National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-19
TIE SCHOOL CONFIDENCE.
An Amicable Understanding Reached
netween the Commissioners and
Trustees.

An Amicable Understanding Reached
Detween the Commissioners and
Trustees.
Trustees Curtis, Birney, aud Smith, the COM
mittee appointed by the school board to confer
with the commissioners In reference TO the
letter of the latter TO the board, waited on the
commissioners at O'Clock yesterday afternoon.
There was n number Of newspaper men In the
commissioners room at the time. Gen. Birney
Objected to their presence. Mcssrs Curtis aud
Smith were waiting and anxious to have the
members of the press remain in the room in
order that the public might know what trans.
pired between the commissioners and the com.
mittee.
Mr.. Curtis said "that tho only objection that
he would have would be to that class Of news
papers alluded to by President Cleveland In his
letter to Mr.. Keppler" This ca ised laughter
Judge Edmonds and CUmmissioner Webb
consulted together for few seconds. The re.
suit of the whispering was that the commits.
siot G felt that the trustees wanted TO talk TO
the commissioners and not to the public. The
course Of the conversation twas alleged might
have bearing ON confidential matters, In fact
the commissioners considered that the reln.
tieis between them and the trustees was the
same as between the commissioners and their
Judge Edmonds, the spokesman, then asked
the reporters to retire from the ROOM Mrs. f.
y. Briggs, who. was present, on the. grounds
that a commissioner had once asked her to
servo as n school trustee, was also included In
the invitation to Vacntc.
Mr. Smith stated tho object Of the visit OF
the committee, and he argued that tho school
board had powers delegated TO them by law
MIR. Curtis argued in like manner, and that
the rights of the board were strongly preserved
by the law which organized the board.
Gen. Birney argued at great length. lie
went into an exposition of all the laws that
governed the creation OF the school boards
His argument in main has been made known
The meeting was satisfactory in one sense
and not in another. The committee was lead
TO believe that the commissioners mean only
what Is for the best and acted only In the line
of their duty. The commissioners were posi-
tive in their construction of the laws, and held
that thcSboard was abolished by the act of Con.
RrCss passed in 1873 and the law that was also
passed simply authorizing the appointment OF
the board OF trustees. There seemed to be an
honest difference of opinion between the com
missioners and the school board In the con.
II is not improbable that the board may
ncquiesce in the conclusion OF the COM
mksionors, and accept the delegated powers
which the commissioners claim the right to
make. The committee believe that in the
practical running OF the sch OILS this will make
but little change from the present system; But
this will depend upon the orders which the
commissioners will hereafter formulate, which
they propose TO do at an early day. In many
respects the board will be relieved of irksome
duties and unpleasant responsibilities. IL Will
leave TO the board more time to devote to cdu-
cntional matters aud to conduct the schools.
The interview was satisfactory In this re-
spect, and IL developed disposition on the
part of the commissioners to cooperate with
rather than to antagonize the board. Much
will depend, however, on the form OF the CO
operation that is to be prescribed by the com
missioners and to be accepted by the board
The commissioners have looked into the law
They stated that their conclusion In their let
ter was TO be considered final.
In the practical effect OF the change the com
missioners demonstrated that there would be
no detrimental results, as they would depend
upon the trustees and the school superln
tendents in the matter Of the appointment.
and removals of teachers The commissioner
gave the committee to understand that they
did not want to abolish the board. They
wanted the board to act in concert with them
and become, as II were, their confidential
agents.
The committee was rather surprised at the
genial manner in which the commissioner
discussed the troubles OF the board and schoo
matters. The information leaked out that the
committee v as filled up to the brim with fight
ing argument. They wanted to know whethe
the commissioners meant by their letter to Gu
of the heads of the members of the board
Matters turned out so different that thu
question was forgotten, and the committed
after being nearly tive hOurs I'm close converse
ton with tho commissioners retired wei
pleased.
The commissioners after the interview re
at, other than the bare statement that every
thing seemed to be fixed up satisfactorily
Judge Edmonds was rather inclined to talk :
the reporters freely, but a knowing look fron
Commissioner Webb caused him 10 become O
silent as q clam