Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-26

More than any other city in the country
more perhaps than all the other cities
combined-W ashington has suffered from
Conversational parsimony, and of the many
things in Washington that have been I'M
fairly treated because of the extreme va
riety of penny-wise pound-foolish economy
none has been treated with less-excusable
niggardliness than our public-school sys-
TEN. This was demonstrated In Saturday 5
Star. In 1892 the District Commissioners
asked for s2S6 600 and received 22O,0OO; In
1893 the estimate was s140,5O0 the appro-
priation amounted to $4,000; in 1894 the
sum imperatively needed was s10S,350,
while the amount appropriated was $685.
$50; fer the current fiscal year S243,00 were
asked but the total received was only $685.
900. The differences between the estimates
and the appropriations cannot easily be &C
counted for in a rational way; the extent
of the injustice done the schools is practi-
cally Unreasonable, for the estimates
quoted are those of the District Commits
sioners and are considerably less than
those of the school trustees. Washington's
population is growing rapidly but the
school accommodations are practically no
better than they were three or four years
ago. The increasing needs of the public
the conclusion that an appropriation Of
s627, 900 would be absolutely necessary for
the fiscal year which begins July L. 1895.
This amount the District Commissioners
have reduced to 100000; what Congress
will do nobody knows. There should be a
determined effort made by the many who
are deeply interested in the welfare Of the
Young to have the District committees
respect the already-reduced estimate Some
time ago halliday schools were complete
ly done away with, but Congressional
stinginess has compelled the temperance
of the fifty per cent arrangement in the
third and fourth grades. Then there are
schools needed in the suburbs and a con-
siderable sum Is demanded to put in good
repair many of the more important build
ings. In all. the District has about two
millions of dollars invested in school prop
erty. yet, because Of insufficient appropria-
lions for repairs, there Is a great deal of
unnecessary deterioration going on; the
private owner of property knows how
dangerous and how costly a thing Ii is to
let his houses run down. Stress may prop
erly be laid upon the urgent needs of the
business High School This school does
most valuable work; Ii fits hundreds of
young people for real life and deserves
very much mere of atten ton than has been
given 1t even by those who are its enthu-
siastic friends. At present there are 800
pupils crowded into an inconveniently-lo-
Gated building which has been declared un-
mt and incapable of comfortably accom-
modating $50 scholars. Two classics are
row being taught simultaneously In one
room. and. because of the overcrowded
condition complained of. many deserving
young man and women have been neces-
sarily refused admission. The condition
oally becomes worse, and until provision
has been made for properly sheltering all
VINO make application for the practical in
sruction which is dispensed 1t will be
necessary-in this city and nation of free
Scholastic deny to many that which is
hsir right.