Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-08-24
orr pr3YTc sO1OaLS.
MpCsisx of the Beard of EruItees-
ak, Arithmetic Question Again.

IL
who was yesterday appointed by the Distric
Commissioners in his place. Mr.. B. p Dayi
tonk the chair and called the meeting t.
order and d after the secretary Mr.. Brooks hae
the District Commissioners, notifying him o
his removal on the ground that he was not ;
citizen OF the District of Columbia.
EX-TRUsTEE DAVIS PARTING SPEECH.
He then addressed the board as follows
without desiring to appear in any way il
conflict with authority, 1 am constrained {.
say that have not yet had sufficient time t.
determine what course TO pursue. But an
per that | should not tonight act as your pre-
siding officer. i therefore withdraw from TIL
chalr In which your Partially placed me TO
this evening. Waiving thereby no rights whic!
shall have formed and announced my d. ci
sion. i would say to the board that / am
citizen OF the District of Columbia, neverthe
less"
DIR. REYBURN ELECTED CHAIRMAN.
Mr.. Davis left the chair and MesSrs. Middle
ton and Reyburn having been nominated FOL
chairman. the latter was elected.
THE NEW MEMBER.
A communication was received from tn,
District Commissioners announcing the ap
pOntment of Mr.. w. j. Rhees as trustee i,
place of Mr.. B. p. Davis.
Mr.; Lovejoy called attention to the fact tina
Mr. RheeS had qualified and was present
Mr.. Holland said he did not wish it to be I'm
deTStOOd that he was counting conflict it'll
the District Commissioners, but submitted thd,
this was not the proper time to act on the ad
mission of Mr.. Rhees, for Mr.. Davis has de
clared that he is a citizen of the District and
Mr.. Loyejoy raised the point that the action
OF the District Commissioners was final, and
all that they could do was to place the com
municatiOn on record, and Mr.. RheeS had the
right to take his seat.
The chair ruled that this was the proper
course.
APPLICATIONS
from Mrs. Mary Sprandel aud Jesse Parmelee
for janitOrs positions and Constance Winches-
ter Tor a te leadership were referred, as also one
from Sarah Iredel Fleetwood for teacher
place. She makes inquiry as to whether there
IS rule debarring married women from
teaching in the schools. The secretary was
directed to inform her that there was no such
rule.
Several propositions to rent buildings for
school purposes were read and referred.
Frank Gordon and Hiram Cole were nomi-
mated as janitOrs in the sixth division and
confirmed
NINTH GRADE BOYS SCHOOL.
The committee on teachers reported, recon-
me nding that the committee on buildings and
repairs be instructed TO confer with the Com
with reference to the prOpriety OF
renting the building of Mr.. SellhauSen, situated
on e street, between 18th and 5th, at yearly
rental not exceeding $500, for the use OF the
ninth grade boys school. Adopted.
THE TENT BOOK CONTROVERSY RENEWED.
A communication from the District Commits
SltEtlS Ill lticTeUCb 10 the textbook contract
question, stating that the Commissioners de-
Cine at present to make any contract looking
to change of text books, was taken up.
The secretary read, in connection with the
communication, letter from Mr.. L. b Bryan,
the attorney for MesSrs. Iveson, Brakeman,
Taylor Il Co.
Mr.. LOvejOy asked if it was customary to
allow attorneys to make arguments before the
BOARD and he moved that the communication
Mr.. Brooks said that while attorneys were
not permitted to appear before the board and
argue their cases, their communications had
been read.
Mr.. LOvejoy looked on it as a piece of pre-
to endeavor to instruct the board on
the morality of reputation.
MIR. Middleton did not think that it was
proper TO send here in the shape of a commu-
the argument OF counsel.
MIR. Brooks suggested that the cOmmunica-
ton was resnectful in its tone. and the motion
OF Mr. Lovely to return the document should
Mr., Lloyd said the paper was respectful, and
should be treated accordingly.
Mr.. Farley moved that the communication
be laid on the table. Lost-yeas. Messrs.
White. To-; nays, MessrS. NJ. Davis, White,
Lloyd, Holland, Smith, Brooks and Reyburn,
O. The communication was then placed on
MIR. LLOYD's TEST RESOLUTION.
MIR. Lloyd offered resolution, that the SUI
Derlntendents are hereby directed to see that
RobinSOn's Series of Mathematics, shorter
course. having been adopted by the late board,
is placed in the hands of the pupils at the re-
opening of the schools, or as soon thereafter
as practicable"
Mir Lloyd claimed that under the law there
were three things which specially belonged to
the board, and In which their power was ab-
soiute.. viz: the appointment of teachers the
prescription OF course OF study. and the Sc
ton of the District Commissioners and the
board on the subject, he said the board Was
wrong in sending back the paper and calling
II CONTRACT. 1t was simply guarantee, and
the idea was that it should receive the approval
OF The commissioners and be filed.
NOT MERE MACHINE.
Mr. BROOKS said that If he was here simply
and only to do the bidding of the District
Commissioners, he did not desire the place.
and he did not believe that the commissioners
intended to constitute themselves dictatOrs,
nor did they intend to veto the action Of this
board, but rather to express an opinion as far
as they were concerned
Mr. Holland referred to Misrepresentation
made to the commissioners, and he defended
the action OF old board, as having been entire
Mr.. Middleton said the question was as to
what action the board will take on the com
mGnleaiion He called attention to the fact
ceive the approval OF the District Commission
ers, and asked if this did not give the Commits
siOners authority in this matter.
Nix FARLEY CHARGE.
Mr.. Farley remarked that if Ii was an en-
tirely new board, then the District Commit
sionerS exercised advisory power and the right
to Overrule the action OF the old board. He
had heard much on the subject-that the re-
port was drawnup by an agent OF the house.
Mr.. Holland called Mr.. Farley to order, and
asked him to state his authority.
Mr.. Farley said it was none other than his
predecessor, and he further said that it had
been reported that the chairman of the COM
nlttee-Mr. JOhnSOn-WaS not competent
The chair called Mr.. Farley to order, and
suggested that he should not reflect on any ex.
member.
Mr.. Brooks asked if he could reflect on such
men as DR.. Cragin and MIR. Smith, and what
If Mr.. Johnson had said that he did not feel
competent to pass upon the question.
POSTING HOTCH PoTCH ON THE SCHOOLS.
MIR. Farley continued, claiming that the
calling the series "RObinSOns'' was mis-
homer, saying that party named Fisk had
compiled this book for the trade, and it was
mere hOtch-pOtch. He admitted that Davis
series was too scientific, as it taught substrac-
ton philOsophically; but while favOring q
change he thought that they should make a
more thorough examination, ane he objected
to the manner in which they had attempted
to fOiSt these books on the schools.
Mr.. Brooks asked if they had not been nine
teen years in getting rid of Davis?
Mr.. Farley said that il they had, they could
wait one year longer.
SMr: Brooks asked. what Mr.. Farley meant
by "fOist.''
Mr. Farley said he did not intend it to ap.