Evening star., 1947-11-19
Heating Plant
Danger Probed
lin Two Schools
Charges Involve
Blow and Webb,
Listed for Transfer
By Colt HendIey, Jr.


at the Blow and Webb Elementary
Schools are dangerous were to be
Investigated today by the Board Of
Education members, in person, dur
ing a tour with an expert" from the
District Engineers office.
School Supt. Hobart NJ Corning S
stand is that the plants are "old but
operating safely"
The charges were among the de-
velopments at a far from sociable
meeting of the boards Buildings
and Grounds Committee yesterday.
The meeting was called in an at
tempt to reach a decision on the
question of whether five white
schools should be turned over to
colored pupils to relieve part-time
classes. and whether five other school
buildings should be closed. The
matter again will be taken up at the
regular board meeting today.
No settlement was reached.
On Transfer List.
The Blow and Webb Schools, un-
der DR.. Corning's proposals, would
be used to relieve part-t time classes
at the Browne Junior High School.
Other schools to be transferred to
colored pupils would be the Bowen,
Hayes and LenoX Elementary
Schools. Together they would allow
more than 5000 colored pupils to go
on full-time instruction.
John B. Duncan, representing the
Benning Heights Civic Association,
charged the plants are unsafe. He
cited testimony from a House APP
preparations Subcommitte hearing
earlier this year that the plants go
out of service constantly during
the cold weather and that often It
is impossible to keep coal gas from
escaping into the class rooms.
Mr.. Duncan accused DR.. Corning
of making this statement and then
last week at the board hearing on
the transfer question, taking the
stand that the heating plants are
all right. DR.. Corning explained the
testimony before Congress was not
his out was apparently a justifica-
ton IF the request for money to
replace the furnaces under regular
schedule. whereby all furnaces are
renewed at intervals.
Lee Takes Issue.
Board Member Adelbert w. Lee
took violent issue with DR.. Corning
on the point. saying: you are le-
sponsible. Your duty is to know
these things"
DR.. Corning replied:
II dislike the implication that any
thing has been covered up. stated
openly they were old"
This led to further words. After
the meeting, Mr.. Lee continued the
argument, accusing DR.. Corning OF
not giving him proper respect" as
a board member. They went into an
adjoining Office and continued their
talk until other board members
made peace between them.
George E. C. Hayes, colored board
member, opened the meeting by de-
claring he favus the transfers as
a temporary measure.
He reminded the board that many
organizations with which he was
connected we're against the propo-
sails. Mr.. Hayes is past president
of the District Chapter of the Ma
tional Association for the Advance
ment of Colored People and men,
ber of the Committee for Racial
Democracy in the Nations Capital.
IT am mindful that I'm out of step
with people with whom my opinions
have agreed often" he said.
Mr.. Hayes said he had considered
the proposals carefully and had de-
cided that the advantages gained
by the children far outWeighed any
disadvantages or inconvenience
which might result.
Mr.. Hayes said he is against segre-
cation, but that, by opposing the
transfer of the schools. no possible
gain toward the goal of abolishing
WOU4u UC ulduC.
No Comment by Wilson.
John A. Wilson, another colored
board member, said he had no COM
ment to make. Mrs. James w.
Williams, the third colored board
member, is opposed to the plan.
Mr.. Lee said he could not go
along" with the proposals in their
present form and said the matter
needs much more consideration.
c. Melvin Sharpe, board member.
who favors the plan, asked Mr.. Lee
if he had any suggestion as how
to solve the problem of part-ti,ne
classes.
There hasn't been enough time
to study the situation" Mr.. Lee
Mrs. Williams also said she had
no plan to offer when pressed by
Mr.. Hayes. Mrs. Henry Grattan
Doyle, board president, and Mrs.
Philip Sidney Smith. committee
chairman. spoke in favor of Or.
Corning's proposals.