Evening star., 1900-02-01
THE BISHOPS WELCOMED
The Official Board of A. NJ. E Church Ten
dered a Reception
Addresses by Mr.. John w. Ross, Dis
trict COmmissiOner, and Others
The Responses.


the Bishops Council. whose quadrennial
session, the last previous to the meeting
of the general conference, began in that
church yesterday morning.
An address of welcome was delivered by
Mr.. John w. Ross of the board of Dis
trict Commissioners, who spoke as follows:
Il have great pleasure in speaking for the
LEGAL government a word of welcome to
these representatives of one of the great
religious denominations of the United
States. As thoughtful men. having at
heart the best interests of the race which
you represent, YOU will be willing, l ann
confident, to know something with regard
to the progress of the coiored people OF
the District of Columbia
They number about $1,000 souls; they
worship in about 1O4 churches: there are
thirty-nine school houses, roughly estimated
to be worth 81, 100000, devoted wholly to
the training of the colored youth: a build
ing for advanced manual training will soon
be erected, which with its site will cost
S15O,U0. This is intended to be supple
mentary to the graded training schools
which have long been in existence and TO
fit the boys and girls to become Skilled
wage-earners. In providing such facilities
for popular education, which will i'll every
respect be equal to those afforded to the
white children of our school system, the
Congress has generously responded to the
earnest demand of the best and most pro-
gressive friends of the colored people.
Another Phase Presented.
But there is another phase of the situa-
ton regarding the colored as well as the
white people Of the District which is less
inviting than that which l have described,
and which should receive the earnest at
tention of all who would seek to improve
the condition of the neglected people and
The dangerous classes. There are thousands
who -inhabit the alley houses of the city,
with surroundings which tend to disease
and crime. In 1892 Congress prohibited the
further erection Of such tenements. Prior
to that year great numbers of them were
built and occupied. The oldest of these
houses are in and Of themselves a menace
to good order and good government. and
they should be condemned at public ex-
pense, paid for and destroyed. From them
come the candidates for trial in the Police
Court and in the criminal courts of the Dis
trict, and many of the inmates Of the re-
form schools, the workhouse and the jail.
Noble bands of men and women have or
ganiZed to overcome inSanltary condition,
ignorance and the other terrible environ
ments Of those portions of our fair city.
While II may seem invidious to speak OF
only few of those worthy agencies. yet
/ deem it but fair to state that 1 have had
occasion to know something of the good
work accomplished by Prof. Hart at his
farm on the Potomac: by the kindergarten
system, made posS BILE by the dberahty OF
Mrs Hearst and the intelligent co-opera-
ton of Mrs. Murray and Others; by the
school on 412 street, conducted under the
auspices of the trustees OF the Miner tpnd,
and by the Prisoners Aid Society. in which
Mrs. Russell and others are active workers.
Il doubt If in any other jurisdiction OF
approximate population there are more COL
oTef people who have won success in every
calling of life. There are among them
many large property owners, very many
have become prosperous as business men
and in the learned professions, and thous-
tI.Ah h,,r, ~ l1 11YG NJ
have lived honest and useful lives, and
have in positions Of trust won and re-
tanned the absolute confidence of their en-
ployers. Every such an one becomes an
exempiar to the poor colored youth strug-
Cling to better his condition, and should
inspire in him the confident belief that with
industry, enterprise and patience he can,
IL true to his ideals, become a successfui
and a useful member of the body polite.
Department Employees.
"yery many colored men are employed in
the various departments of the general gov
ernment. have personal knowledge of
the fact that In the city post office large
number render efficient services, the most
of whom secured their places upon COM
petitive examinations under the civil sery-
ice rules In the executive departments Of
the District government 1t is estimated that
there are fifty colored officials, clerks, mes
sengers etc, who receive annually total
salary of about S2S.0DJ In the pubic school
system there are, including superintendent.
supervising principals, teachers, janitors.
etc, about 800 colored men and women,
whose tota, annual salaries are about
S2sD,UO In the police department of the
District the colored members of the metro
politan police force. detectives. patrol driv
ers and others number about forty, and
their annual compensation is about 81, 400
The number employed in the hospitals and
by the charitable organizations Of the Dis
ri Ia Oh " rappfva
S3i, 800. Two hundred and ffty-seven col
ored employees receive from the appropria-
ton for street ceaning a total estimated
amount of $4,000 per annum. Upon the
ployed continuously from 800 to 500 work.
men, whose annual compensation is about
$4,000. Upon the sewer work the number
employed is from 2I5 to 3f5, and they re-
ceive annually about $4,000. In the water
department 800 men are constantly employ
ed, who receive annually about $4,000 On
other rolls paid by the District disbursing
officer he estimates that there are about $50
employees. receiving annua ly about $4,000.
So that a grand total of about 1900 colored
men and women receive annually from the
money appropriated by Congress in the
District appropriation act about $4,000. I
am confident that these evidences Of effl-
cheney and industry will be gratifying to
You and to all who wish to promote the
best interests Of the colored people.
The Capital City.
There are many reasons why you have
done well to select your national capital
as the place in which to meet and confer.
One Of these reasons Is to my mind Of par
amount Importance. The American citizen
who comes here from his home In one Of
| the states OF the Union cannot visit the de-
partmental and other buildings without
having a better realization of what the fed
| eral government Is. At your homes it is
| the state which protects your person and
| property and which educates your children.
| You find the federal government repre-
| sented there only by the flag, the post Of
| flee and the federal court. But when you
| stand upon the soil Of the District of CO.
| lumbia there comes to you a realization of
| the truth that you are something more
| than a citizen of state. You know that
| you are citizen Of a republic, which has
| assumed and maintained its proper place
| among the great powers.
| "At the Executive Mansion, In the de-
partment buildings and at the Capitol you
| will see In the best system yet devised by
| human wisdom the silent execution Of the
| peoples will. You will realize the truth
| that. while the system so devised is benefi-
cent, 1t can also be forceful and strong.
| You will remember that of that govern
| mental entity you are an integral part and
| that you carry about with you at all times
| the responsibilities, the duties and the dig
| nifty of an American citizen.
1 NAV hor,as oft q