Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-08-21
District Government Affairs.

THE NEW BUILDING REGULATION.
The District Commissioners to-day gave no.
tite TO the inspector of buildings that the new
regulation requiring all builders and con
tractors who are engaged in the construction
ments in the District to place lanterns a
light at points where work is being done, to
prevent accident. Will go into effect on and
after Monday next, and the police will be in
structed to arrest all persons violating by
neglect, this order. The minimum penalty is
fixed at 80, to be collected by the Police
Court.
TIE SCHOOL BOOK CONTROVERSY
This morning, Mr.. Brakeman, of the firm of
IvisOn. Brakeman, Taylor & Co., New York,
publishers of the Robinson arithmetic, which
is sought to be introduced into our public
schools by the board of public school trustees
and opposed by the District Commissioners,
with his counsel, ex Commissioner Thomas
b. Bryan and Il. ID. MuSSey, appeared before
hs e s d case IN to s hs
and Twining were present, Capt. Phelps being
abse mt from the city. Judge Bryan proceeded
TO deliver an elaborate argument sustaining
the action of both the old and new boards Of
school trustees in adopting the Robinson text
book for our schools, claiming that their &C
ton was entirely regular; that under the old
and new law under which the two boards
they had the full power to do what had been
done; that under the contract between the
trustees and the publishers the latter had
proceeded to print some sixteen or twenty
thousand copies of this arithmetic for our
public schools, to be exchanged free of cost
for the Davis arithmetic heretofore in
subsequent orders at a stipulated price to the
schools; that the District Commissioners were
cogniZant OF such action; had suffered it to be
contaminated after having been duly notified
through the local press and by official not CO
and that the District Commissioners now Tux
ing reverse action over the school board, d
revisionary action is adhered to by them. Dur
ing the delivery OF his argument he injected
the history OF the bill passed by the last Con
school trustees; stated the part taken by the
District Commissioners, and claimed that the
intention was to abolish the board OF police
been inserted into the original bill, aboishing
the school board. He cOntended that the law
creating the new board of school trustees con
1ers all the powers OF tn ola board upon the
tl1n of text books, and that the District Com
mlSSlODerS had no more right to Interfere in
tnis matter of school books than they have to
Interfere in any other OF the minor action of
tlat body. The only powers heretofore exer-
cised by the District Commissioners was in
relation to appointments to the board itself.
ates the powers and duties. of the school
board, all of which are continued by act of
Congress in the new board therefore the ac
ton OF change of school books was entirely
proper and regular. Such duties and powers
had always been exercised by school boards
unquestioned until now. In summing up he
said the Commissioners were bound by law,
and expressed the hope that they wOuld refer
this whole matter to their attorney for a legal
opinion. MIR. MISSY explained what had been
said by Commissioner Phelps to him in rela-
ton to this matter, and the impression Com
missioner Phelps entertained, that about one
hall OF the pupils in the public schools were
furnished text books at the public expense as
INDECENT pupils; that the District in that case
ing new books to such pupils; that he (Mussy)
had examined the reports of the school board
and had ascertained that only about 63 in LOCO
of the pupils had received books in this man
to the fact that the Davies Arithmetic is now
in use in many of our best private and public
schools throughout the country and had been
retained for many years as the best system;
the Commissioners had taken revisOry action
as soon as the subject was brought to their
official notice; that their action had been
taken IN the interest OF the pupils and parents
and not with reference to points of law. The
wishes of the teachers, pupils and all CON
cerned had guided the Commissioners in their
tiOn OF the school board in making the changes,
and said the Commissioners were not advised
as to the motives which influenced them, and
Mr.: Bryan reminded the Commissioners
OF the common law, that the principal is re-
Sponsible for the acts of his agent, and if the
agents exceed their authority the principal is
acts OF the school trustees the publishers have
printed 10000 copies of the book, and it is
the duty OF the Commissioners to take cog
OF 1t and eet the
commissioners were advised of the action of
the school board, and he wishes all concerned
TO understand that they had no part nor lot Ia
the publishers oettle their own affairs. II" tor
one, washed his hands Of al OF it. Mr.. BRYAN
asked II i was not the duty of the Commits
sionerS to have promptly annulled the con-
tract OF the trustees land he proceeded to read
a 20 yphi had h1lAn Il TO
miSsiOners by the school board at the time IF
their action, informing them of the action
taken. MIR. Dent stated that the Commission
erS had promptly declined to sanction the con-
tract when presented to them for apprOval,and
they 0iSayOwed all connection with the matter.
Mr.. Brakeman inquired il, by this, they pro-
agents Mr. Dent said he had so Stated, and
he regarded it at as matter between the
school trustees and the publishers entirely.
MIR. Brakeman, with his counsel, then retired.
Aid for Yellow Fever Sufferers.
PRACTICAL MEETING OF IsRAELITEs.
published call for mass meeting of the
Israeites of the District to provide means for
assisting the afflicted citizens Of the city of
New Orleans, where the scourge of yellow
last evening by some forty or more persons,
who assembled at Odd Fellows hall. The cali
was signed by Henry Adler, president of the
Rich, President Of the Hdas fsraei cong ssYp
ton; Henry Strauss, president Of Mount Sinai
congregation, of Georgetown; Raphael Saer-
ger, vice president OF Elijah Lodge, |. B: B.;
Lodge, B. B.; Lewis Abraham, president of
Capitol Lodge, X. S. b. ; Henry krOnheimer,
president of Nina Kleeberg Lodge X. S. b.
The meeting was called to order by Simon
Wolf, who nominated Henry Adler for presl-
dent, and he was elected. The chair stated
the object, but thought mistake had been
made by calling a mass meeting OF the Israel
ties. 1t should have been call for the citi-
zenS to meet. l. l.. BlOut was appointed sec
rotary and Henry Frank treasurer. No ''chin
music commonly called speech making, was
INDUCED in. but almost every individual
in the house walked up to the treasurer desk
and planked down his greenbacks in silence,
keeping the treasurer busy picking up the
money and the secretary busy noting the
names and amount. Altogether it was the
most practical meeting of the kind ever known
hereabOntS every one meaning business. Some
who could not attend sent in their donations
by others. In ten minutes time the following
contributions were made:-L Saks S.: H.
Franc, SlO; l.. Baar, So; A. Saks L. Co., $40:
HOllander Bros, So; l.. Goldsmith, s.; s. Wolf,
IS; II. BrOdy, 81: H. Hoffa, 81; l. Wallach, s. !;
II. Baumgarten q Bro, $40; Lansburgh Bros.
$40; l.. Herzog, 50; r. Saenger, 81; II. l.. Stras
burger, S.: StrauS IL Marx 81; Rich Bros, SIS :;
L. Abrahams, 81; A. Abrahams, 81; Samuel
Einstein, 81; l.. Rosenberg, S.; A. Benrens, S. :;
Ii. HOilander, $; L. Stern, 81; Ii. Stratus. 81 !:
B. NOrdlinger, g; H. ReitZenStein So: D. Drei-
frra 10 al 4 r.