Morning journal and courier., 1889-02-16
woRps. WoRps. WoRps.


 To a Point of Prtvilege-Oertain
 Newspaper Stories-The Visitors Re-
 port Their Rambles-Continued
 Monday Night.
 Gently opened the meeting of the board of education last evening, but before the long season of session was over the timid lamb
 had turned into very disagreeable lion, at
 least MT. Leigh thought so, and the even
 ing's arguments ended with Superintendent
 Dutton casting sidling and admiring glanees
 at his heroic champion, ex-Senator Plunkett.
 To begin with, the regular routine busi-
 ness was cleared from the field.
 Designations reported were Bessie L. Kent,
 No. 8 Dwight school, and Nellie F. Sprout,
 No. Shelton avenue school These were laid
 over according to rule. The committee rec
 commended the appointment of Margaret L. Galbraith from 12 Eaton to 10 Woolsey at
 $550; Lena H. Nichols, from Cedar street school to 12 Eaton, $500; N. Gertrude Hall, from 12 Dwight to 8 Dwight, at $500; Mary E. Kelly, from to Hallock, at $52o, and Mamie A. Cook to Hallock at $45O. The
 committee also recommended the closing of the evening schools on Friday, March 1. Major Strong said that the attendance was unusually large at pres ent, and thought they ought not yet to be closed. Dr. Carmalt moved that the super intendent be allowed to close the schools and decrease the number of teachers as occasion demanded. MT. Plunkett also thought this 8 good move, and the board decided so to act. Mir. Plunkett asked the board whether the committee should provide certificates of graduation for the High school. MT. Leigh
 said that certificates were also in demand for
 the grammar schools, but MT. Zunder in- formed him that Principal Fifeld had prom
 ised to submit plan to the board, and no
 action was taken. Mir. Plunketts recom-
 mendation that the schools be closed at noon on Washington's birthday was adopted.
 Secretary Day then read summary of the expenses of the district for January. The total was $25, ,939 30, and of this $23, ,150 50
 was in salaries.
 Superintendent Dutton WAS asked to read a statement of number of seats in pupils in each school. MI. Leigh suggested that some- thing be done by the board to relieve the over .crowding of Dwight school and have the surplus go to Orchard street school. Superintendent Dutton said that there were many difficulties in the way of this, the peo- pie in the Dwight district being as capricious about having their children attend Dwight school, as they, perhaps, were over household gods. Dr. Carmalt suggested that the board have Superintendent Datton investigate the matter and report at the next meeting some plan for relieving the crowded condition of the school.
 MT. Leigh suggested that the old building formerly used for canal railroad offices be ex- aminsd with view to renting it for 8 short peried to relieve the pressure on the Fair street school. MT. Zunder thought it would be bad move.
 President Welch said that the committee had almost decided upon a lot in the Skinner district. He said that new building was to be built, this year work ought to be begun at once. Considerable opposition was manifest I--.I I E-s Strong moved that the board direct the su- perintendent to investigate and see if 8 change of district lines could not be made so that the pressure in Skinner district would be relieved @ short time. The board passed Major Strong's motion and Superintendent Dntton will report at the next meeting on the matter.
 MT. Leigh asked when the report was read, | if the committee had inquired upon the, to him, all important topic of free books. Major Strong said he had in one place but I did not think to in the rest. MT. Leigh said that he supposed the committee went to get information on every point. A motion to accept the committees report was then made. All of the board voted to
 do so but Mr. Leigh, who pronounced bold negative. Dr. Carmalt moved that the part or the re- port referring to ventilation be referred to \ the school architect for examination, and it | was so voted.
 Principal Whitemore then gave many in- | teresting facts which he had gleaned upon | the tour concerning laboratories and other | like things which caught his eye. Mir. Plun- kett seemed to be struck with the beauties | of drawing in many of the schools visited. He also described many other remarkable ! things.
 Mr. Zunder asked Principal Whitmore how our High school could be compared with | other high schools that he had seen. Principal Whitmore said there were no | good high schools in Washington, and Phila- | delphia was about as bad. There were no opportunities in either city for boys to fit for | college. Baltimore was somewhat better: the course was five years and the last year was substantially the same as the freshman year in college. The instruction in most | schools he had visited he said was inferior in | all respects to that here. The only fully \ equipped hs had seen was in Baltimore. In sics in Washington, he said, was Q mere sham. He thought that whenever manual training was made great factor it was at the expense of much of the literary and intellec- tual part.
 An inoffsnsive little communication was then offered by Superintendent Dalton, which made pretty big stir. It was of minor importance. but addressed to the board and mad been opened and attended to by the superintendent according to his cus- tom.
 "I want to know what right anyone has to ' open letters addressed to the boarda" quickly asked MT. Leigh. s'I move that communities tions so addressed after this be opened only ' by the clerk"
 | Considerable discussion was aroused by ' this breaking into customs. MT. Plunkett opposed the motion strongly ct first, but \ finally seconded it and moved it referred tc committee on rules.
 'Who is the committee on rules?" asked Mir. Leigh. "There hasn't been one appoint \ this year."
 President Welch said that last years com. mittee had not yet finished their work and | still were in power.
 "Then I call upon the president to appoint \ a new one, ," returned MT. Leigh. The board, however, decided that the old committee held over till it's word was finished. Then came a coup d. etat from MT. Pun \ dett.
 ! 'I rise to a question of privilege" said he, \ taking a copy of the Union of Saturday, Feb ruary 9, from his pockett. "There is piece here that reflects upon me, and I wish to right myself before the board and public. ' He then requested Secretrry Day to read the offensive article. It was headed "Dutton's Diplomacy and was the substance of an in- tsrview with MT. Leigh, in which he was re ported as saying 8 few sharp things about MT. Plunkett's connection with the visiting trip.
 The long article was read as the disinter- ested part of the board smilingly dozed. "I move we adjourn" sharply exclaimed Major Strong as he started from his nap at the end of the reading.
 Leigh-No, I want to see this thing through.
 Plunkett-Are these your expressions, Mir. Leigh? . Leigh-Do you believe iti Plunkett-I have been informed by men s- IA -sk H. kA.E GIn-, has been no public denial printed over your name The statements thus stand uncontra- dictsd by you.
 Leigh-They are false. You know I have nothing to do with that writer. He stood around the store, listened to few jokes and then went and made up his false article. Mr. Plunkett was satisfied with this. Dr. Carmalt then took the secretary's book and read the original resolution passed some time ago authorizing the visiting committee to visit the prominent cities. 'It seems after all that the committee have acted entirely zithin tha rarovinca assionad by the hoard ?