Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-12-16

Mr. Barbour OH the School Bill.
When the District of Columbia school bill
was under consideration in the United
States House Of Representatives last lIon
day, the following debate took place.
Mr.. Barbour-Mr. Speaker, 1 desire tc
say that upon the language of that report il
IL shown that there seems to have beer
some little misunderstanding in regard tc
the consent Ct the commissioners. Iunder.
stand that while nj one time they were dis,
posed 10 yield their objections to the meas.
ure, that subsequently they withdrew their
conclusion 20 consent 10 the passage CT the
bill. This is measure, sir, that the peo
pie of the District have large interes. in,
It is matter that zones homo TO every
body, the education Of their children: ant;
this movement has been started by large
body Of citizens, who have come together
and reported their sentiments, as embodied
in the bill. The com petition is ha,waen the
present system, which is the exercise OF O
one man power, and tho exercise Of this
same power by large number OF rapr,son-
tstive citizens whose action is subject 10 The
approval OF the commissioners cf tie
District l. is g measure 20 yopu
!arize. as far az may he, The .Gu-
catioua! system Of Washington CITY.
desire to have read, in further support
Of that position. a memorial fro;n several
hundred Of the most proroueat citizens Of
Washington, and 81 letter addressed 30 nae
also by Chief'Justice Cartier, whc presided
as chairman at the citizens iueeting When
these are read shall submit The matter 90
the consideration Of the House 20 far as
am concerned, aud sield a portion of my
tme to the gentleu1a from Illinois Mr..
Rowei ! understand the gentleman from
Illinois Mr.. Hopkins undertook to aay 10
this House this movement had its intention
aud animus in affecting the present superin-
tendency of tho pnblic schools ofthe Dis.
trict. Now, sir, Gcai:a TO say - chairman
OF this committee, aud ~ being somewhat
coguizanl Of the proceedings in iefrr@uco 10
the District OF Columbia, that no such pur-
pose has ever been manifest 81 lar as a5
chairman or any gentleman upon ihat Goa!
mittee is concerned. have never heard q
word on that suhject and, while knew, i
is cheap for gentlemen 10 get up sd ia
peach the motives O. others
Alr. Hopkins tinterrupting j. So fGras tho
chairman of the ccnmittvo OF tbe rcn;!aij-
tee itself is concerned | did n9. usan nv
language TO apply 10 tnc.o !; bu; ha(i refer
ence to certain lobbyists outside, wau have
taken active part in this agitation
Mr.. Barbour-I nave oDiy risen, Mr.
Chairman, to disclain: on mv part aschag-
man Of the Committee On the District of
Columbia, any sWct! purpose aa that alleged
by the gentleman. ! 10 ret even know the
mat who il at present the superintendent
Of the public schools in this district | know
nothing whatever Of his politics. have, l
think, heard in aeDernt way that ha Is q
republican. | suppose that is the reason
you are taking snch au Interest in ht mat
ter. It is enough for ne 10 know, wi!hout
reference to what u mans politics may be,
that be is an efficient and aithfI official !;
and if ne is, il does not matter whether ho
be q democrat or z republican. His quaiiii
cations apd the faithful discharge CT bis dr.
ty are the only tests l woulti require
Mr.. Long-Are not the twenty four nletn
bers to be appointed by the commissioners =?
Mr.. Barbour-Undoubtedl
Mr.. Long-Then the commissioners vii!
control in the appointment Of the superin-
tendent, just as they do now?
Mr.. Barbour-Certainly III the first IL
stance, tho trustees are 10 be appointed hy
the commissioners, and then the trustees
nominate the superintendent.
Mr.. Long-Then the present s,,perintend.
ent is in no more danger under the proposed
plan than he is now?
Mr.. Barbour-None whatever. He is just
in the position that be he is in now, so far
as that is concerned The whole power is
vested in the commissioners originally, ex.
cept that slight feature about the trustees
making nomination.. In other respects
they control it all.
Mr.. Cannon-I wish to ask the gentle.
man from Virginia question in good faith
and for information simply. who controls
this appointment now? Do the commits
sioneis control or is the control lodged in
the nine trustees?
Mr.. Cobb-Why, in the commissioners
thero is 20 question Of that.
Mr.. Barbour-Some question was raised
last year in which the respective powers OF
the trustees and the commissioners was in.
voved, and the commissioners assumed and
maintained that the whole power was with
them.
Mr.. Cannon-So they control?
Mr.. Barbour-1es, sir absolutely. They
control now, and the same power would re-
main under the terms of this bill. So far as
the other remark of the gentleman from H.
luois is concerned, that in reference to the
people who have appeared in this thing,
ouiy wish to say that this measure has come
to our committee time and again, and from
large and influential bodies of citizens ofthe
District. 1t has come before us from peo
pie who have marked interest in the good
administration of the public-school system,
in this city from ministers of the Gospel
merchants, business men. and people gen
orally who are interested in the education o.
their children. They are the people who
came have had little to do with the mat.
ter myself The bill was reported By an
other gentleman on the committee, and
have only taken charge as the organ OF ths
committee. But so far as personal motive:
are concerned, I disclaim them utterly, anG
l know nothing of the politics of any mar
connected with the matter, and care less.