The Washington times., 1894-12-19

Thirty-three words were employed yester-
day by the Commissioners to call for the res
isnation OF MIR. Paul Bowen, a member OF the
board Of school trustees. The offense COM
mitted by Mr.. Bowen which led to this sum-
mary action consisted in the trustee having
causticaily referred 10 the House Approprla-
tions Committee at a meeting Thursday last
of the East Washington Citizens Committee.
''In view OF these facts the Commissioners
are compelled to ask for your resignation as
member OF the board of school trustees OF
the District of Columbia.
''ro TAKE EFFECT AT ONCE"
Such was the laeonic message sent yester-
day by the secretary of the board, by direc-
tion OF the Commissioners TO Mr.. Bowen.
1t was preceded by reproduction of the cor
responlence between the respective officials
concerning the remarks construed as re-
fiection upon the House committee.
Mr. Bowen responded TO the demand Of the
Commissioners late yesterday afternoon rs
follows:
In accordance with your request, take
pleasure in rendering you my resignation as
n member OF the board OF TRUSTEES of the
District Of Columbia, to take effec: at once.
The entire correspondence. togeth or with
the letter or resignation, was CO pied by order
of the Commissioners, which copy was sent
TO Chairman Williams, of the Sub ommitfee
on Appropriations. accompanied 10y letter
from tie Commissioners in which they ex-
press great regret that the quoted remarks
should have been uttered by any one, and ex-
pressing the opinion that nothing transpired
at any hearing given by the committee to the
representatives of the District which would
Justly Mr.. Bowen's ''derogatory comments"
On the contrary, the Commissioners say
they were impressed by the never-failing
courtesy shown by the committee. and take
occasion to repeat upon that point to the
! committee what was said TO Mr.. Bowen in
| their
DEMAND FOR An EXP AVIATION.
Considerable regret was expressed at the
District buiIiing yesterday that action by the
| Commissioners was rendered necessary.
/ From their standpoint the criticism OF the Ap-
pro grjations Committee required official con-
/ dennation. and decapitation seemed TO he The
/ only re nedy.
AT the meeting OF citizens. Mr. Bowen made
a statement as TO the work that had been ac-
compiished ty the trustees In regard to school
buildings They had recommended TO the
! Comm issiOners Tor presentation III their re-
] quest to Congress Il S700.000 appropriation
! for school Improvements absolutely necessary.
He said the Commissioners had cut this eS-
/ IiiildIe uDNn 10 GtUU.tUN. anu AlOitag VI l'iSt
week. when lie appeared befUre the House
| Appropriations Committee. he was told that
| il was hopeless 10 expec. anything near ike
wha: was asked for. He wasIrsGtet, he SAID, q,
! in sach manner that when he LETT he was
sorry he had been born.
i never was so much in favor OF home rule
/ before / appeared before that committee" he
said The haphazard and indifferent way
III which they transact this business and the
! Pomposity and egotism OF their manner Is
enough to
AROUSE ANY MANS INDIGNATION"
These remarks were brought to the atten-
ton OF the Commissioners. and the next day
they a ddressed letter TO Mr. Bowen. They
referred to the uniform patience and courtesy
exhib ted by the subcommittee during the re-
cent hearings given hy the District officials.
They said this marked courtesy has been the
! SUBJECT of uniform remark and recognition
upon the part OF all from the District build
ings who have been present on those occa-
sions. and they We're, therefore. constrained
| TO believe there was an error made in report
ing MIR. Bowen's remarks.
They asked him to state whether or not he
had been correctly quoted.
Mr.. Bowen reply TO this letter of the Com
missionars, exc usively published IN yester-
day IS TIaiEs, was as follows:
The lAngunge quoted in your letter of the
used. however. to convey my impressions, ac-
quired through considerable experience, OF
the general methods and manner OF Congress
sional committees before whom citizens of the
District seek 70 advocate measures, and to
draw comparison with what might be ex-
pecled if such citizens had to deal with rep
resen,atives elected by and responsible 20 the
people of the District"
Persistent effort was made last night to OBJ
tain Mr. Bowen's opinion of the matter. but
he could not he found. He was traced to the
hall of the Federation of Labor, and later sew
eral calls We're made at his residence, but he
was not at home as late as - o'clock.
The matter was not officially discussed by
the Feder ton last night, but individual
members were outspoken against the action
of the Commissioners for demanding 4
mans resignation as a penalty for expressing
his opinion.
There were similar expressions amon- those
who attended the meeting at Loeffle~@ Hall
and the Columbia Heights meeting after the
associations adjourned.
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