Evening star., 1902-01-01

street, was placed on trial The verdict
was guilty of manSlaughter.
William Snowden, colored, accused of the
murder of Florence Marshall. twelve
year-old colored girl, was. convicted of
manslaughter. Ernest Rodgers colored,
was sent to the penitentiary for life upon
conviction of the murder of Frank Hook,
qualified verdict being reported. A similar
verdict was returned and life Imprisonment
was imposed in the case of Charles VII
liams, colored, tried for the murder of Mary
V. Brown.
Gilbert o. Towles, we'll known in local
business circles, was convicted in Criminal
Court No. Of the forgery of certain prom
tssory notes in connection with what is
known as the Gettysburg land transactions.
An appeal from the judgment is now pend
Ing in the Court of Appeals.
George G. Barker sued Sam Bronson
Cooper, representative in Congress from
Texas, to recover $4,000 for damages for
alleged assault. The alteration arose be-
cause Mr.. Cooper eXpectorated on the car
pet OF Pullman car while the parties were
en- route to this city from the south. A
verdict was reported in favor of Mr..
Cooper
Lewis Mortimer Monroe was acquitted
after rather sensational trial, under an
indictment alleging the larceny of jewelry
valued at $1,000 from Mrs. Olivia C. Star
ring
William NJ Alexander upon second trial
was acquitted of a charge of murder grow
ing out of the killing of Matthew Snow.
After trial that extended over several
weeks Rev. Lfston D. Bass was convicted
of violation of the Revised Statutes of the
United States relating to the use of the
mails. An appeal is now pending in the
Court of Appeals.
The Evening Star.
During the year the finishing touches
were added to the marble structure which
is the home of The Star by placing in posi-
tion in the business office the mural paint
ings, which were especially designed to
adorn the lunettes or semi-circular spaces.
The Public Schools.
Probably no department of the District
government made steadier or more ma
terial progress during the year just closed
than the public schools. The system shows
marked improvement in methods and in
results, and competent authorities have
declared that, ali things considered, our
public schools are not eXcelled by the
schools in any other city in the Union.
Early in the year Gen. H. V. Boynton-suc-
ceeded Mr.. Charles J. Bell as president of
the board of education, and in June last
Mr.. w. f. Rodrick was appointed secretary
of the board, vice Mr.. HI. II. Twombly, re-
signed. The only other important change
in connection with the management Of the
schools during the calendar year was the
as principal of the Colored High School in
place of Prof. r. II. Terrell, who resigned
to become justice of the peace under the
new law.
The total number of pupils enrolled dur
ing the past year was A, 431 of whom 81, ,S51
were white and 1880 colored. Engaged in
their instruction in all branches, including
kindergarten, are ,2S3 teachers of whom
S57 are white and 426 colored. The num-
ber of halliday schools is 349, of which
number 81 were above the second grade.
The increase in the enrolment of pupils
was 912. or nearly 2 per cent as compared
with last years enrolment. The school
authorities say that if Congress continues
its liberal school policy the system of half
day schools will soon be abolished, as with
additional facilities there will longer
be any occasion for such a makeshft.
Several important additions to the syS-
tenn have been made during the year. Pro-
vision has been made for four eight-room
buildings, three four-room buildings, the
enlargement of a siX-room building to
eight rooms, and for the construction of
four-room building for manual training in
the graded schools In addition to these
there are now under way twelve-room
building, four eight-room buildings and
three four-room buildings. When COM
pletcd these buildings will add 100 school
rooms to the present accommoda tions and
practically wipe out the halliday system
in the third and fourth grades. The eX-
pansion of the system has been especially
marked in the rapidly growing suburbs, the
large attendance at the new Takoma school
being a case in point.
With the practical completion of the two
new manual training schools the needs OF
the academic high schools are considered
assured for several years TO come and the
District Commissioners have declared that
the only remaining projects of large educa-
tional Importance are the construction of
sultabl home for the Business High School
and the adaptation of some existing build
ing to the exclusive uses of the Normal
School.
Many reforms We're effected by the board
of education during the year for the i'm
provement and development of the school
system. One of the most important acts of
the board was the adoption of rule abol-
iShing the annual election of teachers and
making their tenure permanent during ef-
ficiency and good behavior. Better work
and higher standard of teaching are ex-
pected to result from this change. Changes
were made in text books on American his
tory in the interest of greater accuracy of
statement, and the general course of in
struction was changed by placing the SPELL
ing book in the fourth grade and introduc-
ing text books in English grammar in all
grades from the fourth to the eighth inclu-
sive Teachers in all grades were instruct
ed to give more attention to spelling and
to insist on a more thorough drill in ele-
mentary studies.
The District Commissioners have submit
ted estimates to Congress for the execution
of the various plans of the board of educa-
tion for the betterment of the system. in
cluding medical inspection and additional
buildings and grounds to meet the growing
wants of our school population. including
ness High School.
Public buildings.
All the bids opened January 3 for the new
building of the Department of Justice
proved to be too high. Attorney General
Griggs decided to ask an increased appro-
priation. An allowance of S11,300 was
asked for the Improvement of the post
office building windows. The House favor
ably reported February 2 bills for con-
structing a temple Of justice on the two
squares bounded by East Capitol 1st, b
and I'd streets northeast, and for a new
municipal building for the use of the Dis
trict of Columbia. The Senate voted to
grant the D. A. r. the use of Rawlins
Square for the erection of "a national hail.
Secretary Root asked for a new record and
pension building February % The auditor
for the War Department made a strong
plea July n for hall of records The an
nual report of the architect of the Capitol,
submitted October p, noted extensive inn
proyements in the Capitol building-the
construction of a steel roof for the Supreme
Court room, the renovation of the old quar-
ters of the Congressional Library and the
construction therein of new committee
rooms, and the construction then in prog
ress of new roof for statuary hail. Eight
acres on the Pierce Mill road Were selected