Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-26

The recent conferences between the District
Commissioners and members OF the school board,
and the differences between members OF the latter
board. have given rise to rumOrs of various kinds
and also report to the effect that the Commits
sioners PROPOSE to abolish the school board
as they have the IRE board. The main question
which the Commissioners have been consider
ing Is that concerning alleged irregularity in
making plumbing contract with Messrs. Hay
est bidders. This matter was set forth in yester-
days STAR. The Commissioners have decided that
IS msht
in making the contract they do not approve the
action OF the board in withholding the bill from
Commissioners Saturday. at which several of the
trustees were present, Mr. LoveJoy called atten-
engs ae agn
Hutchinson, Of the firm OF Hayward Hutchin-
son, had said that Mr.. Loveioy proposed to see
to have Mr. Birney removed from office, and that
this statement by Mr.. Birney was denied by Mr..
Hutchinson. The Commissioners yesterday de.
cided to address a letter to the school board de-
inning their position and their power In relation
to disbursements and expenditures Of the public
funds.
What Commissioner EdmOnds Says.
THE CONTROL OF THE SCHOOL. FUNDS THE ONLY
QUESTION AT ISSUE.
Commissioner Edmonds said there had been no
written charges presented against Mr.. Birney, but
Mr.. Lovejoy had read to the Commissioners re-
port relating to the matter which was not ad-
dressed to the Commissioners.
sit is intimated," said the reporter " that the
Commissioners propose to abolish the board?"
"That question has not beenconsidered at all.
The Commissioners yesterday Decided to abolish
the fire board. 1t was our vieWthat the diStribu-
tiOn or power was opposed to gtfod discipline. The
fire department is now in excellent condition, and
we think It will be no worse for abolishng the
board. Cronin the chief, is an enthusiastic fire
man. We say to him that we want him to have
There is no need OF board between him and
us II any OF his men. are fnefficient we ask him
why 1t is So and settle the mater promptly. It is
different with the school board The school trustees
nave the management and grading OF the Schools
the care OF the Intellectual affairs OF the school
matters, which the Commissioners have not time
TO attend to. The people have considerable feeling
and are very sensitive about anything affecting
the schools. II an impressions gets out that the
once People are afraid that the next generation
will not be so we'll trained or educated as they
Ss Of
have discharged their duty when they have picked
out the best men they can f1nd-zealous and COM
petent-to take the management of the schools"
"Have not the Commissioners the power to
abolish the schoal board If they think proper?"
II have not looked into that question, because
there has been no occasion for It, Even If we
have the power would hesitate before using it
The schools need to be visited and to be subject
to the supervision which trustees give them.
have no doubt though that this could be done
with an assistant, could visit the schools suppose
such change is desirable or necessary. There are
some differences among memoetso OF the board, with
VIII which b., we have not nothing to do. We have had
this Hutchinson bill before US and some matters
have come up before us incidestally. The letter
which we have prepared TO stsM to the school
shing the It o 81
tlons as to the future conductfof school affairs
and the relations between the board and the Com
m1SSOnerS."
"The question before the Commissioners. ~ con-
t1nued Mr.. Edmonds, simply relates to the adj
ministration OF the school tund. We are the fiscal
oncerS OF the District government, and hold I'll at
disbursements must be made under our direction.
Trustees must make acquisitions on us. II ton
tor or some one responsible. Some Of these gen.
tlemcn entertain different view OF the law. One
OF them goes back to De TOcqueville and bases an
argument on the organization OF the New Eng
land township, and the Jeffers6nian doctrine. It
is the law as they would like to have it, and not
as it is There is considerable difference between
New England township and this District This
Is an anomalous government 1t does not spring
from the people here, but it is imp 1sed upon the
Congress makes the laws for us We execute the
law as we find it Law, common sense. and busi-
ness logic require the Commissioners to exercise
control over the expenditures for the schools"
What Commissioners West Says.
Commissioner West said to STAR reporter to-
day that the Commissioners had decided upon
sending letter to the school trustees defining the
relations OF the board with the Commissioners,
and the limitations Of their power respecting the
schools. "The trustees" said MI. West, shave the
Intellectual care OF the schools and we do not In
terfere with that. Embarrassrnents are caused by
their attempting to control the expenditures Bills
are made out to the board and filed away by them,
may be for two or three months. Meanwhile other
acquisitions are made to the Commissioners and
perhaps the fund exhausted before they know any
thing about the bill that has been kept back"
MR. LOvEJOYs CHARGE AGAINST Mr.. BIRNEY.
"Have there been any written charges against
Mr.. Birney 2" asked the reporter.
''Mr. Lovejoy," said Mr. West, s'read to the Com
missioners report which he is to make TO the
trustees and which was as long as the moral law.
A part Of 1t was in the nature of Charge against
Mr.. Birney. 1t contained some statements by Mr.
Birney which Mr.. LoveJoy controverted. 1t was
something like the old story OF the three crows.
Some person had said something, and some other
person had said something else. It was hardly in
form in which we could consider"
THE SUBJECT OF THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE BOARD
NOT BROACHED.
"HaS anything been said about abOlishing the
board? 2" asked the reporter.
"The subject has not been broached," said Mr.
West. "The question merely concerns the admin
1stration OF the fund Some OF the trustees claim
that the board have now the same powers that
they had prior to the act Of June II, 1878. The
powers OF the school board were then transferred
to the District Commissioners, who were author
ized to appoint trustees to have the care and man