
of the proposed bill at the hearing
last Wednesday.
One Of the first groups to oppose
this feature, the Georgetown Progress
sive Citizens Association, declared the
proposal would soon put the school
system under the control Of political
interests and that the Commissioners
would be so under this control, from
the White House down." they would
be forced to comply, no matter what
their inclinations might be.
Oppose Appointive Power.
Another group, the Michigan Park
unit, said it would give the Commis-
sioners the power to appoint teachers
and, ultimately, dictatorial powers
over the whole system. Members de-
clared the Commissioners would not
be as well equipped for such work as
the trained members Of the Board Of
Education.
The Forest Hills group brought up
another angle In opposing the measure
when it was said that under the plan
the Commissioners would be able to
appoint out-of-town persons as teach
ers and supervisors. Members declared
the schools now are being handled
competently and that there Is no
necessity Of going out Of the city to
get instructors.
The Ivy City Association held to
this same belief. The members, IN
voicing opposition, said the proposal
would bring about disruption IN q
smooth running system.
Other civic groups opposing the
measure include Benning, Pleasant
Plains, Mt. Pleasant, Citizens Asso-
citation of Takoma, D. c.; Piney
Branch, Stanton Park, Park View,
Cathedral Heights Cleveland Park.
Citizens Forum of Columbia Heights,
Central Northwest, Dahlgren Terrace,
Sixteenth Street Highlands and South
west. So far, not one association has
favored the plan.
The Joint Conference Of Northeast
Citizens Associations, while opposing
the measure, favors plan whereby
the Board Of Education would be
elected by District residents.
There are many other features IN
this bill and some civic leaders have
suggested they be drawn up into q
separate bill SO as not to be delayed
by the controversial item concerning
the Board of Education.
Purposes Of Bill.
The purpose Of Prettyman's broad
proposal, which the Commissioners now
are considering modifying to eliminate
objectionable features" would be to
centralize the ultimate authority Of
administration of District affairs In
the hands Of the Commissioners and
to give them the power to order and
veto acts by all independent boards
and agencies which are supported in
whole or In part by District revenues.
The Commissioners are convinced the
city administration should be central
ize6 in them, since they share the
major responsibilities. The three
main purposes are to clarity and am
plify powers which the Commissioners
already have but which are many
time confused and uncertain; to re-
lieve the Commissioners from the
necessity Of appearing before Con-
sress for legislation with respect to
trivial and minor matters, and to
make the commissioners, IN Iact, the
governmental executives Of the Dis
trict.
The bill would give the Commis-
sioners authority over jails, public in
stitutions Of charity, public hospitals,
some of the parks, Fairgrounds and
streets, ETC. It is claimed the city
heads now have no authority over
some of the officials, often causing
confusion. While the Commissioners
would receive enlarged powers under
the bill, the various boards, commit
tees, commissions, and other agencies
would stil retain active administra-
ton, with the Commissioners holding
the power of directing or prohibiting
actions by officials whenever they
deem 1t necessary"