Evening star., 1905-05-14

sition for twenty years. Is still an all alb
sorbing topic in this section. The Ports
mouth school board took the matter up and
having once indorsed Mr.. Ashton for re-elec-
tion there was a motion that the Doard re-
indorse him and send the Endorsement 10
Richmond for consideration when the state
board reopens the Portsmouth case next
week.
The proposition of reimbursement pro
yoked a warm discussion. In which George
wonnycott a member of the board. Sharply
criticized Governor Montague and the state
board in general, declaring that Mr. ashton
had been removed for political reasons anu
that Principal Saunders had been given MS
place because the governor, who Is a mem
ber of the state board, thought that the
Saunders appointment would make MIN
few votes in this section in his nght Ior
the senatorial nomination over Senatoi
Martin Mr.. Saunders denied that his ap-
pointment had any political significance
Whatever and declared there was no poll-
tics In it. He said he was not a canoluate
for the position; that three months ago
member of the state board asked nm II
he would have the place, and he SAID ne
would but that he would not become
candidate against Superintendent Ashton.
He said he had not done so, but that the
state board, having taken the matter up on
the question of the qualification of himself
as an educational man for the position Oh
superintendent. and having decided that ne
was best qualified for the place, ne "oulo
assured that II was the idea of the state
board to bring about a complete change IN
the matter of school superintendents ana
select for these places in the future only
men who were closely identified with edu-
cational work. Mr.. Saunders was informed
by L. NJ. Palmer, another member or the
board, that no matter what rights the state
board has. the Portsmouth board still has
the right TO select its principals. a.. that
Nr Saunders, having been elected superln-
tendent the board might in June see III
20 elect some one else principal. which po-
sItion Mr.. Saunders seeks TO hold In con-
junction with the school superinCendency,
relinquishng the sum of S440 per year
which the city of Portsmouth pays toward
the superntendents salary and accepting
only the 800 paid by the state, which
would bring his total salary In the Ports
mouth schools up to $1,000.
Mr.. Saunders replied that he knew the
Portsmouth board had the full authority
not TO retain him as superintendent. but he
has since declared that he will hold on TO
the superintendency if the state board
stands by its original appointment, no mat
ter what happens in Portsmouth. Mr
Saunders, to prove that he made no formal
application for the superintendency over
MIR. Ashton. has produced a letter from
Secretary Brent of the state board of edu-
cation. in which the latter official bears the
Portsmouth principal completely out in this
matter.
Another Interesting Fight.
Another interesting fight now being made
sn the matter OF school appointments is for
the superintendency of schools at Newport
News. Superintendent ]. s. Jones Is OPP
posed by Willis A. Jenkins supervising
principal of the Newport News schools.
MIR Jenkins has the Endorsement of four
members of the Newport News school
board for the place and Mr.. Jones has the
Endorsement of five members The board,
would receive the appointment. SO warm
has the fight grown, il has adopted a reSo-
lution asking the state board TO appoint w.
e. Morton II neither Jones nor Jenkins get
the place Mr.. Morton is now an assistant
principal under Mr.. Jenkins In the Newport
News schools. This case is to be decided at
the state board meeting next week.
An interesting feature of the campaign
here was the dismissal in the corpora ton
court this week of seventeen-year-o Her
man Hastings, who had been convicted by
Police Justice Simons of Illegal registra-
ton and given ninety days in jail with a
fne OF So and costs. The came up
Tor trial appeal and Registrar of Elec-
lions W. ID. Coates. before whom Hastings
appeared for registration. admitted on the
witness stand that he did not administer
p regular oath to Hastings. requiring him
TO kiss the Holy Bible. but simply required
that he sign the oath in written form to
the effect that he was of legal age and had
the right TO vote. Judge Hanckel decided
that no oath at all was administered and
that the defendant therefore could not be
guilty OF perjury. though 1t was clearly
shown that Hastings was only seventeen
Years of age, while he said he was over
1wenty-one. The court ruled that under
the laws of Virginia an oath could only be
administered To a person of Christian faith
by requiring him to kiss the Holy Bible,
Though ii admissible to permit a per-
son not OF Christian faith to affirm BY rails
sng his hand. This ended the proceedings
against Hastings and he left the court room
IL free man.
Plan Ovation for Martin
Arrangements have been made to give
Senator Martin a great ovation when he
comes to Norfolk to speak on May 1s A
committee composed of leading business