Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-09

THE AUTHORITY OF THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS
OVER THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS MINORITY REPORT
ON THE COLOR LINE" QUESTION.
The board of public school trustees met last
even1ng-Mr. Matthews In the chair and Mr.. C. 3.
Rheem secretary. A communication was received
from the Commissioners enclosing letter from J.
D. Knox, commissioner Freedmans Savings Bank,
asking that rent be allowed for lots 81 and y,
square 562, used as play ground by pupils OF the
SeaIon building; referred to the sub-board OF the
second d1str1ct communication from the In
speetor OF buildings respecting the new school
buildings, alterations in the plans, &C., was re-
Iefred to the committee on buildings and repairs,
The applications of Margaret j. Scarf, Anna
Glasscock, Sarah Ellen Bryan and Carrie E. Sy-
pa1 for o eatnsrs posltlons ana dneaphTe me rs
1gnations OF II. H. Burroughs, fifth division, and
Florence Hinton, third division, were received:
showing number or pupils enrolled Is GA; average
daily attendance 23,cO1; teachers employed 4s5.
i0S of ta given that the first a
place on Friday next from ~ TO 121S O'CLOCK
TEACHERS CERTIFICATES ISSUED
The committee On teachers reported that tenn
porary teachers certificates have been issued as
follows: First class-Sophia A. Brodie, c. A. Jones
and L. F. Dyson; second CASA. r. Bowen. e.
NJ Jackson, II. T. Riggs, NJ E. Tilghman, S. j.
Jones and X. C. Lewis; adopted. Also, nomina-
ton OF Sophia A. Breie sixth district favorably,
with the proviso that her salary shall be that OF
verSely on the resolution OF Mr.. Fairly to pay the
teacher designated Temporarily in the sixth dis
trlct $l5 per month; adopted.
THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE SCHOOLS.
The committee on teachers made report on the
request of the Commissioners (under date Of Sep
TENDER 29) for a statement of the views enter
tanned as to the extent OF control which the Com
miSsOnerS can legally exercise over the schools.
The report quotes the laws on the subject, and,
after referring to the act OF Congress of June 18th,
1873, says that act authorized the Commissioners
to make such provisions as may be necessary to
carry into execution the powers and duties devOlved
upon them, but cannot be extended to the regula-
ton OF school matters in details which have not
been specially excepted from the powers and du-
Ihey are required by section two, act OF June
d l1th, $780, to apply the taxes and rev.
enues Subjected to the limitations there
lie schools. ''No other duty is devolved upon the
Commissioners by this act in school affairs except
the appointment OF nineteen persons as trustees,
ana when appointed these trustees receive their
authority and power from the acts OF Congress,
and not from the Commissioners"
The report was adopted.
RELIGION IN THE sCHOoIs-THE HOLIDAY QUESTION.
The committee rules made a report on the
resolutions, That in the opinion OF this board no
exercise should be conducted or permitted in any
public school that Will offend the religious or sec
tartan belief OF any denomination of the commu-
nifty, and that in the management OF public schools
only those days shall be recognized as holidays
which are made such by law or by an order OF the
board" After referring to the present usages in the
schools and the regulations, the report says: 'The
committee would therefore advise the board that
in the matter OF religious exercises the rules in
force need change, and that as to holidays to be
observed, recognition should be given to days de-
clared such by Congress in addition to such as this
board in its wisdom may appoint, and that the
commissioners are not clothed with the power to
declare legal holidays"
The report was received and ordered to be printed
The committee on rules made a report on the
proposition to amend the rules to include 'GOOd
Friday" and Easter Monday holidays. The
report refers to the former orders of the board
to the observance OF these days as holidays, and
closes: 'In view OF all that members Of this
board have seen or know OF in the times gone by,
and taking counsel of the present temper OF the
public on this subject, they recommend that the
rules be amended as proposed. This report was
laid over for debate
Mr. SMITH ON THE "COLOR" QUESTION.
Mr.. Smith, from the committee on rules, sub
mitted minority report On the communication of
j. M. Gregory, colored, appealing from the
excluding his child from school privileges
in the Prescott building for white pupils.
Mr. Smth'maintained in his report that a dis
elimination had been made in the case referred.
such as was not intended by the acts OF Congress,
and especially provided against by the 14th
amendment of the Constitution. Whatever dis
tinction was made by the acts of Congress, he
held now rendered the laws themselves express
ing the distinction unconstitutional and void.
for colored children they could not be construed,
he held to deny the right to children of said color
to enter other Schools and in closing the report he
recommended the admission of Mr.. Gregory's
child TO the Prescott building.
The chair, CHR. Matthew'S ruled that as the
minority report virtually changed rule, it could
not be considered at this time and Mr. Smith said
that If such was the case, the report would OF
course go over
At this point. Messrs. Henry johnson, r. W.
Tompkins, and other well known colOred citizens
left the hail, and after routine business, the
board adjourned.
THE FUNERAL Of Mr.. Frank P. Hill, proprietor of
the fremont House, took place from Trinity P. f.
church, this afternoon, at o'clock, and was at
tended by large cOncOurse OF prominent citi-
zens, including number Of hotel proprietors. The
remains were encased in a handsome imperial
caSket, furnished by the Henry Lees Sons, which
was covered with floral tributes The services at
the church were conducted by the Rev. Thomas g.
Addison, assisted by the Rev. A. f. Forrest. The
pall-bearers were MessrS. John 7. Given, Benz.
Charlton, Frank X. Ward, JAS X. Cleary, o. o.
Spicer and George S. KOOntZ. The remains were
inferred in the Oak Hill Cemetery.
NJ EW GOODS! NEW GOODS!!