The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-07-19

their secretary called the attention Of the school
trustees TO an opinion Of tho First Comptroller Of
the Treasury IN regard TO this very practice. The
matter was referred by the trustees 10 committee
and they reported that they found no reason TO
will nnd tic rcport OF bs committee together win
the minority report OF Mr.. Brscy, In the minutes OF
The Board OF Trustees for September 2s 1889. the
School Board adopted the report Of the committee
and the certificates remained as before the Comp
trolors opinion. Moreover the uniform practice
teacher on the payroll, and not that Of the subst
tue, Tor obvious reasons, principally because the
name OF the teacher was the one known TO tho au-
thorties. This teacher might have Mt different
times one or more substitutes, whose names would
not bc. on the rolls of tho schools, and who were
inc school oficials. Tnclr names had no place on
the rolls, provided they were acceptable to the
teachers whose work they performed and 10 the i'm
mediate superior Of that teacher, and were paid
their compensation. They had no further part In
the school economy, and ihcro was no reason why
their names should appear. u any teacher EN-
matter Tor the attention and report OF the supcrys-
Ing principal OF that district.
Counsel produced certain Witnesses at the hearing,
TO wit: EX-lrusioc White aud supervising Princi-
pal agc, TO prove certain Instances, notably those
OF Miss Ella Dunn (whosc name was signed to the
rolls aud who drew pay for months until she died,
u substitute doing her work. and of Miss Childs,
whose case occurred recently, and the OF Mr..
Gage himself, whose name appears the ccrill-
Gates oni pay-rolls In MIR. iIIrncys own division as
having done all the work In April 1855, although Tor
q few days Of that month his place was supplied by
Miss ltowc, aud he drew all the pay for that month
and signed the roll. Some time further back lin
iss2) Mr.. Gage was sick for more than month, he
being then, ~ now, supervising principals; the
tcaos and rolls for that time have his name only,
although his work was done by substitutes Counsel
made mistake IN calling these cases precedcnis;
they nd that the universal rule was what MIR. Lave
Joy followed, to wit: That prior To November, 1889,
the name OF the teacher always appeared, and was
the only one That tll appear, In the certificates and
the rolls, although the actual service was for months
rendered by substitutes That this was well known
to Mr. BrDcy when he preferred these charges, and
and " M doubt.
Under The new or moral rules, as they are deslg.
mated by Mr.. Wcst, as appears from his statement
few pages back.) which ho aud Mr.. Brney are con.
tending Tor In this assault upon Mr. iovcjoys char
Gates their face as far from the absolute truth
M they ever were. Formerly, these rules were I'M
mms s marx gu, ,ns way IN which these school
they were perfect, or that they could In the nature
Of things he entirely accurate IN the respects brought
into prominence here. The new rules are profcsse
10 he strictly honest, Mcssrs Blrncy AMI West being
sponsors We, II appears that these rules do state
the exact truth. frat, because they are made up bc
fore The first oi the month generally about The mid
lc and vet they profess To certify That certain work
has been done by certain persons M TO day, which
IL generally about twelve days ahead OF the certin
cate IN point OF time. II IL said that they are made
up subject To correction, and for the convenience NJ
| the teachers. But what has that tn Ito with the
clnin of superior sanctty made by these sponsors
In point nj fact, IN tho case of Mr. Gage, who ,lhi
not do the work for the whole month Of last April
| they were not corrected 10 as To speak the TRUTH
nor docs Miss Rowc's naine--Hhc did part ~ the
work-appear on them. II IL sail that the rules al
low the names OF The teachers to appear only aoue
when they have done more than half n month i work
his IL very proper. so did the old rules allow the
teachers name TO appear, although he or she had
| not done work for months. The new rule may re-
duce the time ofihc untrth but the inaccurary IL
az great for 1--WE days as for lfty, NO far the truth
IL concerned, and II docs not become tho sponsors nj
| these rules to dress themselves In Sunday attire
when these children of theirs have 10 tell even such
all others made for the actual conduct Of life and It's
concerns, are not perfect; nor arc they understood
TO be. II Is only when they claim TO he 30 that they
| injurc both their parents anu the system.
| There remains one case to which we ask especial
attention. This Ia the case Of the drill master Of the
High School. II appears from the testimony that
| Capt Burton Ross. of the Washington Light imam
try, was employed to instruct the High School cadets
in tactics az salary OF $50 per month. Az the end
pay-rolis, It appeared that, lnasmuch he was al
| ready In the Government employ, he could not re.
% WASHER. suggested ,ha, High
| the rolls aud draw the money, and then Il could be
| paid to Capt lsosS. This was done with the full
not prepared 10 say; but Mr. West knew all al,ou, It,.
CAPT. Ross still got the monthly salary of sa5.
After this recent Instance The complaint of Mr.
| West about irregular rolls calls to mind wha,
we used To read about In college Of the Gracchi
| planning of sedtion Let us state here ter
Of Justice, since we have been compelled to mention
| the names of Capt. Russ and OF Mr. SuhOn In thin
connection, that not the slightest blame can res,
| upon them IN this matter.
Counsel have tried with patience and with no more
comment than the case required to review both the
| charges and the proceedings In the case at some
length. They have tried 10 do fairly and to make
| no inaccurate statement II they have made such,
can be very readily corrected by the record which
| You have before you. let us now say a few words
| in conclusion, and then we will leave tho matter
| with you TO deal with, as honorable men who have
undertaken to act hs Judges In this case, at the
quest OF man who says that he has been most nm
| Justly and maliciously assaed with most base
charge for conduct, that he thought was certainly
| not ballable, in connection with an institution to
which he has given much time and thought, aud The
welfare OF which Is very dear TO HIM
The case submitted to you is this:
Mr.. Benjamin q. Lovcjoy, an old resident OF this
| city, and one OF good reputc among his fellow ci-
zens. has been charged oscnsbly by Mr.. Birney
schools This charge has been published ID the
| press Of the country, and Mr.. LOyejOy has been
branded rs falsier OF records, which, as trustee,
| he was bound to protect. Undoubtedly the impress
sion made upon the minds Of those reading the pub
shed Charge IL that Mr.. Lovejoy has corruptIy fall
knowledge Of the charges will not reach one ont of
every Thousand OF hose who have read tho charge.
| atone for or pailate. And this has been done to
| him about the public schools of Washington, To
which he has, without compensation, given The
best wears of his life, both In time ana In Thought
All the worth Of his. nature has been layishei by
| him over these schools. Such Is the charge which
has been made against hun, ai such are lis effects
What has he done 10 deserve this?
IN Miss iarilet's case he followed the precedent IN
approving certificates which enabled her to draw the
salary of the school for three months before her
DEATH lie did this IN accordance with the rules and
with precedent, and with the Knowledge OF all Of the
the matter. What he did has been sustained by all
| who were connected with It,
In The matter of Miss Mcqueen, what he lid has
| been months ago examined and approved by the
| Commissioners. as Is not coniroyerted What he
did in the case OF Mrs RodIer was TO certify that
teacher had done her work, although in point Of fact
she had been assisted In that work by an assistant
tcacher-a thing not forbidden by the rules. Now,
this il the whole OF the charge 1t IL confessed thai
he received no money or gain OF any Kind for any Of
MS acts.
Ia tnnsh an III.
the expense Of the schools and the proof shows this
charge 10 he false Let state the case briefly
All that Mr. Lovcjoy did for Miss Bartlett was To
approve the certificate allowing her to draw the pay
that her substitutes earned 1t cOnld not be called
charity, for she was rghtfuly entitled to all that he
did for her. What MIR. Lovcjoy did for Miss Nc.
queen nominally In this same connection has been
done What he did in Miss Holders case has been
explained In full. II cannot he called charity II
was what under the rules she was entitled to- so
that Mr. LOveJOy In these three matters about which
he is accused has really done no wrong. Yet he has
been UNANIMOUSLY accused OF crime. You cannot
dress will that be to him? You VIII not have read
ths argument without being convinced that II Ia not
me merely n ga s 81 Mr yel"y
you Of hts Innocence No argument was necessary
To defend him. 50 soon ms tho accusation was
plainly stated, II WAS seen that was meant TO be
| base, malicious lie. Counsel have not been con-
cerncd with that. They have been Impressed with
| the enormiiy OF this whole matter. They have
wanted TO Know who was behind this charge no
waniony made with the full knowledge OF Its false
ness. both IN the part OF the accuser and Of Mr..
West. They have gone over the whole matter In
detail 10 answer that inquiry. 1t touches the best
interests Of all good citzens 10 know who the men
are who are wiling to crafty their purposes either
OF revenge or Of turning aside public attention from
their own records ut II critical period, by making
charge OF this kind against knd-hearicd, honest,
scf-sacrifcng man--one who has done much TO
| serve the public without compensation; one who IL
| himself no longer In the full strength Of
manh0od one whose name IL cndcared TO very
many whom his good will has overlooked I'm HiIll.
stantial acts Of kindness-it touches all of us to
know who the men are who want0nly charge this
man with forgery. Mr.. Birney Is only the pnppet.
When he shall have been deprived OF his Fictitious
individuality AZ trustee, there VIII remain nothing
| OF him that an honest man will care To investigate.
| But who IL behind him? When we know who II In,
we need inquire no further; for any person who
would be behind Brncy pushes forward sign
board as to his own character.
| REGINALD FEEDALL,
X. Ross FERRY,
OF Counsel.