Evening star., 1904-04-25
designation to Be Accepted.


Commissioner Mcfarland stated that he
will recommend to the Commissioners the
acceptance of Mr.. Fttch's resignation. In
speaking of Mr.. Fitch's proposed retire
ment from the board Of education. Mr..
Macfarland said:
IT regret very much that we are to lose
the valuable services Of Mr.. Fitch from
the board OF education, and especially be-
cause the reason Is that he js to retire
from the life of our community. in which
he has been for years 30 important a fac
tor. always making for its highest welfare.
I shall ask the Commissioners to accept
the resignation. with a suitable expression
of our regret and appreciation, and we
shall then endeavor to secure another man
Of the same type for the place
"Mr. Fitch's departure from the District
will be generally regretted, and will be de-
plored by his many personal friends, and
the vacancy thus made In the community
life will not be filed. No citizen Of Wash
ington has ever given more generously OF
his time and means and labors for the pub
lie good than Mr.. Fitch. and his good deeds
in private are numberless.
Added Expression Of Regret.
Commissioner West added his regrets to
those Of Mr.. Macfarland that Mr.. Fitch is
to leave the school board and also that he
intends leaving the city: II am very sorry"
said Mr.. West, that a man Of such high
standing as Mr.. Fitch and one who has
contributed so much to the development
of Washington is to depart from the Dis
trict and take up his residence in another
city
Col. Biddle, Engineer Commissioner, also
spoke of the high standing and character
of Mr.. Fitch, and expressed regret that the
citizens of the District are to lose man
of such public spirit and an official of such
high standing
Commissioner Macfarland declined to give
any indication as to who will be selected
as Mr.: Fitch's successor on the board of
education. He stated that the selection
has not yet been made, but that the new
member of the board will likely be ap-
pointed previous to June /. the date fixed
by Mr. Fitch for his retirement from the
board.
The law relating to the appointment of
members of the District board of educa-
ton requires that the appointees shall be
bona fde residents and taxpayers of the
District for five years Immediately preceds
ing their appointment. The salary of the
position is $40 for each meeting, not to
exceed $500 year.
Mr.. Fitch has also resigned as trustee
and treasurer Of the Church of the Cove
nant, position which he has held since
the organization of the church in the year
1885. He has also resigned his position as
trustee of the reform school of the District
of which board he had been member for
over twenty-eight years and is at present
vice president. These designations are rem
dereu necessary by his purpose to retire
from active business on the 1st of June
next, and to remove to Philadelphia, where
he will make his home with his daughter
and her family. We will retain his connec-
ton with the American Security and Trust
Company, as a member of the board of di-
rectors, and also will retain the manage
ment of the Mutual Protection Fire Insur-
ance Company, founded by him in 1876.
These interests will bring him to this city
for one day in each month. In terminal
ing his connection with the real estate
firm of Fitch, Fox & Brown he closes
relation which has existed for many years
For over forty years Mr.. Fitch has been
prominent in the community Successful in
his business career he has also been active
in all civic and ptdlanthropic movements
and has been a generous contributor to the
funds of all good causes. He has been rec
ognized as a broad-uiu6ed citizen, quietly
doing his full duty. IN addition to the in
terests above enumerated, he is a member of
the banking firm Of Bell & Co., and was for
over twenty-five years director Of the Ma
tional Metropolitan Bank. He was one of
the founders of the Church of the Covenant
and is Q member of the citizens relief COM
m:ttee.
The general feeling among the associates
of Mr.. Fitch when he made known his
plans was one of genuine regret. While
personally they congratulate him upon the
prospect of enjoyin, the rest and freedom
from care. which he has so richly earned
yet when they consider the important pub
lie interests which he has so ably managed
they can only look upon his retirement as
loss to the community.