Evening star., 1955-03-28
Candidates Are Cool
ToPTAQuestionnaire
In Alexandra Race
BY SAM EASTMAN

BY SAM EASTMAN
A QUESTIONABLE from the Alex
andria Council of Parent
Teacher Associations has met
chilly reception from most of the
Democratic candidates for city
council.
Each of the II candidates seek
ing a seat on the seven-member
council were asked if he favored
and would authorize funds for:
l. A pay raise for teachers and
other school personnel to keep
salaries lin the average range"
in the Washington area.
2. Increasing the number of
classroom teachers to stay as
close to 25 to 80 pupils per In
structor as possible.
3. Employing special teachers
for classes of retarded children.
music, art. physical education.
and reading and speech assist
ance
4. A school construction pro-
gram to provide modern salts
factory facilities" for the city's
growing school population.
None of the candidates in the
April S primary had any quarrel
with the desirability of the PTA
councils goals. But. the request
for advance appropriation COM
mitments drew comments rang
ing from "a little bit rough" to
absolutely unfair"
Here are excerpts from the
comments of the six incumbents
and five challengers regarding
the QUESTIONABLE:
Councilman Leroy S. Bend
heim-"The council has already
determined to provide in our
capital improvement program for
some of the requests. I am
favorable to practically all of
them but don't want to make
any advance commitments"
Truman E. Carneale-"It looks
like little high pressure. ! don't
think it should have been sub
mitted."
Councilman James M. Duncan,
jr.-"The council always has
supported the school program
and ! know of NO reason why its
attitude in the future will
change."
Councilman John ]. Ewald-
Il felt that they were fair ques-
tions. In general, I went along
with the PTA councils expan-
sion program"
Councilman David S. HaddOck
TT is a little bit rough to ask a
direct question and follow it up
by asking it you would vote for
an appropriation. However, after
studying the questions I con-
scientiously was able to answer
yes 10 all OF them.
Ernest L. Mankin-"It is alb
solutely unfair to ask a can
didate to commit himself on one
phase of city government with
out seeing the entire budget pic
ture I am absolutely not in
favor of taking too much money
for any one particular govern
ment phase. However. help for
handicapped children is very
dear to my heart and I am
strongly in favor of special
teachers for the program"
Councilman Frank Z. Mann
GAS far as I am concerned, ac-
tions speak louder than words.
The city council always has CO.
operated 100 per cent, within
our economic bounds, with
school officials. know of no rea-
son to expect that we will change
our minds
Councilman Daniel F. O'Fla-
herty-' 1t is my purpose to deal
as fairly with the question of
public education as with any
other phase of city government.
Public education is important,
but it is not the only important
department. For that reason, I
feel that questions of this type,
from any group, before the full
problem is before the candidates.
is in Questionable taste"
Joseph M. Pancoast-"I con-
slider the public school system
the backbone of our nation.
tBut) what kind of representa-
tive of the people would coun-
Gilman be who comes into office
committed on the expenditures
of tax monies for various de-
partments or services? He would
either have to repudiate his
commitments or violate his oath
of Office"
Joseph w. Phillips-No COM
ments.
John T. Ticer-"I do not feel
that it is in the best interests of
the people for their elected rep
resentative to promise to vote in
advance on any specific matter
of appropriations which has not
been presented to him for ade-
quate study prior to the taking
of that vote"