Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-04-11

QUESTION OF CLOSING THEM DISCUSSED BY
THE SCHOOL TRUSTEES AND DISTRICT COM
MISSIONERS.
At noon to-day the District Commissioners
were waited upon by the committee appointed
at the meeting of the Board of School Trus-
tees on Tuesday night composed of Messrs
Curtis, Brooks, johnson, Reyburn, Lloyd, and
Davis; to ask Instructions as to keeping the
schools open. MeSsrs. Phelps and Bryan of
the commissioners were present, and Mr.
Curtis read the resolutions of the board, and
said in the first place they would ask for in
Commissioner Phelps said: 1.-THE answer is
simple; keep the schools going until we tell
you to stop and we will give You at least ten
Mr.. Bryan.-Certainly you shall have ample
notice re Il we are compelled to order the schools
Mr.. Curtis remarked that he was aware that
the information that the money was nearly
MIR. Phelps.-No, it is not; and we are glad
to see that the papers are taking hold of the
subject. The Commissioners were making
every interest subservient to the schools, and
other important interests are being neglected
for them.
Mr.. LlOyd remarked that he had interviews
with several members of Congress, and the
question OF al apppOPriating $4,000 had been
referred by the Senate committee to Senator
Dorsey, and it would be considered by the
Mr.. Curtis said that Senator Window and
of favor,
Mr.: Bryan suggested that it might be easier
to get authority to use s5 600 for schools, to be
There was very friendly spirit towards the
District, and he believed If they made the
effort they would succeed
ltWaS asked if the teachers consented to 90
on II they could not continue the schools.
The Commissioners each replied that by that
course they would be indirectly violating the
law OF Congress, which was very stringent.
Mr.. Curts.-It would be better that the 10000
children should be in the streets, and they
would be stronger argument than violated
law.
At this point the question of discrepancy of
accounts was considered, and conversation
took place as to the best mode OF making them
ing officer of the board on the first of each
month examine the accounts in the auditors
Office.
Commissioner Phelps drew up clause to be
inserted in some of the pending bills giving
authority to the Commissioners to eXpend
$4,000, said amount to be credited to them on
the books OF the Treasury, and he suggested
that the board draw up letter to this effect
and the Commissioners would endorse it.
;. This proposition met with the approval of
pared and signed the Commissioners endorsed
II, and the committee will go with it 10 Con-
greSS.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE LETTER:
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF
PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THE DISTRICT OF Co
LUMBIA: TO the Hon. Commissioners OF the
TectiOn of the Board of Trustees of the public
schools, we beg leave to call your attention to
the fact that the amount set apart for the sup
port OF the public schools is about exhausted,
and unless relief is speedily afforded we
will be compelled to close the schools
We are fully aware of the inability of the Dis
trlct government, with it's limited revenues,
TO afford the relief needed and have therefore
TO suggest that Congress be invoked to enact
early legislation to meet the eXigencv. This
can best be done, we think, by the pas
sage of an act which would authorize
the commissioners to eXpend, of the
amount advanced by the United States
under provision of the 18th section of the act
approved March 3, 1878, the sum of $1,000 to
meet the expenses of the public schools for the
current year. If this suggestion meets with
Your approval, we respectfully ask that re-
concentration to that effect be made to the
proper committee ms Congress.
w. w. CURTIS, President.
JOHN III. BROOKS, Secretary