Evening star., 1899-09-20
POWERLESS TO GIVE RELIEF
Misapprehension Respecting Exclusion Of
Non Residents From Public Schools
Congress Passed Law of Restriction,
Which the Commissioners Are
Obliged to Enforce.

1t would appear that there is a misappre-
within and outside of the District. relative
| to the admission to the local public schools
of children who do not reside here. or
whose parents do not reside or are not en-
gagged In business within the District 1t
seems that by some of these misinformed
people the Commissioners Of the District
are accused OF originating the restrictions,
while others appear to hold the board of
school trustees responsible therefor. The
truth of the matter is, as has been here
tOfore explained in The Star Congress
alone made these restrictions and directed
| the Commissioners to enforce them, as will
appear from the following clause in the
current District appropriation act approv-
ed March 3, 1899:
THAT hereafter pupils shall not be ad-
| mitted to or taught free of charge in the
public schools of the District of Columbia
who do not reside in said District or whose
parents do not reside or are not engaged
/ in business or public duties therein: Pro-
vided, that such pupils may be admitted
to and taught in said public schools on
payment of such amount, TO be fixed by the
board of school trustees, with the approval
of the Commissioners of the District, as
will cover the expense of their tuition and
cost of text books and school supplies used
by them; and ali payments hereunder shall
Dt paid into the treasury, one-half to the
credit of the United States and one-half to
the credit of the District of Columbia
Rates Approved.
At recent meeting of the school board
the trustees decided to ask the Commits
sioners to construe this provision of law,
suggesting, was stated in The Star at
the time, that outside pupils be charged
the following rates for their tuition. etc. ::
High Schools, $4379; eighth grade $50 A.; 2;
seventh, s25.Os; sixth, $236O; fifth, s2o.53;
fourth, $40; third. Sl727; second, $16.42.
| and first, $1o.26. The Commissioners to-
day approved these rates in an order
which directs the school authorities to col
lect the same from such pupils who do
not reside in the District of Columbia, or
whose parents do not reside or are not en-
gagged in business therein The rates are
to be collected in equal monthly install
ments in advance, the charges mentioned
being, of course, for the school year.
In justice to the Commissioners. it can be
said that the restrictions placed by Con-
gress on nonresident pupils We're neither
asked for nor advocated by them, and
their insertion in the bill is said to have
been secured by certain citizens who be-
neve that only resident children should be
admitted to the District public schools. II
is understood that the number of non-resi-
dent pupils in the local schools last year
amounted to about 400, they coming most
ly, of course, from adjacent sections in
Maryland and Virginia
Commissioners Powers.
Among others who have written to the
Commissioners on the subject is DR.. G. II.
Wright of Forest Glen, Nd. While DIR.
Wright's residence is in Maryland, he is
registered physician in the District, his
practice here being, he states, large one.
He resides within a mile of the District
line and, calling attention to the fact that
most of his business dealings are here, he
SAYS the BrightWood School, to which he
has been sending his children, is not at all
crowded, especially in the upper grades,
and he thinks that a fair Interpretation of
the law would entitie his children to the
benefits of the District public school sys-
TEN.
So far as the Commissioners and the
school board are concerned, they are pow
erless afford any relief, for they are
bound, of course, to enforce the law as it
stands no matter what may be their per-
sonal opinions as to its necessity or pro-
priety.