Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-09

his quarters, once equipment and clerical
force. We are advised that our later
ing department OF the District government.
although often less attractive architesctur-
ally than we might wish. owing to inisum-
cheney of appropriations. are exceiienfiy
adapted to their practical uses
Submission OF all detailed plans to the
school officials would, we are sure. avoid
the very few criticisms they now of1er as
to arrangement and equipment OF build
tnxs."
Mr. Coldren said that the committee had
decided. after full consideration. that the
establishment of the ONCE of supervisor OF
lectures. to be appointed for term OF six
years, removable only for cause In written
charges, by vote OF two-thirds OF the
board. and to have full control of lectures
FOR the people. was both unnecessary and
unwise.
Such lectures" he said. reading from the
report of the committee. should unques-
tionably be controlled by the board of edu-
cation. and II can readily be conducted
through the director of night schools or
other agencies of the board, either with an
advisory committee of citizens, as at pres
emit, or otherwise, as may be found de-
sirabie. The use Of the school buildings
light, heat and apparatus should under no
circumstances be intrusted to any one not
cation"
Importance Of Night Schools.
More liberal appropriations for night
schools were also strongly favored by the
committee. Mr., Coldren said These schools
he said. reach most deserving class, those
employed during the day. yet SO fully ap-
preciating the need of education that they
attend and apply themselves at night when
weary from the days labor. These schools,
ne asserted. would reach many more OF
TINS class If extended to other portions of
the city, and they should also be opened
earlier in the fall and continued later in
the spring than is the custom at the pres
emit time.
Mr.; Coldren said the committee opposed
prohibiting by law any change in text
BOOKS oftener than three years. Where
text books were provided from public
funds. as in this District. the committee
which they might be changed. Biographies,
especially. he remarked. might become
quite inaccurate within period of three
years. and such questions should be left to
ton.
Superintendent Of Schools.
The witness then called the attention of
the committee to the requirement contained
in some of the bills that the superintendent
of schools shall have received the degree OF
doctor of philosophy. Such provision, Mr..
Coldren pointed out, would remove the
present superintendent. whose degrees are
M. A. and Phi B.. and 1t was the unanimous
opinion that the standing of the present
superintendent is such that proposition of
this nature ought not TO receive serious
consideration from any source.
The committee also opposed the provision
Tor the omission of the director of high
schools from the organization. The duties
low performed by this official should not be
added to the present responsibilities of the
superintendent of schools
The committee was also opposed to speci-
Tying In infiexible, statutory law the SUBJ
Jects of examinations of teachers, either In
the grades or the high schools.
rms matter he thought, should be left to
the board. The committee also opposed the
appropriation of fixed percentage of the
assessed value Of real property In the Dis
tr1ct for support of schools He pointed
out that In case Of protracted financial de-
preston such assessed valuation might tenn
porarlly decrease or remain stationary for
years. while the school population would
steadily increase. 1t was the opinion of the
committee that appropriations for school
purposes should be as liberal as possible I'M
amount should be determined by yearly es-
Inmates.
Submission of Estimates.
The proposition that the board of edu-
cation should transmit It's estimates for
the ensuing year to Congress without trans
hitting them through the Commissioners
was considered to be manifestly impracti-
cable. 1t was pointed out that the funds
available for all municipal expenses are
limited and that the Commissioners must
necessarily have the entire field in view
when presenting their recommendations for
local appropriations.
The committee. he said, considered that
1t would be Just as reasonable to transfer
the estimates for militia support to one
channel, for maintenance of charities
through another and for police and fire
service through another. The result, he
said. would. of course. be that the COM
iblned estimates would greatly exceed the
total revenues and Congress would be at
loss to know where the necessary reduc-
lions could be permitted
In the opinion of the committee, derived
not only from the present inquiry, but also
from general observation and informal ion,
the local public school system was good
and the general results excellent.
Committees Views in Brief.
Briefly summed up the position of the
committee as to proposed legislation was as
follows:
Material increase of salaries for school
officers and teachers.
Nearly all the proposed changes of law
are unwarranted not adapted to local
conditions and are unWise.
AS to those features not clearly unwise
not one compares in Importance with the
necessity for the increase of salaries.
To insert any of these propositions in a
bill for increasing salaries might hinder,
Gelay and endanger the success of the one
feature that is essential.
That the bill H. r. S472, providing for
increase of salaries and excluding all other
considerations. should be properly passed.
Every question aside from that of in
crease of salaries should be presented, IL
at all, in bill or bills independent Of the
measure for increase of salaries, so that
each idea may stand or fan on It's merits
and not embarrass the one principle on
which apparently are agreed.
The report of the committee presented
TO Chairman MorreH of the subcommittee
bore the signatures of Fred G.. Coldren w.
A. Fl. Church, Allan ID. Albert, Jr., Albert
Schulters. Percival NJ. Brown, James l..
Norris. jr., ohm V. Daish. II. Rozier Du-
Ianey Charles w. Claggett, V. Baldwin
Johnson, James f. Oyster, a Leftwiteh
Sinclair. Benjamin s. Graves. William j.
Acker and William f, GUIDE, secretary of
the board of directors of the association.
Mr.. T. Edward Clark. who appeared be-
fore the committee the other day, and
whose testimony created some amusement,
in view Of the fact that he could not see
anything good about the present school
system, took occasion to question Mr.
Coldren as to how the committee ascer-
tained that the public schools were excel