Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-07-14

SpTlngR1an, X L. feWler, ID. b. GlaSco, John
Coleman, A. 8. Morris. and G. w. Mock
abe for janitOrs' positions, were referred.
Application for teachers; positions from Flor
cree Baldwin. Louis A. Rankin. Ada III. Wiley
and 7. Brown were referred. CommuIica-
tons were received as follows: From r. o.
Hoffman, proposing to sell Nos. sl6 and sis
street northwest for school purposes; from
w. II. Hoover, W. s. Palmer, P. Guigon, P.
Duffy and Margaret E. King, proposing to sell
sites In the county UNITY for school purposes The
in the second division, was received and &C.
cepted. protest from ". W. Burdette and
committee against the erection OF school
building on square 4i6 was received and laid
over. The nominations OF Clement A. Peck aud
John E. Chappell as teachers in The sixth
division were confirmed
REPORTS FROM Committees.
Mr.. Brown, from the committee on building
and repairs, offered resolutions, which were
adopted, that the second plan submitted by the
Inspector OF buildings for school building III
AnacoStta be adopted, provided that building
On the first plan cannot be erected for So, 500.
and that the same plan be adopted for two
room building On the Bladensburg pike, an
mer be selected.
The committee On rules reported adversely Oh
the proposition AUTHORIZING the committee Oh
teachers to make such changes in tie course OF
study In the normal and advanced grammar
schools as they deem advisable report adopte ,.
SHARP REPORT ON THE LETTER OF sUPEgINTEND
ENT ENfx.sIE.
L, Nj.
thews and B. G. Loyejoy) to which was referred
the letter Of the inspector OF buildings alrnSSat
to the commissioners OF the District OF colum-
bia, asking the withdrawal of the AUTHORITY
now accorded individual members OF the board
to expand the sum OF $50 for minor repairs to
school buildings, made report thereon as fol-
lows:
at must be conceded that prior to the pass
age Of the act OF Congress providing for the
Permanent form Of government of the District
OF Columbia, approved June II, 1918, the board
fFIr- bo6 or16 in
matter OF repairs to school buildings in this
District, and that by orders passed by the Com
mfssieners on the I'd and 9th April, 1875. the
power to expend the sum OF $50 for minor re-
pairs TO school buildings requiring Immediate
attention was granted TO the superintendent OF
the schools and to individual trustees. These
powers have been uninterruptedly exercised
having survived TO the persons named TO be trus.
tees OF the public schools under the provisions
OF the act OF Congress for The permanent gov
eminent Of this District, approved June IL ISIS
COnsr5 SIS then deeming it wise to continue To
those trusted With the control and management
OF the public schools this power, among Others
OF atenuon to the immediate and pressing
wants OF the school buildings. The wisdom OF
this authorization has been certainly evinced
IN the prompt, intelligent and economical at
tentlon given By. the superintendent and tndi
Vldual trustees in such matters and many in
stances can be adduced to show that the delay
incident 10 the course OF action which Is now
suggested viii certainly involve the District in
large additional outlay. Examining the reasons
aGduced by the inspector In support OF his re-
quest, we find them to bel. That he could not
keep correct account OF the expenses or con-
appropriations Tor the past year, it win be
found that the provision for such cases is
special for repairs to school buildings s25 000;"
and IT Is suggested that some account must
certainly be Kept In some Office OF the Execu-
i've department OF the District, which Is Access
slble TO the inspector, which would have In
dG nd a MIN OF The state OF the approximation,
In this connection it is asserted that all bills
received BY this board have been duly aud
promptly forwarded to the Commissioners.
Inspector has not been at any time during
the period alluded to deprived of the
the 70 }nd ascertain exactly the
Al other reason given BY him is that Ia lack Of
responsibility which existed last year should be
Iemed ed The board fails to appreciate the
hhea a Oh me Inspector. These minor repairs
nave Oeen IN all cases made under order given
py pa1ues duly authorized to contract In the
premises for the District of Columbia, to that
extent officers of the District, and recognized By
power as has the inspector 10 his department,as
much officers OF the District of Columbia as he IS
the aigerenee only being that he for his SER
school trustees serYed the District gratuitously,
their services, 1t Is respectfully urged, being.
none the less valuable because voluntary. The
board Or trustees falls to hnd any, good reason
why the present order should be disturbed.
Such small power can, 1t Is urged be safely con-
tinued In body whose members are charged
T d eue s Tegh a this matters nFsrc Of sp0n
It be, however. the the jaasment sho ol
The Commissioners that under the provisions Of
the appropriation act OF March 8, 1879, or other
WI wise, they have the power to delegate all power
spector Of buildings, and deerning Il best SO to
act, they conclude to vest him with full power
IN the premises, the Board OF Trustees would
respectfully advise the Commissioners OF the
Disirict OF Columbia that it will decline here
after TO assume any responsibility in this matter
CT repairs to school buildings. either 10 approve
any claim arising against the District or COluIn-
Ola On that account or to cause acquisitions to
De made for materials for repairs. IL Is consid-
eled That such responsibility ana such duty
should rest with the officer having sole control
OF the expenditures for repairs
This board Shall consider itself relieved to that
extent OF The duty devOlved upon 1t to care for
and manage the public schools IL cannot be
schools In the matter OF the contracting OF
which 1t had no part, over which 1t had no CON
troll or those claims arising out OF the actions of
an officer or the District OF Columbia. entirely
Independent OF this board"
The report was unanimously adopted.
CHANGES.
The proposition to consolidate the committees
OF accounts and supplies and to create a com
mittee On library was adopted. The PROPOSE
t1Cns that practical arithmetic and English
grammar be daily studies In the high schools,
and that certificates be granted only to pupils
III tAC ClSuIu dIIu WeIc TcltITeu.
THE C0RCoRAN SQUARE CONTROVERSY.
The protest or w. w. Burdette and others
against the location OF the school building on
Tie site OF the COrcoran market, square 4i6 was
taken up, and Mr.. Love1oy presented paper In
reply thereto, in which he gives sketch OF the
legislation On the subject, and says that It Is as
tonishing at this day that citizens should prefer
a group OF ShantfeS on that square Taking the
pames Or the signerS he gave their residences.
many OF them at some distance from the SQUARE,
out Interested, he said, In beer saloons or other
property IN the neighbOrhood, noting the fact
that signer objected to the Police Court being
near his residence, but was In favor of a mar
ket being near some of his other property.
Mr. LOveJoy referred TO the necessity OF school
building in this section, and stated that it
would save 50, 900 now paid for rent. He claimed
that the location OF the school house there
would improve the surrounding property, and
IL was the duty OF the Commissioners to locate
the building on that square, and not TO pur-
chase elsewhere, and thus reduce the apprOpri-
alton. Mr.. Lambert endorsed the report Just
read, and hoped 1t would receive the approval
OF the entire board. The necessity for School
sites In this section has been urgent for years.
He regarded the request OF the petitioners as q
bold attempt on the part Of private persons TO
get hold OF pubic property. MIR. Curtis hoped
that the board would adhere to its former action
and he was ready to go before the public on this
question. 1t was question of brains or beef
arithmetic or artichoked granmer or green's.
The idea was being exploded that the public
should be taxed to erect buildings for the ac-
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