The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-07-09
THE EVENING CRITIC.
ESTABLISHED AUGUST, 1905
The District Commissioners and the
Public Schools.

hOthS SChOOhrs
To the Editor Of the Euening Critic:
The Commissioners deny to the Presi-
dent that they have been hostile to the
public schools, and on the contrary claim
that they have done more Ito increase and
improveh accommodations for these schools,
during their three years of office, than was
ever done before in the same length of
time.
In reply to this claim I submit that every
dollar expended by them to increase school
accommodations, that is, to build school
houses, has been appropriated by Congress
over their heads and in spite of their hos
tile estimates. Not dollar of money that
they could use for any other purpose have
the present Commissioners voluntarily cs-
timated for building school-houses during
their whole term of office. Not one dollar.
Do not misunderstood me. l say, "vol-
UNFAIRLY" l am aware that an amended
estimate of $4,000 was obtained from them
February "a, 1879, but they did not do
this of their own motion. They themselves
say, in their letter to the Secretary of the
Treasury that they make the estimate Ito
meet the views of the House Committee on
the District" 1t was not their voluntary
act and they take care that it shall not SO
appear. They had, heretofore, made and
submitted their estimates in which was no
item for building school-houses
Aside from the $40, 900, the only estimate
of theirs for school buildings is $4,000, or
thercabouts, of the old Washington school
fund. This was q fund. 1t could be used
for no other than a school purpose. Its APP
preparation to build school-houses would
not withdraw one dollar of current revenue
from the amount available for other pur-
poses. The Commissioners, therefore,
graciously condescended to acquiesce in the
transfer of this money from fund to a
schOol-house. 1t was no estimate" for an
appropriation of current revenue and does
not appear at all in their general letter OF
estimates to the Secretary of the Treasury
and Congress
These two items are all can find, and
say again that the present Commissioners
have steadily and always ignored the press.
ing needs of the public schools as to school
houses in their estimates to Congress fol
appropriations. All
How, then, did they get the money to
build school-houses Why, Congress gave
it, notwithstanding the Commissioners re.
fused to estimate for it. / have before
stated how $4,000 was got, and other
moneys have been appropriated for this
purpose, in spite of the hostile estimates Of
the Commissioners.
Their "claim" of credit for building
school-houses reminds me of the backwOOds'
mans family and the bear. The couple had
cleared % few acres of land and builded fol
themselves log cabin, containing one
room and an attic which was reached by
ladder. They also rejoiced in the posses
sion of little, rosy. toddling child, One
evening, as they sat at the door of theil
cabin, listening to the prattle of their child
they were startled by the sudden appear
anco of fcrocious bear making directly
for the cabin. Both started for the ladder
leading to the attic, but the man, not being
encountered with baby, got aheat
of the woman and scrambled up thu
ladder. to the attic and, lest the bea
might follow, pulled the ladder VI
after him, leaving the mother and chile
to the mercy of the wild beast. Their
was no time for expOstulation. The mOthe
looked at her child and then at the bear
close upon her. In an agony of frenzy, sh,
put her babe behind her, seized the wood
mans axe which happened to be at hand
and with the aided strength of desperation
dealt the monster heavy blow, and an
other and another, until he fell dead at he
feet. Then, utterly exhausted, she hersel
fell fainting by the side of her child.
Meanwhile, the head of the family val
iently assisted the good woman by over
looking the combat from his hole in tn
garnet, and shouted in whisper, which h
thought the bear wouldn't hear, That
right, give it to him, Nancy" And afte
the battle was over, and the woman ha'
recovered consciousness, he ventured T.
lower his ladder and come down, and put
ting on an air of consequence he strod
bravely up to the dead beast, and brok
forth exultingly, Amt we brave, Nancy
We have killed a bear!r Moral: Just pu
one in to suit yourself, Mr.. Editor.
SECOND DIVISION.