New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-02-26

In April last the Board Of Trustees oil
colored schools for Washington and George
town, ID. e., at the instance of Henry John
son, president of the board, who was actu-
ated by personal spite toward DR.. A. Il.
Augusta, repealed the resolution passed by
the old board, by which the Doctor was APP
pointed teacher Of physiology, to take effect
May LIST ensuing, but as they failed to notify
him, the Doctor continued to perform his
duties. On the 9th of May he received a
notice from the Secretary informing him of
their action, to which he answered by in
forming him that the notice came too late for
the LIST of May, as another month had COM
menced, and he should continue on and hold
the Board responsible for the pay. That
letter was referred to the committee of
accounts, who reported that the Doctor was
entitled to his pay for May, and recommendcd
that he be paid. The report was adopted,
the Doctors name was placed upon the pay
roll, and the treasurer drew his check but to
punish him for writing a letter to the Board
through the press, criticising their action for
cutting Off so important a study, they passed
another resolution ordering the treasurer not
to pay the octoruntl he furnished written
inventory of the property in his possession.
But the Doctor showed conclusively in an
other letter that he never held any property
for which he was responsible, but that the
models and charts used by him were pur-
chased by the treasurer, who sent the n to
the school-rooms, where he found them, and
used them the same as hc>did the chalk and
black boards TO teach his class. The Board,
however. passed another resolution to adhere
to their former resolution as to The inventory.
The Doctor having waited for nearly a year
for his pay, and exhausted all reasonable
means to collect it, brought snt before JUS
tce Wall, through Mr.. John II. Cock,
shor. time since to recover 1.-THE Board be-
ing represented by Mr.. King, former trus-
tee. The Justice, after hearing both sides,
decided that the Doctor was justly entitled
to his pay, and gave judgment accordingly;
and notwithstanding that the President of
the Board stated to the justice after the trial,
and before the decision was given, lie would
bow to it when given, he has taken an APP
peal, and that, too, without calling meet
ing of the Board. Now, the question may
be asked, Why all this ado about so
small a matter on the part Of the Presl-
dent of the Board? For the trial lie
acknowledged that the money was due
to the Doctor, and that he did not be-
lieve he had any of the property, but that
he failed to comply with the resolution of the
Board to hand in written. inventory, which
resolution was not passed for nearly three
months after the Doctor was dismissed. Or
it may be asked, Is this intended to be a
job? For it will be found that Mr.. Johnson
has retained Mr.. King, a former trustee Of
the Board, to defendit. But it may be that
Mr.. King has volunteered to defend and APP
peal this case for nothing. It is very well
known that he voted himself fifty dollars
while treasurer TO board Of which he was a
member, and as he alleged, for writing up
the former treasurer's accounts, and it is not
at all likely he will do this labor for nothing.
At any rate the court charges will have to be
paid in this case, and this gives another rea-
son why there should be but one system Of
schools for this District when member of
the colored school board can spend the
money Of the Taxpayers in fruitless law
suit for bill they will be compelled to pay,
in order to get revenge, which he says is SO
sweet, and this, too, in the face Of the fact
that the teachers have not been paid their
salaries for so many months.
ODSEcyEp