Evening star., 1950-12-07
Lee and Corniinq
Tang|e asC|erk
Resigns Post
Surplus Food Aide
Criticized for Visit to
FBI, Member Says

who went to the FBI to prove
that local charitable organiza-
ton was obtaining Government
surplus food Illegally, has touched
of another controversy In the
District public schools.
Adelbert w. Lee, Board of Edu-
cation vice president. revealed at
the boards meeting yesterday
that the clerk, Miss Violet Cutaiar,
has resigned, effective tomorrow,
because she was criticized by
school officials for not going
through channels.
Miss Cutaiar works in the
school Office charged with dis
tributing surplus food donated by
the Agriculture Department. The
Office handles distribution of such
foods to I'll schools, So institu-
tions not connected with schools,
10 child day-care centers and 8
summer camps.
Handled Freight in Job.
Mr.. Lee described Miss Cutaiar
as "frail little lady" whom
the school system permitted to
lift freight as part of her job. He
said that. on occasion, she has to
lift cases of canned goods from
trucks in order to get the work
done. Her assistant, Mr.. Lee said,
Is . 70-year-old custodian, "a
decrepit gentleman, nice but not
the type to handle freight"
Mr.. Lee opened the whole COM
plicated matter by describing the
school food situation as a mis-
cradle mess"
He announced that his person.
mel committee will explore the
whole situation to see what needs
to BE- done. The committee will
meet early next week.
AS Mr.. Lee told it, the charita-
BILE organization in question is not
q non-profit group and, therefore
does not qualify to receive the
surplus foods. Miss Cutaiar, be-
lieving this to be the situation.
went directly to the FBI to find
out.
Mentions Corning Aide.
Miss Margaret Pepper, School
Supt. Hobart M. Corning's ad-
ministrative assistant, criticized
Miss Cutaiar, Mr.. Lee declared,
In addition, he added, Miss Pepper
made remarks about him when he
found out about the case and be-
gan investigating it.
Anyway. Mr.. Lee continued, the
clerk resigned to take another Dis
trict job. and the charitable Or
ganization no longer is getting the
surplus food.
Neither Mr.. Lee nor DR.. Corn
ing would name the organization
in question.
DR.. Corning came to the de-
tense OF Miss Pepper, saying she
has done nothing without my full
knowledge" He said the food pro-
gram has been running smoothly
since the schools took over the
distribution earlier this year. Pre-
viously it had been administered
by the late Harry Gardner, who
represented the Commissioners.
When he died the job was turned
over to the schools, who have
acted as the Agriculture Depart
ment agent since, with Miss
Cutaiar actually handling the Job.
No one has been named to fill the
top position.
Miss Pepper should not criti-
cize board members getting in.
formation" Mr.. Lee declared. IT
want to hear no more complaints.
Do you deny that the organiza-
ton improperly got foods?"
"I've made no comment on
that" DR.. Corning replied.
I'm aware of that" MIR. Lee
snapped. tits a serious thing"
Asked That Post Be Filled.
DR.. Corning then declared he
would criticize any employe who
reported anything to the FBI
without letting him know about it.
He pointed out. that he had
asked for the appointment Of
some one to fill the vacancy in
the top position and added he
felt that would go a long way
toward solving the problems of
food distribution.
The school board has been
holding back on the appointment,
since there is legislation being
drawn to set UP an entirely new
cafeteria and food service system
for the public schools. At present
the school cafeterias are operated
independently by the principals.
The proposed plan, which the
board has approved. would set up
a central food service Office to
supervise the entire operation
with director and staff.
DR.. Corning said he, at first. had
recommended holding off on the
appointment because of the pend
ing proposal to change the whole
setup. However, he said he now
felt it would be wise to make the
appointment Immediately.
Mr.. Lee said that will be taken
UP by the Personnel Committee
after it has explored the situation
next week.
Transfer Action Postponed.
In other actions yesterday, the
School Board:
Postponed action on DR.. Corn
ing's proposal to transfer Maury
and Ludlow Elementary Schools in
Northeast Washington from white
to colored pupils to relieve over
|croWding in the colored schools Of
the section. The board wanted
to study the matter further.
Revised the plans for the pro-
posed new building TO replace the