Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-14
MR.. BOWEN VIGOROUS
Has Something to Say About Commissioner
of Education Harris.
Also at East Washington Association
posity-Nr. DOdgc's Resolution.

A special meeting of the East Wash
ington Citizens Association was called last
night at Baum's Hail. for the purpose of
considering the recommendation Of the
school committee favoring the appointment
of a commission, consisting of two citizens,
the two school superintendent, and the
commissioner of education, to be empower
ed with the selection and printing of text
books for the public schools in the District
of Columbia.
After lengthy discussion upon the
question offered by President Babson upon
the adoption of the Recommendation, ana
which resulted in the unanimous rejection,
Mr.. Hill. from the school committee. said
clearly the object of the recommendation
was to obtain the best books of instruc-
ton which were to be had and he did not
see why Washington could not produce
books of instruction as well as other cities,
to be used as models for other cities.
Mr.. Dodge, in speaking on this subject,
said that a plan similar to this one had
been tried in California and Minnesota, and
as a result found that the books selected
and produced in this manner were poor
and unsatisfactory in quality.
Mr.. Bowen. school trustee, was opposed
to placing the commissioner of education
at the head of this commission. lie de-
clared that Mr. Harris the present com
missioner of education was "A socialist
in his views on education, an artistic an
archist, and not fit to select books Tor use
in the public schools He suggested that
the best plan was the opening up Of a free
competition 10 all scholarly writer's to 1ur-
nish hooks, proper selections to be made
by the school board. lie further declared
that the American Book Company was to
blame for dissa abstraction. This recommen-
dation was rejected after further discus
sion.
CONGREGATIONAL POmposity.
Mr.. Bowen referred with favorable rec
ommendation the petition from the resi-
derts of Twining City for new school
building to the school trustees. Mr.. Bowen
made a statement to the work which
has been accomplished by the trustees in
regard to school buildings. He said they
had recommended to Congress an appro-
priation of 100000 for school improve
ments which were an absolute necessity.
The Commissioners had cut this estimate
down to 100000, and on Monday last.
when he appeared before the House ap-
propriation committee, he was told that 1t
| was hopeless to expect anything near that
which was asked for. He further stated
| that the school board had asked for a
| four-room school building at Giesboro and
| on the Conduit road, two-room school
| building on the Rock creek road, and the
enlargement of the Tenleytown, Bright
wood and Brookland schools 20 eight
rooms. He said: Il never was so much In
faycr of home rule before 1 appeared be-
fore the committee. The haphazard ana IN
different way in which they transact bust.
ness and the pomposity and egotlsm OF
their manner is enough 10 arouse any
mans indignation.
MIR. DOdge's Resolution.
|
resolution presented ny Nr' Douse'
was referred to the school committee, recit-
ing that whereas the citizens were pre-
vented by Congress from building school
/ hi
| houses' even WIFI 'heii OWN 'aAes' uniee"
| appropriated for and Congress had neglect
| ed to provide a school fund by a grant of
| public lands and had enacted a law impos-
| a., a r.naI,v ,non each parent neelecting