Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-22
PUBLIC school,. MANAGEMENT.
The Citizens Committee Talk With the
Commissioners.

Commissioners.
mr. WEBB EXPRESSES SOME OBJECTIONS TO THE
PENDING SCHOOL BOARD BrLL-A QUESTION
RAISED AS TO THE NUMBER OF TRUSTEES
NEEpKD-MAyoR LUDLOW THINKS AN AMIGA
CABLE AaREEMESr WILL BE REAcHEp-A
FURTHER CONFERENCES PROPOSED.
The Citisens' committee on public school
legislation waited upon the Commissioners nj
half-past twelve o'clock to-day to invite them
10 cooperate with the committee In securing
the passage OF the school board bill, known as
the citizens bill. Among the gentlemen pres
ent were DR.. Robert Reyburn, vice chairman;
r. w. Fenwick, II. Z. Biscoe, E. q. Davis, a. C.
Richards, A. NJ. Clapp, John T. Given, c. f.
Hovey, Lewis Baar, Rev. DIR. John Chester. Jos.
Shillington, Matthew u. Emery, John J.. Her
rell, VIM. Henry Browne, John Marbury, l. $
Emery, c. N. Matthews, II. c. spencer. Rev. c.
G. Meador, Rev. Geo. o. Little. ]. Hawkins Tay-
lor. Jno. l. Vogt II. c. Spencer, solomon g.
The three Commissioners Messrs. Webb and
Wheatley and Major Ludlow, met the commit
tee. DIR. Reyburn stated that Judge Cartier eN-
pressure OF other business. In Judge Cartter's
place Mr.. Matthews stated to the Commits
sioners the objects OF the call upon the Com
missioners, presenting first the following letter
from Judge Cartier stating the purposes OF the
Citizens committee:
CHIEF JUSTICE CARRIERS LETTER.
public schools desired, and now desires, 10
work in harmony with the Commissioners, and,
accordingly, application was. first Of all, made
to your predecessors in Office for their co-opera
ton in securing the passage oil the citizens
school board bin, and that application is now
It Is well known that the organic act of June
IL, 1873, as originally drawn, abolished the
school board and transferred its powers and du-
ties to the Commissioners; but il is equally
well known that Congress subsequently added
a clause directing the appointment OF nine
teen actual resident OF the District as trustees
of public schools, and conferred upon them the
powers, in relation to the care and management
OF the schools. then authorized by law. This
was a concession TO a DISTINGUISHED people, and
the only one In the act Ii was the settlement,
or consideration, rendered 10 tax -payers and
people for acQuiesence in an extremely exclu-
sive scheme of government But IL was waltz
able consideration, Tor Ii vested in the people,
through a school board appointed from them
selves the management of their public schools.
For nearly eight years next alter this settle
ment was made its terms were substantially,
though not always fully, complied with and IL
Is the purpose and object OF the citizens school
board bill to obtain declaratory legislation,
which shall define and enforce that settlement
as 1t was understood and executed immedi-
1873; and IL is the wish OF our COMMITTEE, and
We believe OF the great body of the people of
the District, that you should cooperate with us
in securing the proposed legislation"
THE SUBJECT DISCUSSED.
Mr.. Matthews said that the committee
desired TO confer with the Commissioners on
this matter. They hardly imagined that there
would be any serious difference of opinion on
this subject between the committee and the
Commissioners.
Mr. Webb asked If Mr.. Matthews thought
there was any necessity for this school bin;
would II not be as we'll To have an act declaring
that the trustees, created by the act of 1873,
should constitute a board of trustees, and leave
Mr.. Matthews said a great many thought
that under the act OF 1873, when the Commits
| sioners appointed trustees, the powers always
81
vested in the school trustees appointed by the
Commissioners.
Mr.. Webb said that all the Commissioners de-
sired was to come to some conclusion with the
committee. As he understood IL the commit
tee OF Congress was delaying its report, waiting
| for the citizens and the Commissioners TO come
Mr.. Matthews said that he did not believe the
Commissioners would oppose the will of the
Mr.. Webb said he thought this bill provided
for too many trustees. He did not see the need
for twenty-four trustees.
THINGS AS THEY WERE.
Mr.. Marbury suggested that the things be left
as they are
"As they were before the late changes" said
Mr.. Matthews.
That's what mean" said Mr.. Marbury.
81 am willing" said Mr.. Webb, "that the trus-
| tees shall be called a board, and have all the
powers given them in the act of 1873"
.nnn;ntment Of ,eacbers s6anid he free frn,n as ~,
personal features and personal influence. He
thought the plan suggested by the Commits
sioners In q letter they recently wrote provided
the proper method OF selecting teachers.
DIR. Reyburn read a portion OF the bill, and as
he read section by section the various proyis-
ions were talked over.
Mr.. Webb questioned the wisdom of appoint
ing three trustees from each division. lie
trustees, appointed at large, TO care tor the
schools as a whole.
Gen. Hoyey gave the history Of the affairs
in the reduction of the board to nine members.
Both Gen. Hovey and Mr.. Matthews favored
having three trustees from each division. so
that the trustees in each section mighf he
familiar with their field.
Mr.. Matthews cited a supposed case of some
complaint against school discipline. The resi-
dent trustee was the person to whom the az
grieved pupil or parent could appeal.
MIR. Webb asked why the appeal should not
be made to the supervising principal, Suggest
ing that he was the proper officer.
Mr.. Matthews said that the citizen should
have some appeal beyond the supervising prin-
Various members of the committee explained
the reason for having three trustees: With one
trustee, too much power was vested in one man.
and with two there was likely To be "A dead
lock.
Mr.. Wheatiy suggested that small subcom-
mittee OF three be appointed to confer with the
Commissioner He suggested thai he believed
such a committee would have no difficulty ia
coming TO an understanding with the COM
missioners.
Mr. Matthews said that while there he
wanted 10 make some reply to the remark
made, not by the present Commissioners, be-
fore the congressional committee, referring Io
the school board as scoundrels. He referred To
the honorable men who had served on the
board, and said that during his service there
had never been anything scoundrelly about ii.
There had been only honest differences OF
opinion.
Mr.. Webb suggested that the present division
OF the city into school divisions Was not "A good
one. He raised the question whether geo.
graphical division, without regard 10 coior,
would not be more convenient instead of hay
Ing the colored schools organized separate
divisions
Major Ludlow said that whatever the COM
mtssioners could do TO meet the views OF the
residents would be done, SO lar as their discre-
uonary power would permit them TO do. He
doubted whether there would be any difficulty
when the smaller committee OF three met the
Commissioners in coming 10 an agreement.
In accordance with Mr.. Wneatleys sugges-
ton, Messrs. Reyburn, Matthews and HoNey
were appointed a subcommittee to confer with
the Comm issioners. The Commissioners APP
pointed an interview with this committee Tor
Saturday morning at 10 O'Clock, and the gen.
eral committee then withdrew.
The Odd Fellows Line Of March.
The executive committee OF the odd Fell
lows celebration on the 26th instant has de-
cided that the line of march will be from 9TH
street along 4 TO Sd, thence to Pennsylvania
avenue, along the avenue 10 10TH, to h; thence
to Mount Vernon church, where the annlyer-
sary services will be held.
Alexandria AffairA