Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-07
SCHOOL METHODS
Denunoiation of System in Vogue in
the District.
ACTION OF CITIZENS ASSOCIATION
Discussion of Telephone Rates and
the Public Parks.
OMMITTEE APPOINTED

The education of children in the public
schools and telephone rates occupied the
greater part of the time Of the members of
the Columbia Heights Citizens Association
at its regular monthly meeting last evening,
held at the Stratford Hotel, 18th street
above Park, and there was quite a large
attendance. The association after a long
discussion, reaffirmed its belief in munich
pal ownership and control of all electric
wire conduits, favored lower telephone
rates and declared that the method Of in
| struction in the local public schools is bad
and that the person or persons responsible
therefor is or are incompetent.
Mr.. c. s. Bundy, in the absence of Mr.
Leo Simmons, the president of the associa-
| ton, called the meeting to order, giving
way to Mr.. NJ. F. O'Donoghue, the vice
president of the organization.
The first business discussed was the mat
ter of securing an appropriation for per-
fecting the sanitary condition of the John
son public school building IN Mt Pleasant
DIR. b. F. Gibbs, chairman of committee
on sanitary matters, stated that Senator
Mason had promised to secure the appro-
priation or move from the vicinity. The
appropriation has not yet been secured, he
added, and 1t was said that Senator Mason
still resides in the neighborhood. Dr. Gibbs
remarked that not only is the Johnson
building in sad need of better sanitary
conditions. but other school buildings. He
expressed the opinion that the Senate COM
m1ttee should consider this condition of the
school buildings. and 1t was agreed that
the associations committee should invite
the attention of the Senate committee to
the matter.
Parks and Telephones.
From the committee on parks, Mr. c.
s. Bundy stated that a bill is now pending
before Congress provi1inu
as site for a memorial building proposed
to be erected by the Daughters of the
American Revolution. Upon the motion of
Mr.. c. M. Campbell, the association ex-
pressed his opposition to the use of this
or any other public park for either public
or private purposes.
A resolution sent to the association by
its president. Mr.. Leo Simmons favorfng
the incorporation of the proposed Washing
ton Telephone Company, was laid before
the meeting. Its adoption was opposed
by Mr.. c. NJ. Campbell, who called at
tention to the action of the association at
Its previous meeting in favoring the own
erShip and contro, of all electric wire con-
Quits and their rental to the company or
companies offering the best inducements
and terms. He moved a substitute that
the association reaffirm its former declara-
ton on the question.
Mr.. August Peterson expressed the opin-
ion that only by the admission of Compel
ing telephone and electric light companies
can the people of the District escape the
prevailing excessive rates. To prevent the
introduction of new companies would said
Mr.. Peterson be to stand in the way of
the relief which the people of the District
so earnestly desire. He cited the adver-
tised purpose of the. Chesapeake and Po-
tomac Telephone Company to furnish tele-
phone service at greatly reduced rates. re-
marking that this offer would never have
been made save for the sole purpose of
killing opposition. Had the District COM
m1ssloners not failed to recommend action
two or more years ago the whole matter
would long ago have been satisfactorily
settled said Mr.. Peterson.
Mr.. Campbell said no one more earnestly
desires a reduction of rates than he does,
but he suggested that Congress. by ad-
ditional legislation, can more quickly and
certainly reduce. the rates than can be
done through the Incorporation of new
companies. He also opposed any action
by the association which would imperil
the ownership or control of the conduts.
Mr.. c. s. Bundy moved to postpone the
matter until the next meeting, but the
motion was lost by vote of IL to 16
association, Mr. W. B. Todd the original
motion was amended as to favor the
incorporation of any and al companies
offering lower rates and underground sys-
tenn of wires, and the amended motion was
adopted
Upon the motion of Mr.. R. B. Brown, the
association Endorsed the proposed amend
ment of House bill 1850, for the extension
of Columbia road so to provide for the
extension of nth street, with a width of
10 feet, through the land of the estate of
John T. Lehman and land of Lipscomb and
Saunders, trustees
The Public Schools.
The subject of the Senates investigation
of the District public schools was brought
before the association by Mr.. c. NJ. Camp
bell, who submitted resolution declaring
that, in the opinion of the members of the
organization, the school system of the Dis
trict is bad, and that those who are re-
sponsible therefor are incompetent. Mr..
Campbell charged that the existing method
of instructing the children sacrifices both
their health and substantial education de-
ciaring that they are required to attempt
impossible tasks. He cited the case of his
fourteen-year-old daughter, reading a list
of subjects from John Fishes Civil Gov
eminent which shs and other children in
the eighth grade between twelve and fif-
teen years asked to master
Among these were: Coalescence of towns
into fortified boroughs. borough as a hun
dred, borough as a county, government of
London under Henry T. government of Lon
don in the thirteenth century, Simon de
Montfort and the cities, oligarchical abuses
| in English cities CTudor period, municipal
| reform act of 1875, counties palatine in
England. proprietary charter of Maryland
| other proprietary governments. three forms
| of colonial government, provisional govern
ments. the "fundam ental orders of Connec-
ticut 16:39). recent state constitutions en-
croaching upon the legislature, the Swiss
referendum, the Connecticut compromise
powers granted Congress. the elastic
clause powers denied the states, bills of
attainder, the federal Jurisdiction, federal
| taxation. Hamlton's policy, excise, tariff;
| too much taxes. what is taxation, taxation
and eminent domain. what is government
| most ancient and simple form of govern
| ment; Massachusetts, and land grants
| rae of taxation, origin of the township
| clans. the mark and the tun; building of
! states out of smaller political limits repre-
sentation. shire-motes. Earl Simon's parlia-
| ment, the township in the shire-mote and
| general court, contrast with the Russian
| village community. clans and tribes decline
| of the English county, beginning of the
| county in Massachusetts,. local institutions
| In colonial Maryland. clans, brotherhoods
| or phratries and tribes conflict of the town
| ship and county systems In Illinois, effects Of
| the ordinance of 1877, intense vitality OF the
| township system, absence of Capitalization
| in the United States. the self-governing
| township. woman suffrage in the school dis
trict. township government is direct. county
/ government indirect, towns and cities in
America and in England. origin of English
l boroughs and cities. origin of the Chesters
and Casters In Roman camps.
Il Gatd N ,l>af1