Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-20

DR.. William T. Harris
me throughout the period IN which have
held office under your administration.
With expressions of distinguished respect
and esteem, your obedient servant.
W. T. HARRIS,
Commissioner of Education.
The Presidents reply follows:
The White House,
Washington, June 10. 1906
My Dear DR.. Harris:
In accepting your resignation as commits
sioner of education 1t Is due to you to ex-
press not merely my regret at your feeling
obliged to leave the service of the govern
ment, but my keen realization of the gain
that has come to the United States from
your presence in Washington and from your
Identification with the cause of education
I think 1t is safe thing to say that all
the people of our country who are most
alive to the need of the real and thorough
system Of education have felt a peculiar
pride and confidence in you.
With hearty good wishes, believe me, sin
cerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
DR.. w. T. Harris. commissioner of educa-
ton, Washington, D. c.
Dr. Browns Record.
DR.. Brown, the new commissioner is at
present professor of the theory and practice
of education at the University of California.
He was born at Kiantone, Chautauqua coun-
ty N. Y, in 1861 and educated at the Il
linois State Normal and the University of
Michigan. He has also studied at German
universities.
He has long been an active member of
the national council of education, of which
association he became president in 1866
He has been associated In educational
cap acities with the public schools of Ill nois,
the Y. NJ. c. A, Michigan school, together
with the State University of Michigan and
the University of California
AS a writer upon educational topics DR..
Brown enjoys an enviable reputation He
is the author of 1.-THE Making of Our Mid
die Schools" "Origin of American State
Universities" an epoch making book on
secondary education, and countless mono
graphs and pamphlets.
DIR. Harris Future.
Dr. Harris said this morning that no posi-
tive plans have been made yet as to his
departure. He will remain in charge of the
bureau until the arrival of his successor,
which may be within a few days or may
be delayed until autumn.
DIR. Harris is anxious to get away. 1t
is understood that he has contemplated re-
signing for more than a year, 1t having
been his original intention to close his con-
nection with the office on his seventeen
birthday.
No man, he says, is better fitted to take
charge of the bureau than DR.. Brown, who
is not only an educator of prominence, but
a young man of marked administra tive
ability.
While DR.. Harris has reached his seven
| ty-first year, there is diminishing of
| his energies, and the clerks of the bureau
! this morning were all surprised at his res
ignation.
Long and Honored Career.
Dr. Harris was born at North Kiilingly.
| Conn, September 10. 1885. His early edu-
| catien was received in the common schools
| and at Phillips Andover Academy. For two
| years and half he was member of Yale
| College In the class of 1858. but left before
! graduating. In 1869. however. the institu-
! ton bestowed on him the degree of A. NJ.
| and In 1896 the degree of LID. In 1899 the
| University of jena, Germany, conferred on
| him the degree of Phi D. He had received
| the degree from Brown University In 1898.
| He also received the degree of LID. from
| the University of the State of Missouri in
| 1870; from the University of Pennsylvania
| In 1894, and from Princeton University IN
| 1896.
| ST Louis, where for twenty-three years he
| was teacher, principal. assistant superin-
| tendent and superintendent OF public
| schools, holding the iast-named Office from
| 1858 to 1880. During this period of super
| intendency the pupils in the public schools
| increased from 1900 70 $1,000.
| He also published thirteen volumes Of re-
ports those contributed to the educational
| exhibit of the United States at the Paris
| exposition of 1878 attracting such attention
| that he was rendered the honorary title of
| ''Officier de Academic tsignifying officer
of the educational system of Francel, while
/ the reports themselves were placed in the
/ pedagogical library of the ministry of pub
| lie instruction, then organizing in the Palais
Bourbon
In 1860 he also received the title of of
| hcier de fInstruction Publique" from the
French government
/ Resigning the position OF superintendent
| of public schools In st. Louis in 1880, on
account of failing health Mr.. Harris was
presented with gold medal costing 500