Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-07
FREE BOOKS IN THE SCHOOLS.
The Citizens Committee Favor Amend.
ment of Senate Bill 1910.

When President Robert Reyburn called the
citizens committee OF one hundred to order
in Grand Army Hall last night there were pres
ent beside himself Messrs. NJ. L Weller, S. c.
Clark, Duncan Thompson, Il. T. Morsell, A. F.
Sperry, ". Fl. Killmon, J. Wilt, Chas. Sickles,
c. A. Baker, VIM. J. Frizzeli, A. H. Alderman
and T. DeLand.
Mr.. Vim. ]. Frizzeli. from the committee on
bridges said he had no written report to make,
but that he had visited the Commissioners and
the subcommittee OF the House and urged the
passage of the bill providing for new bridge
at Bennings, and that the House had unan-
imously passed the bill appropriating $50, 900
for the construction of the bridge.
Mr.. A. F. Sperry referred to the appointment
several months ago OF committees to inquire
into the military features of the District gov
eminent as well as TO the water tax question.
He said that AZ yet he had not heard from these
committees. and that in view of the recent ac-
ton Of Col Robert the latter committee should
be heard from.
Mr.. NJ. /. Weller said that he was chairman
OF both committees, but owing to the press of
business and recent sickness he had been I'M
able as yet to give them any attention. If
granted further time he would try and give
these two important subjects the consideration
they demanded. Further time was granted
THE BILL FOR APPOINTMENT OF BOARD OF
EDUCATION.
President Reyburn called the attention OF
the committee to Senate bill 1910, heretofore
mentioned in The STAR, providing for the ap-
pointment of a board of education consisting
of twenty-four members. He said the Com
missioners told him that as soon as the bill
was referred to them for report they would
give proper notice through the press, allowing
all interested hearing.
Mr.. De IAnd moved to amend the clause re-
lating TO text Books He said that he was of the
impression that the books should be furnished
free to the pupils of the public schools in the
District Of Columbia. The object of his amend
ment. he said, was based upon economical
principles. Not ten per cent of the books fur
nlshed by the parents were entirely used The
books accumulate and the cost was a severe
tax upon parents. They could just as well be
furnished by the District government and used
over and over again. OF course it would
doubtless increase the direct tax he said but
in the end the parent would be the gamer.
He referred to this question most i'm
portant one, and he said he knew of cases
where children we're kept from attending the
public schools simply because they could not
afford to buy the text books. It took an aver
age of IS per scholar to furnish years school
books, and when a man had several children to
provide for this was large item.
DIR. Reyburn explained that the bill was
identical with the bill presented some years
ago. He was Of the opinion, however, that it
could be amended with advantage.
Dir. Weller called attention to the fact that
this bill had already been acted upon by the
committee and was practically out of their
hands. He was not in favor of the BILL for he
didn't believe in so much paternalism in the
affairs OF the District government. He couldn't
see the object of the bill If children who were
too poor to buy school books applied to the
proper authorities they would be furnished
books gratis, and if parents were too proud to
avail themselves of this they were subject to a
disease called false pride and were not fit to
have children, He said if the section referred
to was amended so that the District could enter
into contract with corporations and then fur
nish the children with books at first cost it
might do.
Mr.. Sperry spoke at length Of the bill and
moved that the word Supplies" be added SO
as TO include the free distribution Of stationery
This was agreed to, and the original ques-
tion-Mr. De Lands motion-was then taken
up and passed by a vote of 8 to 2
Mr.. Weller said that before the meeting adj
journed he wished to say something about the
Rock Creek Park bill, but postponed his re-
marks until the next meeting.
DISTRICT REPRESENTATIONS IN CONGRESS-.
DIR. Reyburn inquired what action had been
taken ON the bill to give the citizens of the
District representation in Congress.
Mr.. Morsell, in behalf of the committee.
stated that as the bill was waiting for the sig
natures OF the committee he had nothing to
report.
MIR. Frizzell referred to the bill now pending
in Congress, having in view the extension of
the city streets. This bill, he continued was
of vast importance to the section he repre-
scented. He thought the Harris bill the best
solution of the problem. but would not go into
detail until the ne xt meeting
MIR. De Land gave notice that at the next
meeting he would offer q resolution providing
for the erection of high schools in East WASH
lngton and Georgetown. .
Mr.. Weller also gave notice that at the next
meeting he would offer resolution giving the
Commissioners power to grant charters for
street railroads.
The meeting adjourned at 995 to meet again
the first Tuesday III June.