Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-12
The Public School Trustees.

MIiTED AND ITS CONSIDERATION POSTPONED
INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PUPILS EN-
RoILED-THE WATER SuPPLY-A HALF HOLI-
DAT ON FRIDAY.
The public school trustees met last evening
Dir. Matthews in the chair, and Mr.. G. B. Rheem
secretary The following presented applications
Tor teachers positions: VIM. Haggerty, Eliza n.
smith and Susie p. Keech. The abstract of re-
ports for September was presented, showing the
whole number of pupils enrolled to be 25 1911;
teachers employed, ASP; increase over Septem-
per 1851, In the average enrolment of pupils
"hlte. 4y5: colored. 1872; i'm the number of teach
ers, "A. The application Of VIM. II. Compton
i0r a ]antors position was referred. John f..
ferguson was nominated for the position of IAN
ltor OF the Force building, vice Loyeless. re-
signed. A communication was received from
the commissioners. inclOsing lease for property
at the corner Of ed and streets. and asking for
the opinion of the board as to continuing the
lease or purchasing the site; referred to the COM
lnlttee on teachers, with power to act. Also, one
saying that question has arisen as to the pow
eFs OF the commissioners to order the schools
to be closed, and they would Ikea statement to be
made, to be referred to the attorney; referred to
the committee on rules.
THE COLOR LINE QUESTION.
The committee on rules made report on the
petition of J. NJ. Gregory. complaining that his
child had been denied admission to the Prescott
bulding-the schools i'm that building being for
white children. and the applicant colored
Child. The report is signed by Messrs. Mat
thews and Farley. 1t states that it can be as
stunned from the tone of Mr.. Gregory's commu-
nlcatl0n that his son is a co1ored child. The
records vi the school board show that the school
in the Prescott building. at which Miss Nichols
is now teacher. is among the white public
schools in the District. The rules provide
that separate schools for white children and
for colored children shall be provided in &C
cOrdance with existing laws" Such rule of
classification of pupils still exists, and the COM
mittee is advs ed that such regulation has full
warrant in the acts of Congress- which have
from time to time been passed i'm the matter of
school government in this District and that in
no way have the rights school privileges of any
citizen been abridged, or violence done to any
constitutional provision in the premises On
examination of the acts of Congress- establish
ing public school instruction in that part of the
District outside of the cities of Washington and
Georgetown. and also such provisions as have
been by the same authority enacted for the pro-
motion OF the education of the cOlOred children
In the cities of Washington and Georgetown
clearly shows that the public schools therein
proposed for cOlOred children WERE by the eX-
press terms of the law. to be separate from those
provided for white chldren-such as before the
enactment of the statutes had existed for the
accommodation of white children; and although
the same board of education, which, prior to
August 8. 1874, had charge of the public
school affairs of the District of Column
ba have been since that time con-
solidated and are represented as at present
organized no repeal has been had of the provis-
ions of law creating separate schools for white
and cOlOred children. After the consolidation
the public schools of the District of Columbia in
Its rural portion, or country quarter outside the
cities, constituted the 'sixth DIVISION" and the
public schools for cOlOred children in the cities
formed the seventh division without anv
change in the provision of law formerly attach
ing to those schools in the matter of classifica-
ton of pupils and such classification has had the
full approval and sanction of Congress in the
various acts in which appropriations have been
made for the erection Of public school buildings
in these divisions. The committee therefore,
report that rule /. has been made in obedience
to a provision of law and that the board of trus-
tees is under obligations to continue it's enforce
ment.
Mr.. Smith moved that the consideration Of the
report be proposed to the next meeting to ena-
bic member Of the committee to submit
minority report; agreed to.
THE WATER SUPPLY.
Mr. Dodge, of the special committee to ascer-
tain if the supply of water to school buildings
could not be increased. made a report verbally
that he had called on Col. Rockwell in reference
to shutting off fountains, and he had given him
but little satisfaction. Secretaries Hunt and
Window had received him courteOusly, and
when the subject was presented they at once
gave orders to shut off the fountains under their
control. He offered a resolution of thanks to
Secretaries Window and Hunt which was
adopted.
HALLIDAY HOLIDAY-OTHER MATTERS
Mr.. Curtis offered resolution directing the
schools to be closed ON Friday at IL o'clock;
which was adopted. On motion of Mr.. Farley,
the new building in UniOntown was given the
name Of Anacostia building.
The motion of Mr.. Farley to call the new
building on the Bladensburg road the Palmer
building, was referred. Mr.. Curtis moved that
seats be purchased for the hall Of the Franklin
building carried. Mr.. Farley nominated Sophia
A Br0dy as acting teacher Of school ~, sixth
division; referred to committee on teachers
with power to act. communication from the
District auditor in reference to the teachers
rolls was taken up. and after some discussion
the subject was referred to the superintendent
and Mr.. Brown, with power to act.
The Sale of Market Stalls.