The Washington times., 1894-11-09
TEXT BOOKS AND SALARIES
East Washington Citizens Associa-
tion Discuss Them.
MR.. WELLBR'S PLAIN LANGUAGE
Thinks supt. Powelrs Submission Of His
Own Work to the Judgment Of Princi-
pals Is Dangerously Close to Corruption
Teachers Pay Ought to Be Increased

School books, gymnasiums and teachers
salaries we're discussed by the committee on
schools for the East Washington Association,
at Wallach school last night. Upon invitation
NJ. I. Weller. Prof. John Freeman, and J. W.
Babson were present
Mr.. Weller set forth at length his ideas for
escaping from paying tribute to the book
trust or any other publishers. He said 1t had
been charged that s5 600 was paid during the
last Congress by firm OF book publishers to
influence legislation regarding books, and
that supervising principal had resigned his
position in order to lobby for certain pub
fishers.
He did not propose to go into these
charges. He referred to them merely to ex-
plain why he made the proposals he had laid
before the association. He had heard that
certain readers had been referred to the su-
pervising principals of the schools for their
approval, with a view TO adoption in the
schools. If these principals were capable of
criticising the books and determining whether
they ought to be used, they were capable OF
writing text books that would be satisfactory.
The readers referred to were in part written
by Supt. William B. Powell, and it seemed i'm
proper that they who were subordinates of
the superintendent should be set to judge
whether his books should be used 1t would
be human nature for them to be influenced in
their decision by their personal interest.
Furthermore he regarded it as improper for
the superintendent TO have his reader copy
righted and introduced into the schools.
No employe in the other departments of the
government Is allowed to make profit from
his work under similar circumstances. He had
nothing against Mr.. Powell, whom he had
met only few times, but he considered this
| a species of corruption.
1t was suggested by Principal Stuart that a
| law passed at the last session OF Congress
| prevented any one in the employ OF the
! schools from making money from any book
! he might publish.
Mr.. Weller answered he knew that because
| he had written the law that was passed, but it
| had been emasculated in the Senate. The law
| as passed prohibited profit from sales in
! the District but not in the country at large.
! He spoke of these things now. however, only
TO give reasons for his plan.
This was for the supervising principals to
prepare all the text books TO be used in the
|, District. and TO have them published at the
| Government Printing Office. The District
would thus own the copyright and the books.
| The cost of the first |. sues would be greater
than for books bought of publishers. but sub
/ sequent editions would be cheaper. To sug-
| gestion of Prof. Freeman that California had
tried the plan of publishing her own books,
| he replied that probably they had not gone
| about it in the right way. He asked Princi-
| pal Stuart about the feasibility of having the
| texts OF required books written by the princi-
| pals.
Mr. Stuart replied that the publishing
| houses employ men OF special fitness for the
work at large salaries to do this work. and
that principals would not have the time to do
the work well in connection with their other
duties.
Mr.. Weller replied that as a taxpayer he
was perfectly willing to have men employed
specially to prepare the books. He was sure
they could be found among the principals
and would be much better fitted for the duty
| by their practical experience as teachers He
thought il due the National Capital that the
books should be the best that could be made.
He also urged that teachers should be berter
| paid. that more schools should be established,
and that there should be manual training
| schools.
Mr.. Weller's proposition to have all text
books copyrighted and published by the
Government was laid over as unfinished bust
ness for the next meeting, and DR.. W. W.
Hubbell was designated to consult with Com
missioner of Education Harris. 1t was pro-
posed, il possible, 10 place the proposition o.
textbooks under his charge.
Mr.. Weller also read from a report of the
District Committee of the House, before
which Supt. Powell had appeared, and il
which it was shown that he had practically
the choice of books for the schools. HI
presented lists of bids from Ballantyne, o
Washington, and DulaneY, OF Baltimore. by
which it appeared, he alleged, that there wa!
collusion. The bids differed by only few
cents on each item, and appeared to be ar
ranged so that one publisher should get the
contract on one class OF books and the othe
on the next. These were the only two bid
taken, as he understood.
Resolutions were adopted upon suggestion
OF Chairman R. T. Hill and DR.. Hubbell. tina
no salary of teacher in the District schools
should be less than 500 year, and that othe
salaries should be increased according Il
character of service; that gymnasiums shoulC
be established at the Wallach and Maur,
schools to test their usefulness with a view t.
providing one for every school,; and at th
instance OF Mr.. a. Girouard, that the stree
at the Maury school be paved This last wa
earnestly seconded by Principal Stuart.
Mr.. Babson suggested that representative
OF school committees of other association
be invited to meet with this committee apt
there was discussion whether this woul(
be better or to wait till plans had been per
fected and reported to the East Washington
Association.
An invitation from B. P. Mann to NEE
with the Committee on Sociology of the Civi
CeUter at No. 1915 Goth, street. TO discuss schoo
attendance and accommodations was pre-
s. nted by Mr.. Babson and several indicated
desire to attend
The committee will meet again Tuesda
November IS, at Wallach School,
The first woman to ride on locomotive