Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-10
CITY AND DISTRICT.
THE SCHOOL TRUSTEES.
The Board Starts i'm Under the New
Order of Things.

The Board Starts i'm Under the New
Order of Things.
aR- BIRNEY APPROVES THE COMMISSIONERS
PLAN-MR BROOKS DEFENDS THE OLD sYS-
TEA-A COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO CONSIDER
THE COMMISSIONERS LETTER
Mr.. Gurley, secretary of the board of school
trustees called that body to order last night, as
by the resignation of Mr.. Lovejoy, the presi-
den f, The board was left without presiding
officer. Three new trustees-Messrs. Ross,
Wilmer and Gregory-were present. Mr.. Cur
lis was elected chairman temporarily. y CON-
munication from the Commissioners In
Spouse to the resolution of the board urging the
passage of a law prohibiting the sale of liquors
and cigarettes TO minors was read. 1t stated
that there was a bill already pending in Con-
gress to prohibit the sale of liquors to minors
There is no law To prevent the sale OF tobacco
to minors, and to this subject the Commission
ers will give careful consideration.
THE LETTERS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS
The letter of the Commissioners which has
been published in THE STAR relating to the
case of Miss Brown and Miss Myers reiterating
statements in the letter of December 30 last and
inviting the trustees to a conference was read.
The secretary also read the letter published in
THE STAR last Saturday, prescribing the plan
of school government proposed by the Commits
sioners Mr. Birney moved that the letter be
preferred to a special committee of three, with
instructions to report on 1T, to recommend such
bylaws as they thought necessary in view OF
1.-THE letter.
Mr.. BROOKS WANTS To KNOW WHERE HE IS.
Mr.. Brooks asked If the trustees understood
that the present body remained rs the board of
trustees in statu quo. He wanted to know ifthis
was the same organization the school board
TO which he had all along belonged.
MIR. Curtis said that until they modified their
rules he so understood it.
Mr.. Clark suggested that the letter in that
case should be referred to the committee ON
rules.
Mr.. Curtis said that as several members had
resigned and new members had been appointed
~ would be necessary to reform the commit
Mr. Brooks said all he desired to know was to
what organization he belonged.
DIR. Purvis said that he thought this commu-
nicatiOn would wipe out some of their old COM
mittees. IL would do away with the committee
teachers and the local committees largely.
He would like to have the committees reor-
ganized, and would like to take part in the
work of the committees. He had declined SER
vice on the committees as recently constituted.
MR. BIRNEY AGREES WITH THE COMMITS
sIoNER5.
Mr.. Birney said that when the letter of De-
cember 3Oth reached the board he was very
painfully impressed It indefinite, but
seemed TO foreshadow rules and regulations
which would eXtinguish this board in some of
its functions. The most unfavorable thing
about II was that IL seemed to arrogate to the
Commissioners the direct appointment of
teachers without regard to the board. AS to
the legal aspect of the matter he disagreed with
Commissioners. The letter now before
tine board treated OF the subject
property, and finance. As to financial matters
the views expressed by the Commissioners were
in consonance with those he had always
pressed. The Commissioners were under bonds
Tor the proper disbursement of appropriations.
80 lar as the appropriations were concerned the
Conmi Ssiouers necessarily had the power of
veto upon the board. The letter was satisfac-
tory tn him on the matter of finance. He
Inousnt they should have nothing TO do with
these fiscal matters There was unrealIty
about the whole thing that was unbusiness-
Ike As an instance he said that that very
morning he had been called upon to receipt for
wo shOvels he had never seen.
docs the Commissioner that signs the check
to pay for the shovelS see the shOvels?'' asked
Mr.. Clark, interrupting Mr.. Birney.
Mr.. BROOKS CALLS A HALT
Before Mr. Birney replied, Mr. Brooks said
that he desired TO ask Mr.. Birney question.
Mr.. Birney objected to being interrupted. Mr..
Brooks then raised the point of order that under
the rules the letter could not then be discussed,
rs il should come up a new business. IF he is
going TO make speech on it, said Mr. Brooks
Il want u answer it. Tor he is altogether wrong
in some particulars.
Mr. Curtis ruled that Mr. Brooks point was
well taken. and Mr.. Birney then sat down.
Mr.. Brooks then presented the usual report
from the committee on ways and means, of
bills approved, stating that notwithstanding
the communication OF the Commissioners the
Commissioners had personally expressed a
desire 10 have these bills certified by the board,
f,s a safeguard
Mr. Birney moved then that the board elect
president
Mr.. Brooks suggested that that would be In
decent haste
DIR. Purvis said that there was another men,
Der 10 be appointed, and the Commissioners
would a. he understood. have the board COM
pletec by the next meeting. He favored wait
lag until the next meeting before organizing.
lie suggested that the rules should be modified
as 20 the assignment of trustees and supervis-
ing principals so as to- equaliZe the labors. He
pals should be assigned To certain school build
ings- He thought that the board should, how
ever, assign the new trustees To divisions until
other provision was made.
NOT IN FAVOR OF WAITING.
MI. BirDey thought they ought not to stand
shivering and doing nothing. Were they in a
panics He thought they ought to 90 on with
their business He, therefore, moved that the
assignments proposed by DIR. Purvis be made.
TICKLING HIN WITH A STRAW.
DIR. Purvis said ii was the intention of the
Commissioners TO wipe out districts or divis-
ions He thought they were laboring under a
misapprehension as TO their true condition.
They had not got out of their old ruts The
local trustee could not appoint teacher
or change teachers. Ii they assigned a trustee
10 a district they only tickled him with a straw
for the trustee would have no power. That as
he understood II, had all been taken away from
the board.
and cry stalking, so as To be able To act under
the new order ol things.
MI >dlu he COuiU see no reason why
these new members should not be assigned. As
10 the intention OF the Commissioners to do
away with divisions. he saw nothing on that
subject in their letter.
After further discussion motion was carried
assigning Dr. " Inner To the sixth, Mr. Ross to
tne fourth and Prot. Gregory to the eighth di-
vision.
PROPOSED CHANGE OF BOUNDARIES
Mr.. Birney offered resolution declaring that
2Oth stree: west be the boundary line between
the first and fifth divisions. He said he offered
the resolution now there was no trustee for
the nrst division, and il could not be said that
there was any personal consideration in the
matter at all He thought this would provide
Tor an equalization OF the divisions. He urged
the passage OF the resolution at this time before
q trustee for that division was appointed
DIR. Purvis said he objected 10 the resolution
because he intended 10 offer resolutions wipine
out all the boundary lines. The resolution was
withdrawn.
Mr. BIRSEY RESUMES.
Nr. Birney then resumed his remarks on the
letter Of the Commissioners. Referring to the
regulations proposed by the Commissioners re-
speeding the care OF property, he said he deemed
a supervising janitor officer such as
was proposed by the Commissioners a
very necessary officer. He said he could
mention cases where the property OF the schools
had been improperly carried away from build
ings. Only the other day he said he found
books bearing the stamp OF the second division
E@1l ran nNGdf FROM h01Tll