National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-08-20
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
REPLY OF THE COMMISSIONERS TO
THE COUNTY TRUSTEES.

REpII OE lHL NO-A-A-1EnA A-AAAo II "
THE COUNTY TRUSTEES.
WHY THEY WERE ABOLISuED-THE LAW
AND FACTS IN THE CAsE-EN-PREsIDEN
BROWN ON THAT INSURANCE WHICH
WASN'T PAD-GENERAL WORK IN CO.
LUMBIA BUILDING YESTERDAY.
The Commission were yesterday busily engaged
in attending to routine work. but late in the after
noon sent the following reply to the resolutions
heretofore published) passed at the recent meet
ing ofthe Board Of Trustees ofthe County Schools:
SIR: We have to acknowledge the receipt OF
your communication covering copy Of the pro-
ceedinRs Of the Trustees OF Public Schools for
that part Of the District known as the county Oh
Washington, held on the 18th instant -, ~,
For answer we have the honor TO present the
following as our views Of the law relating to the
TEs o.yS Of Trustees Of ISlio Schools for that
part Of the District Of Columbia known as Ine
county Of Washington held thelT omces ohaer
and by virtue Of the act OF the LeglsatiVe Assem-,
bly, Of August q, 1STl, and not under the act Of
Congress Of June g, ls64.
INC act Of June Is. ls64, provided that the Levy
Court should annually, on the first Monday Of
Nav appoint such persons nom each school dis
trict as the commissioners OF primary SD.
The act Of February q, ISL, to provide gov; |
erpment for the District Of Columbia Abolsheu
the Levy Court and all orlces connected there |
with and on the FIRST day Of June, ISL the CON,
missiuners Of county schools, trustees snu a., Al
county officers holding appointments HOLn Wy
Levy Court became tuhetES ogle12 Dy tnS ~ ~
and special terms Of that act by NITtue o. the
same act It was made the duty OF the LeglslAtTe |
Assembly 10 maintain system OF iree schools |
for the education Of the youth o. sala DlStrlet,
aud section 30 gave the Legislative Assem- bly, the
mower to provide for the election or appointment
ofnecessary oficers TO carry into effect the laws
Of said District, to prescribe their duties their
term Of office and the rate and manner Of their
compensation. Sectione also empowers the Legts- |
latTe Assembly to divide that portion OF the Dis
trict not included in the corporate limits Of Wash
ington and Georgetown into townships, not ez-
Ceeding three, and create township officers, and
prescribe the5duties thereof
The laws and ordinances which were continued
in force by the act of February a. 1871, were such
as were not Inconsistent with this act. The act
of February q. 1871, had the effect therefore, to
abolish the office Of commissioners Of primary
schools for the county OF Washington, DISTRICT OF
Columbia, and TO transfer 70 the Legislative As
sembly full power and authority to create In lieu
thereof such school officers as might be deemed |
necessary. The authority was exercised by the
Legislative Assembly by the act Of August q,
1871, creating three boards Of trustees OF public
Schools; one for Washington; one for Georgetown,
and for that part Of said District OF Columbia
known as the county Of Warrington, and It was
under this act that the members OF the late county
school board were appointed.
Prior to June /, ISL, the commissioners Of the
primary schools were q corporation, created by |
the act Of June Is, 1854, with power to receive,
for primary school purposes.
With the abolition or the office Of the commits |
sioper Of primary schools the corporate existence
Of the board Of commissioners necessarily became
eItinguished, and Herewith the corporate powers |
granted by the act OF June 70, iSo4i WINE the
real estate or other property held by the commls-
sIoners, In trust for Primsry school purposes,
passed to- and became vested in, tho District OF
Columbia, by virtue Of section 81 Of the act OF
February "a 1871, which provided that "all prop |
erty OF the corporations Of Washington and
Georgetown and Of the county Of washington
The foregoing construction Of tho law is in &C |
oOrdance with the Revised Statutes Of the United |
States relative to the District Of Columbia, |
adopted at the last session NJ Congress, and ac-
cOrdinGly the law Of the District as the same
existed December !, 1873: By rGter9pee Y sec
visions by which the title 20 school lands s to pass
TO and be vested in the District Of Columbia. |
From this statement of the law It is clear that the
late board was not q corporate body created by |
and deriving its powers from special act OF Con- |
gress'' We shall be very sorry TO know that 1t |
name, as no legal right existed for such action.
Very respectfully, "; DENSlsoH,
J. II. kETCHAM,
Commissioners, D. O.
aTr. Brown president Of the late commission, |
makes the following explanation:
A CARD FROM TIE TRUSTEES.
Fothe Editor Of the EITi0ndt Republican:
SIR: I find in the papers statement Of tho |
District Commissioners that Zone OF the principal |
reasons" which led TO the consolidation Of the |
school boards was the faet, that IN q search for
Gently destroyed by FIRE in tie county, It could
not be found, and no one seems to be able to give
any account Of iC. Several similar transactions
having come to the knowledge OF the Commission
ers, they concluded to simplify the business.
a public charge like this without foundation
in fact demands in justice TO the trustees, pub
lie refutal. The following facts Will set the mat
ter in its true light: The county school trustees
being anxious TO have the erection Of the new
schOOl-house commence as soon as possible, in
communication to the Commissioners called
special attention to the matter, and stated that
the insurance company had refused to pay the
insurance due on tho burned building. day or
two sfterWRrd Mr.. Packard, our secretary, and
myself called On the Commission concerning
this matter and the repairs Of the other school
houses, which were becoming urgent as the time
for opening the schools was drawing near. |.
Mr.. Ketcham, then present, informed us that
he had placed the matter Of collecting the insur-
ance and Of commencing tie now building in the
hands Of the attorney Mr, stanton, ST3G To- hsd
port, and that concerning the repairs We should
probably hear from them next day. Not word
policy. That interview was at 3 O'Clock on Friday
afternoon, and the order consolidating the school
boards was issued the very next day None Of
the Commissioners I 50 done i would have been
SeeTetSfT q TS St n9aon we ESQ q G I
policy was wanted was tho published statement
quoted above. II the Commissioners 90 not seek |
their Information from persons naturally sup
posed to possess the knowledge, thoy should not
be surprised to realize that what is eTerybody's
business is nobody's business"
/ do not know that any others Of the "similar |
transactions have Rllusion TO the county school
trustees II there are such, and the honorable
Commissioners will specify, we are ready to be
President County School Trustees.
GENERAL BUSINESS.
The laborers borne on the water registrars rolls
quite one hundred and l!ty in number, will be
paid to-day by Comptroller Baker.
Yesterday Comptroller Taylor, Of the board Of
audit, made the hrst issue Ofthe new Se5 District
bonds.
The owner OF q diIapidated frame house OF the |
corner of B street and New York avenue Wns yes |
terdsy directed TO tear it down within thirty |
From information derived from Comptroller |
Taylor, It may be safely said that full state
ment OF the claims against the District govern /
meht will not DO ready for presentation to Con \
Rress on the commencement Of the next session. |
Three thousand claims, OF all grades, have been
already presented. II is also said that the books
and accounts of the auditor Of the late Board of
Public Works are in a good condition.
Drs. Morgan, Howard, SchOll, Patio, Barker, |
Briscoe and Ross, from the Central Dispensary
for the care Of the poor, waited upon the COmmis-
siOners yesterday morning, end BY their chair
man, DR.. Morgan. presented resolutions, the pur-
port Of which was that they ildorse the plan |
Submitted few days ago by Drs. Hall, Busey /
and are willing to cooperate with those gentle
men. Governor DennisOn replied that several |
plans had been laid before the Commissioners,
looking 70 the same object, all OF which would |
receive consideration. Tho Commissioners, he |
said, are willing to take steps to accomplish the
objects sought keeping only In view etneieney
but the one alluded to was we'll spoken OF, and
its respectable origin will cnttle 1t to great con-
sideratiOn when the matter comes up for action.
The contractor for the improvement Of Filth
street east, between East Capitol and B streets
south, has been directed to relay the cutters and
cObbIestOncs taken up by him, to put In a trap
and sewer connection IN alley in square 81, and
TO remove bOufders taken from sewer excavation |
and left remaining in the alley. Another con-
tractor on the same street has been required to |
clean the gutter ana remove all earth, &C.. de-
posted by him in said street, between East Capt.
toll and streets sOutheRst. The contractors for
improving Q street, between Fourteenth and
Fifteenth streets, have been notified that their
work is being done with Interior material and in |
a very unsatisfactory manner, and that unless the
same Is executed IN street accordance with the !
terms OF the o7utract no measurement will be
given.