Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-17
OBJECTS TO METHODS
Board of Education Criticised
by Mr.. Oyster.
HIS ANNUAL REPORT
READ BEFORE BUSINESS MEMS
ASSOCIATION.
The Paper Endorsed by Unanimous
Vote-Addresses by Commissioners
Report of Treasurer.

A somewhat severe arrangement of the
methods of the board of education was in
dulged in last evening at the annual
meeting Of the Business Mems Associa-
ton, held in the parlors Of the Riggs
House. Capt. James F. Oyster, president
of the association, in his report covering
the last fiscal year, after reviewing the
various high school controversies and COM
menting severely on the action Of the
board Of education in the Swartzell and
Cooper cases, says:
Il find it impossible to understand, much
less to approve the action Of the board of
education at any stage Of these proceed
ings."
President Oysters report was adopted by
a unanimous vote of the 200 members Of
the association present.
In addition to the report Of the presi-
dent there were other interesting features
of the meeting The association an
nounced campaign for shorter hours for
government clerks and for the reclamation
OF the Anacostia flats. Matters or vita!
Importance to the industrial progress OF
the community were discussed, and many
recommendations for public improvements
will be urged on the next Congress. Com
missioners Mcfarland and West We're
present and both these officials fel1citated
the association upon the work It has ac-
complished and upon the work 1t INTENDS
to accomplish.
Annual Election Held.
The annual election was held and resulted
In the retention of all the old officers, Mr..
Oyster being reelected president, Mr.. II.
p Andrews, first vice president, and MI.
q. F. Saul, second vice president. Mem
bers of the board of directors We're named
as follows: Chaplin Brown, w. w. Bowie,
Charles Linkins, Wilton j. Lambert, V.
Baldwin Johnson, William f. Gude, Ben
jamin S. Graves, E. II. Droop ana +. u.
Coldren. A resolution offered by Mr.. An
drews requesting members to work for the
shorter work day for government employees
namely, from am until p.m-Was
unanimously adopted.
Mr.. j. c. Leonard, president of the Ana
costa Citizens Association, was admitted
to membership, and later in the evening ne
presented a resolution asking that con-
gress be urged by the association to make
an annual appropriation of 100000 for the
reclamation of the Anacostia fiats-the APP
preparation to continue until the work Is
completed.
The report of the treasurer showed that
the finances of the association are In an
excellent condition. Mr.. Staples said that
during the past year $500 in old debts had
been paid, and that the treasury contains
$500 for future purposes President oyster
in his annual address congratulated the as
sociaton-upon its progress and compliment
ed the work Of the treasurer, Mr.. Staples,
and the secretary, Mr. Guide.
With the routine business over, the MEM
bers adjourned to the dining hall OF the
Riggs House. where a special committee,
including Mr.. Staples and Mr.. GUIDE, had
prepared elaborate luncheon The ia
BILE decorations were striking, Mr.. GUIDE
having used chrysanthemums and delicate
pink roses generously. President Oyster In
troduced Col. Edwin B. Hay as the toast
master of the evening. Col. Hay as usual
INDUCED in some lighter vein conversation
10 had n.1n tn hn hna
humor.
Mr.. Macfarland's Address.
Commissioner mcfarland was then intro
duced. He said in part:
II congratulate you on the reelection of
your president and other officers, and on
all that they and you are doing and will
do for the District I rejoice in the activity
and civic pride of the citizens under our
government by public opinion Our people
do take a deep interest in District affairs,
and we are governed by public opinion more
than anywhere else. rejoice in the harmony
that now prevails between the different or
ganiza tons of citizens, and between them
all and the Commissioners, for this is es-
sential to the Districts interests. 1t was
not always So and we suffered loss for lack
OF unity. But since l have been Commits
sioner l have seen a steady increase IN
harmony of action. Without this we should
not have gotten for the District the unpar-
aIleled gains of the past five years. With
out this we shall not get what we need in
the future. We want much more. Wash
ington is beautiful; we want it more beauti-
full. 1t is great; we want 1t greater. Much
remains to be done. A long pull, a strong
pull and a pull altogether will bring re-
suits. We are all agreed on the general
projects of improvement Let us go for
ward unitedly to even greater success"
Mr.. Vests Endorsement.
Commissioner West followed his col
league. He laid much stress on the neces-
sity for an Industrial boom in Washington,
and a thorough cooperation of the business
men of the city to protect the welfare of
the community. He Endorsed many of the
recommendations made by President Oys-
ter in his address, and complimented the
association upon the part it has taken dur
ing the past few years in the city's prog
ress.
Pesident Oysters Report.
President Oysters report. In part, is as
follows:
MANY of the business men of the District
Of Columbia have experienced trouble
through the manner in which the authori-
ties have endeavored to enforce the act
known as the smoke law. That the measure
is designed for the good of the District no
one doubts but its terms are enforced in
such way that 1t proves Of serious incon-
venience even to those who are trying hon.
estly to live up to the law. Your officers
have tried. with considerable hope of sue
cess, to obtain through Congress such mod
iications of that act as will deprive it Of
its Objectionable features. Members of the
committee on the District OF Columbia of
both houses have shown a willingness to
acquiesce in the natural desires Of the resi-
dents Of the District for consistent modi-
fication Of this law and think I am iusti-
fled in predicting that the efforts made by
the smoke law committee of our associa-
ton will in the very near future result In
the modification desired
THE committee on vestibules on all street
cars has accomplished more than could be
expected UP to the present time Those
controlling the franchises of the street rail-
roads within the District of Columbia have
shown commendable willingness to acoui-
csce in the demands for better protection
for their employees. Already the majority
of the cars operated by the Capital Trac-
ton and the Washington and Electric Rail-
way Companies have been supplied with
vestibules to protect the motormen from
severe weather. and take pleasure in COM
mending the efforts of your committee hav-
ing this matter in charge, and feel war
ranted In asserting that its labors will
cease in the near future. because the cor
poratons named will have supplied all the
motor cars with the desired vestibules.