Evening star., 1939-03-18
Anderson Concert
Permit Denied on
Conditional Grounds
Bo1Iou Says Boards
Stipulation Not Met
By Howard U. Committee

Superintendent of Schools Frank
w. Ballou yesterday denied the ap-
plication of the Howard University
Concert Series Committee for the
use of Central High School audito-
rum for concert by Marian An
derson, world renowned colored con-
tlalto, Easter Sunday.
In a letter to Charles c. Cohen
committee chairman. DR.. Ballou said
he had no authority to issue a per-
NIT except on the basis of the con-
ditions the Board of Education had
laid down.
On Wednesday the committee had
filed with the board acceptance of
the auditorium, but refusal of the
conditions under which use of the
auditorium for the concert had been
approved. This acceptance" DR..
Ballou contended, was in reality a
refusal and the responsibility for
the unavailability of the auditorium
must be assumed by the committee.
Conditions Barred precedent"
The conditions laid down by the
board on March 3. when 1t reversed
its earlier absolute ban on the con-
cert. were that in allowing the use
of the hall 1t was in no way setting
a precedent for future policy and
that the board would not in future
be asked to depart from the principle
of dual school system and dual
school facilities. Miss Anderson was
to be allowed the use of the audito-
rum under waiver of board rules
regulating the use of buildings by
prof1t-making enterprises.
DR.. Ballou said spokesmen for
Howard University had suggested
that the case was an emergency and
did not constitute precedent for fu-
ture policy. He also added that
agreement to the conditions was
necessary to obtain the six votes
needed to waive a rule of the board
Claims Series Loses Money.
The committee, however, in ac-
cepting the auditorium but refusing
to acknowledge the conditions. said
the financial question was not sig
nificant because the university loses
money rather than makes it on the
concert series. 1t added that it
could not guarantee an emergency
would not recur.
Charles H. Houston, former
member of the board and chairman
of the Marian Anderson Citizens
Committee, also filed a letter with
the board Wednesday denying that
the dual system of schools is in
volved, since the concert will come
during a vacation and after hours.
There is no interference with the
educational program. he argued.
Meanwhile, John Lowell, jr., score
tary of the committee, said today
that Howard University will appeal
the action of the superintendent
to the Board of Education. Since
the board does not meet again
until April S, he said, the committee
is getting up a subscription list Ito
oversubscribe the concert so that
q sell-out concert can be given on
48 hours notice"
The committee also plans, &C
cording to Mr.. Lowell, to ask Con-
gress to investigate previous prac-
tices of the board and school officials
in granting community use of
buildings and to ask for amend
ment to the Community Center law
more clearly defining the COM
munity use of buildings after school
hours.
The District of Columbia Council,
United Federal Workers of America,
adopted a resolution last night criti-
cizing DR.. Ballou and demanding
that the unconditional use of the
auditorium be granted Miss Ander-
son.