Evening star., 1956-08-23
PubIicHearings Seen
Soon in School Quiz
Mid-September
Is Indicated as
Starting Date
BY JAMES G. DEANE


schools will start soon-prob-
ably before mid-September, it
was indicated today.
Representative Davis, Demo-
crat of Georgia, told The Star
he is about to move to set a
hearing date. He said he didn't
know yet who will be called to
testify or how long the hearings
may last.
Mr.. Davis heads special six
man House District subcommit-
tee set up to check into "juve-
nile delinquency and lowered
school standards" A staff Of
special investigators headed by
William Gerber, attorney from
Memphis, Tenn, has been con-
Quoting preliminary interviews
for more than a month.
IntegratiOn Issue
Investigation leaders haven't
challenged reports that their
main interest is District public
school race integration. The
majority of the subcommittee
members, and all the investiga-
tion staff, are Southerners.
Representative Davis, who now
is in Georgia campaigning for
an election primary September
IL, told a reporter by telephone
he probably will try to get public
hearings under way before the
primary. He said he plans to re-
turn to Washington shortly. He
also said he plans to get in
touch with subcommittee MEM
bers to learn when they will be
available to attend hearings.
Attendance Problem
One subcommittee member,
Representative Hyde, Republican
of Maryland. said he hasn't
heard from Mr.. Davis yet. Mr..
Hyde said he doubts whether he
can attend any hearings between
next week and early October,
however, because of his cam
Ipaign for reelection. He expects
Ito be out of town most of the
time, he said.
j Other subcommittee members
are out of town.
] Mr.. Davis said the inability Of
i other members to attend wouldn't
necessarily block the hearings.
But he said he would hope to
have some of them present,
i The subcommittee chairman
;Isaid plans for the hearings would
depend partly on the status Of
the preliminary work by Mr..
Gerber and his aides.
Hundreds interviewed
| Mr.. Gerber said today several
hundred persons have been in
terviewed but further interviews
are scheduled through next week.
The District Commissioners
and the nine members of the
Board of Education are among
those who have been interviewed.
Mr.. Davis, asked whether they
would be called to testify pub
licly. limited they might but
wouldn't commit himself defin-
Iitely.
The interviewers have been
spending most Of their time
talking to teachers and school
principals. School Supt. Hobart
IN. Corning so far has been
summoned only once, to be asked
for extensive statistical data.
This was supplied some time ago.
Mr.. Davis said, II think well
hear anybody that wants to be
heard"
NAACP Asks to Be Heard
He refused to say whether this
included spokesmen for the Ma
tional Association for the Ad.
, vancement of Colored People.
The president of this organiza-
. tion'S District branch, Eugene
: Davidson, this week announced
I he had written Mr.. Davis asking
that his group be allowed to
! present its views at the hearings.
Mr.. Gerber today denied a
, newspaper report that colored
} teachers weren't being inter-
! viewed.
He said -four or FIVE" Negro
E teachers were interviewed yes
terday and others had been
talked with earlier.
Mr.. Gerber also denied a news
paper report that teachers were
lodging the Investigators be-
cause Of fear for their jobs.
Needn't Be Afraid"
He said he was certain school
;. officials would support him In
stating teachers needn't be
: afraid.
Other members Of the Davis
S subcommittee are Representa-
E tives Williams Of Mississippi and
Jones Of North Carolina, Demo-
/ Gratis, and Broyhill Of Virginia
D and Miller Of Nebraska, Republi-
\ cans.
r Mr.. Gerber is being aided in
the interviewing by Leonard o.
!. Hilder. Arlington educator, and
! George w. McCown, Florence
IS. CO. high school principal.
Herrick M. Roland. New Ham
over IN. CO. school superintend-
, ent. also has been asked TO adj
! wise the investigators.