Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-27


school system here. 1t was his unpleasant
duty, he said. to hear the argument on the side
of the Commissioners before the House COM
mittee. He felt Inundated. He went there to
hear their argument; he came away disap-
pointed. There had been no argument to sus-
tain Edmonds, West, BirHey and me 100, VIM.
Is. Webb He was amazed when he heard
Mr.. Webb's statement of the case. He ad-
duced no argument. He outlined his case,
elaborated il To u considerable degree He said
that he had found chatting, contentious i'm the
board, when he entered office and wanted to
apply remedy. He said there was scandal
connected with the board. The board OF trus-
tees was not the only body that had mani
Tested want of harmony. He could have
brought that fact little closer home to the
Commissioners. About two years ago, they
remembered, one OF the Commissioners be-
came FASCINATED, or bolnb-proof. For a time, a
week or two, he received no company. Subse-
quently he went off q tour OF pleasure
What was the cause of their want OF harmony
there. Was 1t not graspins after power? Was
it not question whether James Is. Ed
mOndS or ex-senator West should take
the control of matters and dole out patronage
was it not in bad taste that Mr.. Webb should
make this u subject of complaint against the
board? EX-Commissioner West in stating his
case INDUCED in vituperation and abuse. The
former superintendent OF the public schools
Mr.. }. o. Wilson, a purer, Il more upright,
moral, loveable citizen Washington has never
been blest with. (Applause.) AS To his efficiency
the present condition of the public schools will
attest. They stand as monument TO his worth.
He urged the citizens to act a unit in this
matter, TO wage unrelenting war, until their
rights were not only recognized, but secured
and protected. He asked that the citizens there
should count him in In any movement they
might make against the attempts OF these COM
missiOners-he had almost said these con-
spiratOrs-conspiring against good order and
the hopes and aspirations OF hundreds and
thousands OF families as represented by these
children in the public schools.
NR. W. H. CLAGETT,
who was in the audience, was called and
spoke briefly. He had been. he said, in
state of "inocuous desuetude" since July.
1874, and he came near not coming to this
meeting. There was nothing at the bottom of
this question, he thought, except that they
were DISTINGUISHED. He hoped this movement
regarding the schools would take root The
public school system was the last that was
left them OF popular government. He wanted
the trustees, but he wanted to vote for them
He was not even willing that the Commission
ers should appoint them. He wanted the
people to govern the schools. He did not want
the schools raised to such "a rarified atmosphere
that the poor children could not go. lie wanted
the poor children the first chance and If there
was any room LETT to let the rich in.
ENHANCING THE COMMITTEE.
The resolutions were then adopted. and
| the resolution offered by Mr.. Given was
| also adopted. 1t provided .'that the presiding
officer Of this meeting be, and he 10
hereby, requested to appoint so additional
members to the citizens committee on Ieeisia
tion for the public schools, which com if7aa 10
| approved by this meeting, and announcc The
same hereafter through the pressn The meet
| ing then adjourned.