The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-05
URGING HIGHH'S REMOVAL
PrateSt of Colored Citizens Pre-
scented TO the President.
Mr.. Mckinley Hears the Committee
Appointed at Sundays Muss Meet
ing-Non-Commfttal rs to His Po-
sition-ItnIinns to Take Action Re
GardinE the Commissioner Tonight

aspersions against the negro. Irish and
/ Italian population of the city in testimony
! before the subcommittee on appropria-
tions of the Senate District Committee.
( The committee appointed at the mass
meeting held last Sunday afternoon at the
Second Baptist Church. headed by w. Calvin
Chase, Chairman, called at the White
House. and presented to the President the
resolutions asking for Mr. Wight's i'm
mediate removal, which were adopted at
the meeting. Mr.. Chase, speaking for the
committee, stated the position Of the color
ed people. and gave detailed explanation
of the reasons for the stand they have
! taken.
The President listened very attentively
TO the committee. but did not intimate what
his course in the matter would be. AT one
point during Mr.. Chases remarks, Mr..
Mckinley asked if he understood the com
mittee to ask for the immediate removal
of Mr. Wight. Upon being told that such
was the committees desire, he remarked
that Mr.. Wight's term OF Office had nearly
expired. While this does not give de-
finite clew to the Presidents policy, it was
taken by some of the committeeman to
mean that Mr.. Wights resignation will not
be asked for, but that he will be allowed
to remain in office until his term expires.
The committee consisting of ]. W. Pat
terscn, Lewis II. Douglass. C. L. Marshall j.
$. Thompson, and ". Calvin Chase, arrived
at the White House shortly after noon, and
after waiting few minutes were ushered
into the Presidents reception ROOM Mr..
Chase presented the following resolution:
Whereas the population Of the colored people
Of the District OF Columbia is from 5000 to
9p,0t0, and said population pays taxes on prop
esty valued at from $i2.C0O,gJJ 10 Sl5.0O0,eO0 We
believe. and We, the colcred citizens OF the Dis
tuct Of Columbia, request the Congress of the
United States TO - amend the bill providing for
the creation of i school board OF five members,
superintendent Of public instruction, etc,
to provide for two Superin cndents to be APP
pointed by tie President of.the United States, one
Of whom shall be coicTed man and shall man
age the coored schools OF the District just
the other, white man, shall manage the white
schools And to SO amend the bill that the
board Of education shall be increased to seven
members, three Of whom shall supervise the coli
ored schools and four Of whom shall supervise
The white schools. and the majority OF this board
shall supervise the entire public school system OF
The District OF Columbia, and
Where's in recent Investigation of the "olicc
Department OF the District, John b. Wight,
Commissioner Of the District of Columbia did
outraseousy SANDER libel, ard condemn the
tire negro, Irish. and Italian population Of the
District in the following language:
Il say it with all kindness but state it az
a"t, that the 10000 colored people here are equal
to The criminal conditions in any city They re-
gard life As Of no value whs;cver.''
Therefore, be it resolved. That committee of
five from this meeting Be appointed by tue chair
man to visit the Pres.dea; Ct the United States
and to request him in the nGnc Of 9J.01D OF his
fellow citizens, twO-thirdS Of whom are tay-pay-
ers. to TeqEct the immediate renewal 81 She said
Ichn b. Wight from the o!ice Of Comm, siorer OF
the District OF Columbia and ii til, request
cannot be complied with. in the name Of $1,000
citizens Of tie District Of Columbia AID TO- 900
0o0 of oooTed citizens Of the several state, TO
protest against his resPpointmonJ as Commits
-orer.
Resolved further, That a similar committee b.
appointed rs the cl.ajrman for The purpose of
presenting TO Congress ihc requcs; OF Inc colored
people OF tic school quest on. and said committee
ia hereby authorized to Ese al honorable means
with any Senator or Representative 10 carry out
the wishes OF the people.
In a brief address Mr.. Chase told the
President that the cOlored people have
been deeply hurt by the unwarranted at
tack made by Dir. Wight upon their char
acter az citizens. They believe. Mr. Chase
upon the colored taxpayer for a portion
Of his salary. who could use the language
attributed to Mr. Wight was unfit TO hold
public office. The colored people OF the
District. MIR Chase declared. desire Mr..
Wight's immediate removal During the
three years he has been in Office. Mr..
Chase said. Mr. Wight had shown unmis-
taxable animosiLy toward the coiored peO-
pie. This was shown in his failure to sp-
u.gatss a-..g.
prominence. II the President saw fl. Mr..
Chase added. to permit Mr.. Wight TO
continue in his Office until the expiration
Of his present term. the coored people,
he thought would accept such a decision.
but they earnestly desired that Mr.. Wight
be removed at once. Under no circum-
stances would they favor his reappoiat-
ment.
Mr.. Mckinley did net interrupt The
speaker except In the instance mentioned.
and waited Until he hal finished, when he
expressed himself as being very glad 10
have heard the committee. He promised
10 give the matter earnest consideration.
The committee depsrted satisfied They
believe that the President. II he doss not
ask for Mr.. Wghts resignation. will fill
his place ct the expiration OF the Com !
.nissiCnCEs present term vita some ole
who is more acceptable 10 The colGred /
people The colored people OF the District. |
they declare. are thoroughly aroused and !
are prepared to carry the fight TO the bitter |
end. Should the President. in spite OF
their protest, rcapPont Mr.. WIGHT they !
declare every means in their power will !
be used TO defeat AFR. Mckinley at the !
polls next November. II necessary, they
will. they say call upon the negroes |
throughout the country TO oppos, Nj /
Mckinley. and use any influence the can |
bring to bear against him from other !
sources.
Another delegation called 10 urge the |
appointment OF either Or. j. = Jones or |
NJ 81. Parker to take Mr.. &isht'a place. /
The same delegation urged the r1Ippcint- |
msut Of commissioner PCss saying tbat /
his administration OF affairs had been SAT
isfactOfy- Senator Burrows called with |
Robert l. Fleming and G. C. Glover. to |
present Mr.. Fleming naz's as a successor !
to Mr.. Ross.
The Italians Of the ctJ are as much |
aroused as the negroes. and they are ex-
pectcd to bring their influence to bear
against Mr.. Wight a mass meeting Of
the Italian colony has 5een called for
this evening. at s O'clock. ia Marble Hall
Ninth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
northwest, when it is expected that a pro
test will be made in the form CT a resoiu-
ton, and possibly in the appointment Of
a committee to wait upon the President
TO ask Mr.. Wight's removal.
For case OF lierich's iacr.eu. senate. or
lager rtoac G2i. Arlington Botting Go.