Evening star., 1902-01-08
SCHOOL, INSPECTION
The Recommendation of Board Of
Education Indorsed.
COLUMBIL.HEIGHTS CITIZENS ACTION
Resolution 4 Asking for Retaliation
of Property of Corporations.
EXTENSION OF RAILWAY

The proposed daily medical inspection in
the schools of Washington was the subject
or lengthy discussion last night by the
members of the Columbia Heights Citizens
Association, which met in the parlors of
the Savoy Hotel The association finally
adopted a resolution, with but one dis
senting voice, strongly indorsing the rec
concentrations of the board Of education
and the District Commissioners and urging
Congress to make the necessary appropria-
tion for beginning the work. Mr.. c. S.
Bundy, first vice president of the associa-
tion presided, while Mr.. w. B. Todd served
as secretary.
The discussion of the subject of medical
inspection was precipitated by the resolu-
tion offered by the committee on sanitary
affairs, through the chairman, DR.. Ben
jamin F. Gibbs. This resolution recited the
advantages that have accrued from such
inspections in other cities of this country
and Europe. DR.. Gibbs explained the scope
OF the inspection as practiced elsewhere,
and said he was sure the scheme as ar
ranged for the District would result in the
greatest good to the community.
Mr.. s. G. Rogers opposed the resolution
He said the medical inspection proposed
would be nothing more than farce.
Enough of the school day is already taken
up by fads' he declared, "and this would
simply be adding another fad to the detrt-
ment Of proper study. 1t brings up anew
the questions we were discussing little
more than year ago, when we denounced
Powell and Powellism Powell has gone,
but we have Powellism still with u.s." Mr..
Rogers denounced the physical training and
teaching of music in the schools. He went
exhaustively into the subject, and said
there would soon be no time to teach the
children reading, writing and arithmetic"
Mr.. Rogers explained that he was for twen-
ty years of his life the principal of a
school.
DR.. Miller Defends System.
DR.. ]. Preston Miller answered Mr.. Ro-
gers argument. He defended the school
courses that the former speaker had de-
nounced and said it was preposterous to
declare no good would result from medical
inspection. He said all classes of medical
men were agreed on the subject. The res
olution was finally adopted, with only Mr..
Rogers dissenting. Later in the evening DR..
Gibbs and Mr.. Rogers were both appointed
members Of the school committee at the
suggestion Of Mr.. Campbell, the chairman.
Messrs. T. H. Armstrong and r. ID. Hop
kins were made members Of the association.
Report on Streets.
From the committee on streets, DR.. J.
Preston Miller, chairman, reported as to the
improvements to be recommended as most
desirable in the immediate future. First,
the opening. of School street, which had the
approval Of real estate interests and also
of the fire department for reasons apparent,
as well as the cooperation Of all Interested
in proper access to the Johnson building.
Second, the paving Of Yale street. And
third, the laying Of cement sidewalks on
14th Street from Florida avenue to ParlS
street. Emphasizing the last recommended
ton, DR.. Miller offered a resolution, which
was adopted which rected that 14th street
iS the main fhOrOugbfara ri, ,,rol,j
Heights, and about three-fourthS of the
sidewalks between Florida avenue and Park
street are now satisfactorily paved in ce-
ment, the remainder being brick, dilapi-
dated and, in parts, dangerous or pedes-
trfans. 1t was urged that the safety of the
public demands that all brick pavements
be replaced by granolthic sidewalks On
14th street between Florida avenue ard
Park street; and, further, that tae asso-
citation respectfully petition the Comms-
sioners Of the District Of Columbia to in
stitute the compulsory assessment system
for the urgent relief Of the citizens This
course for the particular reason that the
west-side walks are in front Of properties
of non-residents, who would presumably
not petition for the needed Improvements.
Thanks to Commissioners.
AS the result Of remarks of Chairman Pc
terson of the committee on poles and over
head wires a resolution was adopted by
which the association rendered its thanks
to the Commissioners of the District for
their recent decision not to permit the fur
ther erection Of poles and the stringing of
cables and wires; and further, the Com
missioners were requested to require that
the poles recently erected in Columbia road
Yale street and 18th street be transferred
from these streets to the alleys immediate
ly in the rear thereof.
Tax on Corporations.
Mr.. c. M. Campbell, speaking for the spe-
cial committee on the subject, reported all
that he had ascertained in regard to the
alleged disproportionately small contribu-
ton to the expenses Of the District by the
several corporations. He said that instead
of a personal tax law the receipts should
be increased by assessing these corpora
tions in accordance with the actual value
of their stock. Mr.. Campbell cited one in
stance of a corporation in the District
which he says is capitalized at 81, 800 600
and assessed for that amount He said
the stock of this corporation is selling on
the market for more than three times it's
par value. This, he declared. makes the
real taxable valuation of the company
$S, TO, 900, instead Of 100000. A resolu-
ton was offered stating that it is the sense
of the association that the large capitaliza-
ton Of many millions based on the street
steam railroad. lighting and other fran
chises of Washington should be assessed at
something near the actual selling price of
the stock, thus partially relieving the finan-
equitably distributing the tax burdens.
Amended and Adopted.
This was adopted after being amended so
as to request the District committees in
Congress to grant a hearing to the asso-
citation, so that its representative in this
special matter, Mr.. Campbell, might pre-
sent the statistics and arguments that he
submitted in support of the resolution
On notion of Mr.. Leo Simmons the asso-
citation decided to send committee to the
District Commissioners to urge that they
give their early approval to the House bill
authorizing. the continuation Of the under
ground electric system of the Metropolitan
street RAILROAD from it's present terminus
up 11th street extended. DIR. Miller. W. H.
Saunders and Z. A. Barr were appointed
as that committee.
Literatnre for Firemen.
Foreman Kuhps and the members Of No.
engine company Of the fire department, on