Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-05-30
Trustees Of Public schools.


Superintendent Richards.
special meeti~o OF the Board Of Trustees of
Public Schools was held at the rooms OF the
Board, on 9Th street, on Saturday evening. Mr..
j. 8. Brown in the chair, and Messrs. A. X.
Lellan, Moore, wilscn and woodward pre.ent
with Mr.. G. ID. Curtis secretary.
The Chair stated that this was an adjourned
meeting; and the business in order was the re-
port Of the special committee on the resolutions
IN relation to the Superintendent.
MT A. X. Browne, from said committee, then
submitted the report, which states that the com
matee decided that Mr.. Richards should put in
ms reply In writing, but this he failed to do. A
pIlntec copy OF what appears to be his defense,
addressed 20 the Board Of Public Schools of the
hand. 81 go mad been placed IN their
appointment. While thet do not complain of
ne course OF the Superinfen dent in this respect
tneS agree that they cannot with propnsty take
ohuer auvf<ement paper which has not
teen properly presented to them, and which,
nom its face, Is intended for the whole board.
1he report further states that the OH Of SUI
PeIin1ennent II purely executive, and vet he has
not considered himself an agent to carry out the
wishes OF the board, but an officer of equal pover
s apG aatnerlty with the board, and continues
When the Board defined his duties under the
Law, they did not meet his ideas to the extent
oi tne authority conferred upon him, and in this
IesPect ne has considered himself curtailed IN
power. Inc Board, on the other hand, could
not see how II was pos bic for them TO enlarge
ms powers according TO his wishes without de-
sIoylng 70 great degree their own usefulness.
ncnce resulted divergence or practice and
the inevitable collision. II the APPOINTMENT OF
Superintendent and his continuance in position
had expended on the Beard, no such discord
would have resulted from the introduction of
the once into our school system. Your commit
tee are clearly OF the opinion that the law In this
respect should be amended They are impelled
10 thfs expression, not from any lust of patron
age, but from q desire for the Continued
prosperity OF our schools. In point of
everything, except buildings, that goes to
81 est ls.A,
now second 70 none in the country. During the
last two years their advance has been moi "a
Pld- The number in attendance is constantly
increasing and continually demanding enlarged
school facilities. Contributing freely their time
talent, and labor for their good the Board of
hirifsfseees VIII Sc Al Earnestly bore that no
progress" The committee submit resolutions
a. a substitute Tor the preamble and resolutions
of the present laws in relation to the Office off
Superintendent OF Public schools 20 as TO m AXE
the Superintendent elective by the Board OF
Trustees.
Mr.. Dulin moved the adoption of the report
Mr.. Richards said this report embraced some
new points to which he had no opportunity to
reply. There was some discrepancy ia the
report also as TO his alleged refusal to present
his reply His reply was printed, and when he
presented printed copy 10 the committee he
thought that il should be considered the same
as If il were written He asked that the report
Ne again read, and on the secretary reading 1t
he continued, saying that he ought not to be
blamed tor submitting his reply printed, for the
copy Of the charges furnished him was mere
printed slip cut from q newspaper, and they
knew that reporters were not always accurate.
He failed to see how he could be charged with
having acted discourteously to the committee
Mr.. woodw ard said that the Superintendent
makes most singular state ments, that he had
had not time 70 present his written reply TO the
committee, and yet had had pamphlet printed
which had been distributed BY him about the
court house. He had read that reply, and
hardly knew whether the pronoun / or the mis-
representations numbered the most. He stie-
matzed that reply a. a falsehood, by a nice per
son to go before children 70 teach morality.
Mr.. woodward was called TO srder as the re-
ply was not before the Board, and he took his
seat.
Mr.. Chsmplin explained that ne had been ae-
cused OF prosecuting the Superintendent. and
ne wished II understood that he did not 80 re-
gard II be signed the report to get rid of the
whole matter. There had been deliberate At
tempt on the part Of the Superintendent 10
dodge the issue. He (Nr. c. would prefer that
the report be thrown aside and the original res
olutlons be acted on, for he was sure the Charges
IN those resolutions were true.
MI Mcclellan said that he could not vote for
me report OF the Committee, for he was satisfied
mat the charges were true. He had been told
that his course on the question was taTap ro i1
reference 10 obtaining the position for hjnseIF
De had never sought that oisce, never eypected
II, nor would he accept il il offered
Mr.. woodward said IL had been stated tia. he
was an applicant for that position, but he could
not take Il. N11u
Mr.. Duhn called for the question on the renor,
And Was adopted. Yeas-Messrs. A. X
Srovhe, Carke, Dulin, Moore, WILSON,.
MsayIAessrs- j. 5. Champlin, McLefi an, ana