National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-07-25
THE LEADERSHIP CONTROVERSY.
Session of the Committee on Teachers-Re-
porters Excluded,

The committee on teachers of the white
schools of Washington and Georgetown held
session at the Franklin school building last
evening for the purpose of giving hearing TO
Mr. John f. Thompson, for several years past
PRINCIPAL of the Grammar school of the Fourth
district. 1t was expected tina: some very in
terestiDg statements would be made. Trustees
Lloyd. Randolph and HOvey, of the commit
fee were present Mr.. John L. Thorn son
and his assistant teacher, Mr.. Edward II,
Thompson, were present, and number of
gentlemen invited to speak in behalf of re-
tanning Mr.. Thompson, including Messrs. c.
s Moves, Joseph NJ. Wilson, VIM. Ashtowp,
VIM. B. Evans, Thomas L. Plowmau, DR..
Morgan, Lewis Wright, George F. Mcclellan,
Captain Bradley, Ambrose Stephenson, George
White and others. When the party went into
the committee room the reporters present ac-
cUmpanicd them.
Mr. Randolph, chairman of the committee,
ST led that the meeting was adjourned to hear
from Mr.. Thompson why he should not be re-
moved on the charge of incOmpctcncy and
lack of discipline. lie said that it had not
been proposed to make the meeting public
one, as the matter was p.rsonu. lie OBJ
served that some were present who were not
invited.
Mr. Hovev spoke with less indircc.ncss, and
said that the committee did not desire the
presence OF Inc REPRESENTATIVES, VI INC pISSS
He would not object TO verbatim report of
the proceedings, but he objected to having
abbreviated reports cont aiming the impressions
OF tie reporters. When the Senate consid red
any appointment for office they sat with
closed doors, and he considered that pre-
cedrnt for the committee to follow.
Mr.. Lloyd maintained that the committee
were not considering an appointment, but were
about to proceed into an investigation as to
why Mr.. Thompson should be displaced. As
so many were present the matter could not fail
to he made public, and he had no objections to
a report of the proceedings appearing in q
regular manner in the papers.
Mr.. Randolph said that the hearing would
be one-sided and entirely in favor of Mr..
Thompson, and as it was personal matter he
objected to making public the evidence.
Mr.. Lloyd replied that Mr.. Thompson aid
his friends did not wish to make it one-sided,
but TO proceed in regular order, hearing first
the charges that his colleague of the Fourth
district, Mr.. Champlin, had to bring against
Mr.. Thompson, and L en- the evidence of the
latter.
After further discussion, as Mr.. Lloyd was
decidedly in the minority, it was agreed that
the reporters were not wanted, and the latter
retired.
After the reporters withdrew some discus
sion followed as to the propriety of proceeding
in the absence of Mr.. Champlin, who makes
charges of incompetency against Mr.. John E.
Thompson and favors the appointment of S.
John Thompson as principal of the school.
Mr.. Plowman and others objected to making
any statement in his absence, and the commit
tee, without hearing any of the evidence OF
the numerous witnesses, adjourned until Mr.
Champlin, who is absent from the city, could
be present.
The hearing in the case of Mr.. Mckee, OF
the First district, will begin Immediately after
the prcst mt hearing is concluded.