Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-03


E. Gerber.
The SO witnesses questioned il
the nine days of public hearings
all present or former employees
Iof the school system except fol-
C. Melvin Sharpe. who is Boarc
Iof Education president, and 6
Health Department spokesman
were far short of the total o.
persons repeatedly interviewed
privately.
The Davis investigating staff
has been reported to have inter.
viewed some 500 persons. At tn,
start of the investigation, more
than two months ago, the Ger.
Der staff obtained a list of some
1000 teachers and other schoo
employees, and many were called
on for questioning privately.
Only the SO persons were ten.
dered - and accepted - invita-
tons to testify in public, how
ever. Left uncalled, although al
were interviewed, were the othel
EIGHT school board members, in
Icluding the three who arr
Negroes. Also not invited to ties.
fifty. either publicly or privately
were the top leaders of the city,
now integrated parent : teaches
Organizations.
Those appearing at the public
hearings included 18 principals
% teachers, two school counsel
ors. an attendance supervisor
and six officials, including Supt
Hobart M. Corning. There wa
also testimony by former prac-
teal nursing supervisor and 6
former teachers college nurse
and a Health Department spokes'
man. Nine of the witnesse:
were Negro, the rest white.
Gerber to Return in 10 Days
Mr.. Gerber, before leaving yes
terday for his home in Memphis
Tenn, said he planned to return
in about 10 days. The counsel
said he planned to study the
transcript of the hearings while
out of town. The hearing rec
ord. meanwhile. is already being
printed.
The special subcommittee staff
is likely to begin writing a re-
port as soon as Mr.. Gerber re-
turns. it was indicated. George
w. McCown, Florence IS. c.
High School principal. ano
Leonard o. Hilder of Arlington
(Va0 are the other two regular
staff members.
Two Republican subcommittee
members. Representatives Hyde
of Maryland and Broyhill of Vir.
ginia, last Friday sought to havt
the hearings halted until aftel
the November 6 elections. The!
said the sessions interfered will
their campaigning and othel
business.
The move was unsuccessful
Chairman Davis said then tina
witnesses already had beer
called and plans made for a con,
tinuation of the hearings.
Hearings Adjourned
After questioning DR.. Corninl
for nearly five hours Monday
Mr.. Davis announced, however
that he was adjourning the hear
ings. He said the subcommittee
which also includes Representa-
ltives Williams of Mississippi ant
Jones of North Carolina, Demo
Gratis. would be subject to call
But he gave no indication o
any plans for further hearings.
Some nonparticipants in thu
Davis inquiry. including TIVE
members of the parent HOUSE
District Committee, Representa-.
tives Wier of Minnesota anc
Dawson of Illinois. Democrats
have criticized the inquiry a,
being biased. Criticism has alsC
come from several organization,
interested in the segregation
issue.
The Washington Chapter o.
Americans for Democratic Ac.
ton yesterday made public 2
statement accusing the Davi.
group of seeking to tailor ar
answer that suits your precon.
Iceived purposes
The organization also made
public a letter from its presi.
dent. Charles Donahue. to Mr.
Davis renewing a September /.
request to present TESTIMONY
before the subcommittee.
ave Issues Protest
Another protest was raised b,
the American Veterans Commit.
tee, claiming a membership Of
$4,000 liberal" veterans. Il
said the investigation was care.
fully and willfully planned t
subvert the process of integra.
ton Of the Nations public
schools"
In Atlanta Mr.. Davis wa.
quoted by the Associated Pres,
as saying: Il don't think thai
either the ADA or AVG state.
ment is worthy Of notice" H,
declined to discuss the state.
ments further.
Meanwhile a review Of testi.
mony during the hearing,
showed that little was brought
out that was not previousl,
Ipunlicized. at least locally. al
though not all OF 1t had beer
disclosed in such detail.
School teachers and official
in general testified that the,
found too many children below
desirable achievement levels
and that. specifically. coloreC
children on the average werr
well below customary achieve.