Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-01-14

INTERVIEW OF THE TRUSTEES WITH THE I
TRICT COMMISSIONERS.

INTERVIEW OF THE TRUSTEES WITH THE DIS
TRICT COMMISSIONERS
The delegation of school trustees which was
before the District Commissioners several days
since, during the absence of Governor DENIM
son fIGm the city, appeared again SATURDAY.
when Trustee HOvey recited what had been
done in the way OF devising means for the
promotion of the District public school inter
ent plans proposed. He also submitted the
draft of bill suited to the wants of the schools
10 matter what form of government may be
fnmbia, first stating that this was the result of
experience in school matters since the estab
llshlnent OF the system in this country nearly
one hundred Years ago. He proceeded TO read
the bill, which defines the duties of the trus-
tees.
THE PROPOSED BILL.
The bill proposes TO reOrganiZe the trustees
OF public schools, giving the executive au-
thOrity of the District power to appoint nine
teen persons, inhabitants of the District, five
at least OF whom shall be of the cOlOred race,
to constitute the trustees, who shall serve
without compensation. At FIST, six of these
persons shall be appointed and hold Office for
the term of one year; SIX for two years, and
five for three years and thereafter all appoint
mcntS shall be for the term of three years the
uneXpired term OF Office OF the members of the
board hitherto organized to terminate imme
diately upon the organization of the trustees
appointed under this act. The trustees to
choose secretary not OF their own number;
with power to remove him at pleasure. The
board TO appoint two superintendent, each to
hold oflce Tor The term OF three years. They
shall also appoint teachers, and may discharge
them at pleasure: they shall also appoint iani-
tors Tor school houses and designate their du
ties, and may discharge them at pleasure. A
majority vote shall elect the supervising prin-
clpal, director OF any special study for eXer-
else, and all teachers in schools above the
seventh grade. The. trustees to have the SUI
perVlslOn and direction of the pubiic schools,
and shall exercise the powers and perform the
duties IN relation to the care and management
OF the schools which are now exercised and
performed by the trustees of the said District,
except so far as they may be changed OF modi-
fed by this act, and shall have the powers and
discharge the duties which may hereafter be
imposed by law upon the school trustees of
said District. Section 3 provides that when
ever, in the Judgment of the trustees, new
building is needed, at an estimated cost of
one thousand dollars or more, they shall make
4 statement in writing to the executive au-
thCrity of the District of the necessity. of the
building proposed: and no contract for the
purchase or lease Of land, or for the erection,
purchase, or lease of any building, shall be au-
thoriZed by the executive OF any other au-
thOrity of the District until such statement has
been made, nor until the locality and plans for
the same have been approved by the trustees
OF public schools or by some committee there
Of, duly authorized to approve the same. No
bill OF expense incurred for the public schools
OF the District shall be audited or paid by the
District government until it shall have been
approved by the board OF trustees of public
schools.
DISCUSSION OF THE VARIOUS PLANS SUB.
MITTED.
Superintendent j. o. Wilson addressed the
Commissioners upon the subject of what has
heretofore been done by the general govern
ment for public schools of the states and terri
tories i'll the way of land grants and apprO-
prlatIOnS OF money. and OF what has not been
done for this District. He thought annual
appropriations by Congress for the schools
of this District would not answer the purpose
SOWell as either of the plans submitted.
The plan submitted for Congress to author
lie the executive authority of the District to
issue bonds to the extent OF four or five hun
dred thousand dollars for school purposes
appeared 10 the delegation to be the most
feasible.
Commissioner Dennison thought in view of
the law limiting the Indebtedness of the Dis
trlct, that this plan might meet with OppOSi-
ton i'll Congress, and that the most practical
way was to ask an appropriation of hundred
thousand dollars, with the understanding that
1t was to be the first of series of such apprO-
prlations annually until the school facilities OF
this District shall be all that are desired. He
thought this would meet with less objection
from members of the House and Senate. He
suggested that the trustees put their plans in
writing, and submit them to the appropriation
committees OF both houses, and follow up the
Ming them with explanations to the commit
tees. The Commissioners would do all in their
power to cooperate with them.
Mi. LOVeJOy, representing the citizens COM
mittee of one hundred, said he thought Con-
gTeSS more disposed now to do what was re-
CURED than they ever had been, and all that is
wanted is harmony OF action on the part of the
District authorities and the trustees of the
schools.
Mr.. Lloyd was in favor OF the suggestions
made by Commissioner DenniSOn.
Commissioner Phelps said he was opposed to
some OF the provisions in the plans proposed.
Commissioner Bryan thought the details of
the plans were not of so much importance as
10 get the means appropriated. They should
give their attention more to that branch of the
subject.
The Commissioners stated that they would
have the bill submitted put in print, and would
aid them III every way possible.