Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-25
mean any disrespect to the president in taking

SniS action.
The president, Mr.. Loveioy, said that as this
presented question which had never. TO his
knowledge, come before the board before, he
thought it should be referred to the board for
its action. " / will simply state TO the board"
he Went on, ''that the trustee of the eighth dvi-
sion declines to serve on the committees to
which he was appointed
so does the trustee of the sixth division"
fnteriected DIR. Purvis, of the sixth division.
And does the trustee of the sixth divi-
maer thai eheS he r, he 1t Is
and 1, consequently, refer the matter TO the
board. II they decline to act, will act and
accept their destinations. SUN do not wish to
assume any power not exercised by my prede-
cessors."
81 move that my declination be accepted"
DR.. Purvis said he did not believe the board
had any power in the premises, one way or the
other. There was no earthly power to make
him serve on q committee IL he did not want to
serve.
Il would laugh at the board" he added, ..if
they should say to me that they would not ac-
cept my declination."
Mr.. Curtis asked if there was not a rule stat
ing that every member of the board should
serve on three committees.
DR.. Purvis said the board could not by rule
obilge him to serve on a committee.
Mr.. Blrney made motion, as an amend
ment, that the two gentlemen be excused from
serving upon the committees upon which they
were named. This was carried, and the gem
temen re excused.
DR.. Purvis was appointed by Mr.. Lovejoy on
TIC SoAlihlbtScS Ou rules, lnOuStFttt eUucaIlOu
and drawing, and libraries and annual report.
rules, penmanship and music, and industrial
education and drawing. The action of these
only one member each. Their grievance is
that they were omitted entirely from what they
regard as the more important committees of
the DO ard.
WAR ON BEER AND CIGARETTES
DIR. Purvis offered resolution 'that the
board respectfully, but earnestly, urge upon
the Commissioners of the District the import
ance Of securing the passage Of a law making
the selling OF Intoxicating beverages and to-
baccO in any form, especially cigarettes to
minors under the school age of seventeen
years, punishable OffeDSe." DR.. Purvis said
he was thoroughly impressed with the convic-
ton that 1t was time to take some action in the
matter. He saidethat many of the boys when
they lett school smoked cigarettes-a most in
furious practice. The matter concerning the
sale of intoxicating beverages was suggested
by what the ladies in charge OF the Newsboys'
society found to be the case. Places were pro-
vided where these young boys could indulge in
the vice OF drinking When we cannot pick up
paper without seeing some murder reported
in which the perpetrat0r was under the in
huence OF liquor it was time to consider this
matter. The starting point was with these
boys.
Mr.. Birney asked if there was not q law now
prohibiting the sale of liquor to minors.
Dr.. PurviS said that he made his broader
and used the word beverages, which included
malt liquors. As TO cigarettes he believed them
NOT WITHIN THE PROVINCE Of THE BOARD.
Mr.. Curtis said that if a petition of that kind
were presented to him citizen he would
sign it, but he thought that the board was
treading upon dangerous ground When it
undertook to originate legislation affecting the
common weal but not especially affecting the
schools. They should remember that the in
StitutiOn OF public schools was 4 state insti:,l-
ton. and they, as trustees, Were charged with
special duties They had to look after the ed u
cational interests of people of various beliefs.
The man who sells beer may send his child 20
school and may not want him taught that the
selling of beer was morally wrong. They were
here as school board and not as moral re-
formers.
DIR. PurYis thought that if they could not
plant seeds of moral reform the sooner they
adjourned the better. He thought that there
was no body from which such a suggestion
could come more properly than the school
board. Why should they not say, in regard to
cigarette smoking, that here was vicious habit
which dwarfed the intellect OF the boys: He
regarded the measure proposed as one TO pro
tect the children OF the schools.
Mr.. Birney said that while he approved the
resolution he thought it was not in aproper
form. He suggested that it be referred TO the
committee on rules, to be drafted into the form
of the bill. So far as his observations extended,
cigarette smoking was one OF the most per-
niciOus practices.
'You would be amazed interrupted Dr.
PurviS, cat the heart disease among children
DOES PROHIBITION PROHIBIT
Mr.. Smith questioned whether it was within
Tie pTOV1Dcc Vi lIc DOdTu 10 take acIlOn upon
such q matter. If there were any practical
way of remedying the evil complained of, he
was in favor OF applying it. He did not believe
they could by any summary law eftectually
prohibit the sale of such articles to children.
MIR. Birney asked whether the law prohibit
ing the sale OF liquors to minors was not gener-
ally regarded.
Mr. Smith said he did not know whether it.
was or not. There was question whether the
board could properly take the act ton proposed.
He agreed with DIR. Purvis that the habit OF
smoking cigarettes was vicious one. Suppose
the children had the habit and they could pro-
hibit the sale OF cigarettes, making it difficult
for boys to get them, would they not merely
Sharpen-the appetiteS of the boys:
81 don't think a boy eight years old has very
confirmed Labit," said Dr. Purvis.
Mr.Smith thought they should hesitate when
recommending legislation and consider
whether the subject of the proposed legislation
was one within their province.
Mr.. Brooks said he was in sympathy with
the resolution and had doubt of the truth
of what DR.. Puryis said as to the evils of cigar
cite smoking; Still he doubted whether they
should meddle with matters outside of their
jurisdiction. They had a rule now prohibiting
the use of tobacco about a school building, and
they had a right to make and zee such a
rule, but beyond that they had no right. The
board of trustees, he thought, ought not to in
terfere with these matters.
Dr. PurvlS SAID he never saw such sensitive
men in his life-nen who wanted to do a good
thing and were afraid to do il. They were the
custodians OF the children in the District, far
as their education was concerned. The board
had adopted resolutions against liquor saloons
near school buildings What right had they to
do that? he did not propose to prevent any
man from drinking. He knew that most I'M
fortunate habits were formed in youth. and he
thought the board could properly consider mat
tiers relating TO the training of the youth.
RELIGION IN THE SCHOOLS.
Mr.. Curtis said that in the opinion of many
people there Were some things more dangerous
than drinking whisky or smoking cigarettes
matters relating to eternity. He asked
whether DIR. Purvis thought they had any right
to teach any system of religion.
DIR. Purvis thought they had not the right to
teach any system of religion, but if they be-
lieyed in immortal li1e they were surely not
doing their dnty if they did not point out to
these children the way OF salvation. II they
believed that cigarette smoking was a bad
practice, why could they not say SO? Little
children, he said, did not reason. When they
they could not see why it was wrong for them
to smoke. little boy thinks himself man
when he goes up to man ia the street and
asks for a light. If such law was passed, a
policeman seeing boy with a cigarette
would go the boy and ask "where
break the habit up, he had no doubt.
Mr.. Curtis suggested that this cigarette ques-
ton was o sanitary matter. He had no doubt
of the injurious effects of the practice, but did
not believe the board should take the action
proposed. Ihey represented men OF all minds
DIR. Purvis asked ifthey had not recommended
time and again that some cess-pool be filled up.
Mr.. Curtis said that that was something neces-
sary 20 the health of the children. lie thought
that the cesS-pool was O matter upon which
there could be no difference OF opinion; but
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