Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-26
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
Question of Interest Before the
School Board.
MORE MONEY WANTED
MATTER OF REDUCING SCHOOL
TERM CONSIDERED.
3reliminaries Of Municipal Election
Three-Cornered Contest for Mayor
General News.
MORE MONEY WANTED
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, April 90, 1904.
The question of continuing the city pub
lie schools the usual time this year instead
of reducing the term will probably be de-
cided this evening at the regular semi
monthly meeting of the city council, when
the committee on schools and finances is
expected to report on the petition or the
school board for an additional appropria-
ton of $1,000 for the maintenance of the
schools. The funds at the disposal of the
board now will not permit the continuance
of the schools this session after the con-
clusion of the ninth month, which will end
May 81, thus cutting off one month of the
regular course. This state of affairs was
discussed at a recent meeting of the school
board, when 1t was determined to lay the
matter before council with the petition for
an extra appropriation. At the last meet
Ing Of council the communication was pre-
Scented and was referred to the committee
on schools and finance
Since the proposed reduction In the school
term became generally known it has caused
much serious concern among cltlzenS. Inc
burden of an additional expense upon the
city is not overlooked, but the necessity
for keeping up the public education at any
reasonable cost is urged by many OF the
patrons of the schools. Last year there
was n total enrolment of 1852 white boys
and girls and nearly half that many col
ored boys and girls in the city schools.
This session the enrolment is, perhaps,
something in excess of these figures There
are twenty-five teachers employed in the
white schools and twelve in the colored
schools. For many successive years the
public schools of Alexandria have been
run for a session of ten full months
Approaching Municipal Contest.
There will be a meeting of the Citizens
Progressive Association this evening at
O'Clock In the rooms of the Business Men
League 1t is understood that the meeting
has been called with view of discuss
ing plans for taking part in the next mu-
nicipal election. The association, 1t is said.
may formulate plans for the election or
those candidates for the city council who
will pledge themselves to certain municipal
improvements.
cratic nomination for mayor Is progress
ing quietly but is expected to become more
interesting the time for the election ap-
proaches. The friends of Mayor Simpson ex-
press confidence in the comparatively easy
success of their favorite, relying upon his
record during three successive terms The
prosperity of the city under his admins
tration and the notable suppression of the
gambling and liquor evils, they claim, are
ample reasons for causing the taxpayers to
desire to have the mayor continued In office.
Another prophecy of victory, they state, Is
the superiority the mayor showed over the
strongest kind of combinations in former
contests. The supporters of Mr.. F. j. Pan,
president of the common council. point to
his record as presiding officer of the coun-
Gil in their advocacy OF his choice. Ihey
promise to put up an active fight for their
favorite. The following of Capt. Robert
F. Knox, who was the last to enter the
contest, Is considerable, and IT Is claimed
by his friends that he will make strong
fight.
Action of Grand Jury.
for
Alexandria county, Judge Charles E. Nicol
presiding. was in session again today in the
county court house on Fort Myer Heights
Indictments were reported yesterday af-
ternoon against Marcellus Rhoe, colored.
and Martha Bailey also colored, charged
with selling liquor without license; against
Neil Duckett colored charged with assault
Ing Thomas Kennedy with pistol with IN
tent to kill; against Marcellus Rhoe. charg-
ed with assaulting Kate Austin with intent
10 kill. and also against Martina balley'
charged with assaulting Kate Austin with
Intent to kill
The morning session of the court was
taken up with the hearing of minor mat
tiers. Another report from the grand jury
Is expected this afternoon.
General Matters.
The annual meeting of the stockholders OF
the Locke Coal Company of Boston, Mass,
was held yesterday in the office of Mr..
James R. Cation. the local agent or the
Company, Ill South Fairfax street the
following officers were elected for the en-
suing term: Elmer c. Locke. president;
George Z. Hamlin. secretary and treasurer
Edward HamIin William Knollin, directors,
in addition to the officers.
Edwin Padgett. the thirteen-year-old son
of Mr. Ernest Padgett, died last evening al
the Alexandria Hospital, after brief i'll
ness from appendicitis. He was operated
upon at the hospital yesterday.
Mr. Samuel Lowry, a farmer OF Fairfax
county, died yesterday evening at his nome
near iincolnia He was thirty-three years
of age.
The Episcopal High School base ball team
will play the team from the Business High
School of Washington tomorrow AFTERNOON
o., Io .rrniInda of the local school.