The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-01

The regular meeting IT the Providence
school committee was held in the Classi-
cal High school last evening, with an at
tendance OF 20 members. Superintendent
Tarbell was also present throughout the
proceedings.
The meeting was called TO order by Sec
rotary Rose. and in the absence OF Presi-
dent Barney General White was elected
president pro tenn.
The chief features OF the same were the
mite man Beagan, chairman of the com
mittee on bylaws 10 make Good Friday "A
holiday. and the resignation OF Alfred
Metcalf.
Mr.. Metcalfs resignation was as fol-
lows:
.Mr. John p. Beagan and William j.
Pyne. Of the Second ward school COM
mittee:
Dear sirs-I hereby resign as member
OF the school committee and notify you
as the law provides.
''Yours respectfully.
ALFRED METCALF.''
The resignation was accepted and Rich
ard P Comstoek elected TO fill the va
cancy. Mr.. Comstock was given the oath
nf Office. by Secretary Rose, later in the
evening.
After the roll call by the secretary and
reading OF the records. the regular rou-
tine business of the meeting was speed
lily transacted. This included first. the
report Of the committee on accounts, by
Mr. Tanning, which reported bills amount
ing TO S3, sl0S3 and The same were oruereu
paid.
The report OF the committee on APP
pointments was also presented by Mr..
Hancock, which fixed the amount needed
for the support OF the public schools for
the next fiscal year ending Sept. 30, l9Oj'
as $159.0IS
In support of this report the following
resolution was adopted: Resolved That
the estimates Of the amount OF money
that will be required for the support OF
the public schools for the fiscal year, end
ing Sept. 80. 1903. as reported this day
by the committee on appointments, be
and the same are hereby approved: and
that the same be furnished 20 the city
auditor I'm accordance with his request.
AT this juncture, Mr. Beagan,c chairman OF
the committee on bylaws, presented an
amendment TO the bylaws to change the
term OF ONCE of the superintendent from
three years TO one year. A resolution,
favoring this change. was presented and
adopted.
Mr.. Beagan then. for the committee on
bylaws. presented a resolution making
Good Friday a school holiday.
Judge Reuckert, also a member OF the
committee on bylaws. presented minor
fty report for the committee on bylaws
opposing the report OF the majority max
Ing a holiday OF Good Friday.
This report was TO the effect that the
majority of the members of the school
committee did not believe In the addition
OF another school holiday, that IL the
N. elo N
the children would be turned loose on the
streets and would not observe Good Fri
day in any different manner than all
holidays were observed; that the teachers
would be paid for simply an additional
holiday etc, etc.
Finally. Mr.. Reuckert declared that the
school committee did not propose to SC
into the business of manufacturing holi-
days which was the business of the legis'
lature.
Other members of the school committee
who spoke strongly In opposition were
Mr.. McCrels, Mr. Manchester and Mr.
Hancock. Mr.. Taft spoke also on the res
olution declaring that he opposed IL or
practical grounds.
Those who spoke In favor of the reso
luton wore Messrs. Tanning Cain. Sar
Souci and Beagan. Mr.. San Souci de
clared that large proportion of his con
stituents favored closing the schools oi
Good Friday. Mr.. Tanning and Mr.. Cair
spoke In a similar strain.
The resolution failed TO pass, however
nine voting in favor OF the same and sew
en- against
The next business of the meeting was
resolution, presented by DIR. Lester S.Hil
for the committee on high school tex
books recommending the adoption for us
In the high schools OF the text bool
Spanhcofd's Lehrbach der Deutschel
Sprache,"
The text book was adopted.
Mr.. Taft then introduced resolution
80 amend the bylaws as to provid
that all the teachers serving as actin
principals may receive compensatio
therefor. This resolution was referred I
the committee on bylaws. Mr.. Manches
ter then introduced the following resolu
tion:
t"whereas. the member from the FIT
ward. Mr.. Taft. has publicly stated tina
diplomas are given In some OF the gram
mar schools without their being earned
Resolved. that he be requested 10 submit
TO the executive committee such evidenc
as he may have 10 support snch assei
tion. and that the executive committe
lie and they hereby are directed 90 TAX
the matter into consideration and 10 r,