Evening journal., 1905-03-15
LETTERS FROM NE PEOPLE

perience is that for member to
satisfactorily perform all his duties
connected with the board in a proper
manner will take all the time that he
can spare from his regular business.
To illustrate: DIR. Cooper and repre-
sent the First ward. DR.. Cooper is
chairman of the committee OF No. 2 and
No. p schools. which he should visit
once week. He is also on the commit
tee of accounts, on which he spends
several hours onch month"; looking over
bills and comparing them with checks
drawn for their payment; also on the
health committee, new building COM
nittee and on the teachers committee,
which meets perhaps several times each
month to employ new teachers, promote
others and change them from one posi-
ton or school TO another.
My duties are to visit, as chairman
OF committee, No. IA school; also, as
memiber of committee on high school,
ITO visit that school, to hear complaints
from pupils and their parents or from
teachers, and try to settle them; also
as member of committee on accounts,
to spend several hours each month with
other members comparing bills with
checks; also. attending two meetings OF
the Board OF Education each month.
II only one member was elected in
each ward, either DR.. Cooper or myself
would have adj the duties to perform
THAT are now attended to by both of us.
With two members from each ward,
composed as they are of men who are
business men qualified for their duties
and with time to spare from their
business to visit their schools. I be-
lieve that the interests OF the Board of
Education could be properly looked af-
ter and the schools kept In proper shape
and repair at the lowest possible cost
TO the city. Bpt with only one mem-
Der, unless they were paid a salary, it
would be difficult to find men who
would or could spare the time to prop
erly attend TO their duties.
To properly conduct the business OF
the Board OF Education with the
amount now allowed for expenses will
require the utmost economy ON the part
of the board.
/ The result of two parties competing
for a chUrter, both catering for the
assistance Of City Council. is that both
! PARTIES have consented to take s1S2, zoo
next year with an increase of 1 1-2 per
cent. each year.
The average increase Of the popula-
tion Of Wilmington during the past
forty years has been 3 per cent. each
year, and from 1890 to 1900 nearly 2 1-2
per cent. each year over the preceding
year. But there is a prospect OF a
prospect Of larger increase during the
next few years on account OF new pros
pective Industries being established, 50
that II win require the strictest econo-
lmy on the part of the board to pay ex-
penses and keep the school houses in
decent condition
The New-Century Club charter pro-
poses, i'm addition to the supervisor
that we already have. to employ a
business manager at a cost Of probably
$1,000 per year, or about per cent. OF
the boards inSome.
In my judgment the Board OF Edu.
cation of twcnty-fOur members can
perform their duty properly at severa
thousand dollars less expense than tn,
board asked for by the New-Centur-
Club charter, and that the mothers
and fathers of pupils attending tn,
grammar and high schools would votl
almost unanimously In favor OF renew
Ing the charter OF the present Board o
Education OF twenty -four members.
DANIEL ROSS,