Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-27


20 whether the contract had not been carried out.
Mt. Ballantyne again complained OF the articles
the detectives He said that as a contractor OF the
District he had right to vindication by the Com
misslonerS II he were asSaied as having undue in-
nuence and done wrong things.
MR. WEST CHECKED HIM,
saying 81 do not know who has assailed. you. Tes-
timony is being taken here TO ascertain whether
there has been any collusion between you. the Su-
perntendent of schools or the textbook committee.
Upon that testimony you VIII have TO depend for
your yindfcation."
81 am only too wiling said Mr. Ballantyne, "to
stand 10y the result or an Investigation. have
nothing to conceal 1 did feel that as a contractor
ought at least secure some degree OF defense and
protection from the Commissioners
STATEMENT OF Mr.. C. c. PURsELI-
MI. C. c. Purseli, stationer, was next examined
He said he had been told by friend in the schools
OF the change in the histories used in the high
school on the day the change was announced. He
had been informed by the publishers, August 18th,
OF the proposed change In the readers. He had
called upon Mr.. Rheem who said he did not know
whether the change would be made or not. but
would Inquire. subsequently he had written TO
MI. Rheem, through Mr Warner, and been informed
OF the change. He was uncertain as TO whether
Mr.. Rheem had informed him positively that there
would De change.
Mr.. JOS. sHILLINGToN EXAMINED.
Mr.. Jos. Shillington was next examined He
said that the new books disposed OF by him In
change had not exceeded 10 per OF his sales as
the publisher had informed him that he would not
take any or the Old books from him unless they
Were perfect He described his unsuccessful Efforts
by calling upon Mr.. Rheem. 10 ascertain what
changes would be made After hearing from the
publishers in New York that change In the
readers was contemplated. Mr. Rheem said he
would write TO Mr. Wilson. subsequently MIR.
Rheem showed him postal card from Mr. Wilson,
In which Mr.. Wilson said there would be a change.
Mr.. Rheem here produced the postal card which
was dated August 10th, and Said 'Tell the dealers
not TO order Old copy books or old editions OF the
Mr. Shillington said Mr. Rheem told him he did
not know OF any change In the High school books.
In regard to the music books he knew nothing of
The change until a customer came In after the
schools were opened TO get one OF the new books
The customer said that Mfr. Baliantyne had them
Tor sale. Mr.. Ballantyne told the witness that he
had received few copies by mail. Mr.. Shillington
said In regard TO the report made by detective,
which Mr. Ballantyne complained OF. that he had
been mlSrepreSented. lie said they had never been
able to get any satisfaction about text books They
had TO go repeatedly, and could not get Satisfac-
ton. His complaint was that the change should
be made early In June, SO that all interested could
be notified. MT. Wilson, he said, In respone to an
inquiry from that gentleman, had always been
very courteous TO him, and he presumed had given
him all the Information he had.
In response to questions from Mr.. Ballantyne. Mr.
Wilson said Mr.. Ballantyne had never solicited any
Information from him that was not open TO all, and
had not visited him as frequently as other dealers
Mr. Wilson desired that Prof. Butterfleld and
Prof. Gould be allowed TO make a statement as to
the adviSabity OF the changes made In text books
on history and music.
COMMISSIONER WEST BACK TO THE IMPORTANT QUEs-
TIoN OF DATES.
81 have confidence In those gentlemen said Mr.
West, ''and do not believe they would recommend
any change that was not right. The question here
is where that change originated and who knew it
first"
1.-The committee on text books, suggested Mr.
Wilson.
''Tne answer is,n said Mr. West, "that every one
knew or IL early in August, and the committee on
text books not until september. But 1 do not
express definite opinion on the subject now."
Mr.. COOK, SUPERINTENDENT OF THE CoLoRED
SCHOOLS,
said that there had been changes made in the his
tories and mental arithmetics this year, so as to
make them the same as those used In the white
schools. Different books had been used ever since
the colored schools had been organized The work
OF conformity had been going Oh for several years
ms closed the investigation at least for the
present
THE LETTER FROM THE COMMITTEE on TEXT BOOKS.
Following is the full text OF the letter from the
committee on text books referred to by Mr. Wilson:
WASHINGTON, october 25.
Jos. o. W1SOn. Superintendent, DC:
Dear Sir:-Iour communication OF the oath inst
was received, and has been considered by the com
mittee on teachers and text books. We do not
deem necessary to avail ourselves OF the permis-
sion OF the honorable Commissioners, conveyed
through you, TO be present at an inquiry for the
purpose or gaining further Information as to the
changes recently made In the text and other books
used In the public schools. Neither this committee
nor the board OF trustees have received any official
Information In reference 10 the subject This COM
mittee and the board of trustees. who by law have
exclusive jurisdiction and authority in the matter
OF legislation on text books. have acted in the
Premises and authorized the substitution OF the
new editions OF the Fourth and Fifth Readers of the
Franklin series. and the substitution or History
primers for SwintonS Outlines; and they, the
board and committee, alone are responsible since
they alone have the power to authorize such modl-
f1cations and such change. and because they did
authorize the substitution referred TO.
Very respectfully,
tsigned1 B. C. LoyEJor, Chairman.
WIN. Ii. BAUM,
c. B. PURvIS,
JOHN II. BROOKE
COMMISSIONERS WEST AND EDMoNDs FAVOR ABOLISH.
ING THE SCHOOL BOARD
Mr.. West stated TO a STAR reporter that more
testimony might be taken If anything arose to call
for it. Speaking OF the matter, he referred to the
law in Webb's Digest, page 32l. prescribing that
no change should be made IN textbooks, except by
two-thirds vote or the board.
"Tne evidence so far as L See." said Mt. West,
"fS that this change was made by the committee
on textbooks, on the Sth OF September, without
any public notice and the board was not notified OF
the change until the 3Oth OF September ON the
30th OF September the records show the committee
reported that the superintendents had been au-
thorized to make the change i do not see," added
Mr.. West, anything TO be done, except to let one
man run the whole thing" The sentiment OF
Commissioners West and Edmonds to-day was IN
favor OF abolishing the board OF school trustees,
and making the SuperintendentS directly RESPONSE
Die to the Commissioners, though no action was
taken.
None of the members OF the board OF school trus.
tees We're present during the examination.
The Vincent Divorce Decree Sustained.
The appeal in the case OF Rosa P. Steele Vincent
against Charles Vincent, In which divorce was
granted the wife, was dismissed by the Court In
General Term to-day. Mrs Vincent charged her
husband with being an habituai drunkard, and he
filed cross bill charging adultery On the hear.
ing below Judge James granted the decree to the
wife. Judge Macarthur, who delivered the opin-
ion OF the court to-day, said the court was OF the
opinion that the decree below should stand
Robert TO0mbs i'm Despair.
Washington. Ga, Dispatch to N. Y. Sun.
Gen. Robert Toombs despairs OF the election OF
Grover Cleveland, owing to what he calls the per-
f1dy Of the people. II told the people before the
war;" said he to-day, "that q revolution would
come In ten years. and 1t did The political eIe-
mentS are so corrupt that predict another revolu-
ton In the course OF the next ten years. or Gen.
Joe Johnston he said: Johnston would have been
the most successful general OF the late war IL he
had been let alone Jen Davis was continually
moving him from one place to another" Referring
to Jefferson Davis, TOombs said: HE is c0ntuma-
cious and Incompatible, and q man OF dimtnutive
Information"
THE GAUDAUR-TEEMER RACE A DRAw.-The
single skull race at st. Louis yesterday between
Gaudau and Teemer for $500, three miles, with q
draw. It VIII be rowed on next sunday.
DESPERATE Row AT POLITICAL GATHERING.--At
Bloomington, Ill, Saturday night, Fred. Schultze,
while drunk, threw stone at republican pro-
cessi0n, which struck On the head and rendered
insensibe a mounted man. The cavalry company
at once diSmounted, chased and caught Schulize
beat him severely, and, putting rope around his