Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-15
General Discussion Of School Matters
Approval Of Expenditures-Re-
appointment Of Caretakers.

| lor making q trip through the Washington
public schools, perhaps no one thought Of it.
A resolution introduced by President
Baird at special meeting of the board
yesterday afternoon presented the matter
| for the first time. officially. The resolution.
which was adopted, recited that las 1t is
| the desire of DR.. William e. Chancellor,
superintendent Of public instruction, to visit
the cOlored universities, Institutes and
schools at Hampton, Va; Tuskegee, Ala
| Atlanta. Ga; Calhoun, Ga. and Fiske Uni
versty, Nashville, Tenn, during the coming
month-that u.s. between the 18th day of No
vember and the 18th day Of December,
19O3'-and "as 1t is the sense of this board
Of education that the superintendent Of a
school system of the size of the Washing
ton public school system should become ac-
quainted with the educational methods used
in the leading educational universities, in
stitutes and schools fer colored people in
the SOUTH" the superintendent be given the
authority to take the trip.
1t was also mentioned that cit Is the in
tentfon of this board of education that the
said superintendent of public instruction be
reimbursed for all necessary expenses for
transportation, subsistence, etc. which he
may incur during the proposed visit
The resolution was signed by all of the
members of the board except Mr.. Cox and
DR.. Atwood, who were not in attendance.
Question Of Defraying Expenses.
A discussion Of the question Of defraying
the expenses Of the trip occurred. Capt
Oyster was not willing to vote for the reso-
luton until assured that the superintendent
would not find that he had spent his own
money without hope of reimbursement. He
was in doubt as to the power of the board
to appropriate money for such an object,
although he declared himself to be heartily
in favor Of the plan. The question was
raised as to whether there was any money
at the disposal of the board with which
such expenses could be met.
DR.. Chancellor and several other members
explained that In adopting the resolution
the board would merely voice its 'tnten-
tion' to reimburse the superintendent and
1t was pointed out that DR.. Chancellor
would not take the trip unless he was as
sured by the District Commissioners or the
controller of the treasury that the board
had money at his disposal from which to
make such an appropriation.
Admiral Baird objected to the use of the
word appropriation" in the discussion on
the ground that the board had no power to
appropriate any money.
I'VE are only an advisory body" said the
admiral. The superintendent has all re-
sponsibility in school administration and
the Commissioners take care of all of the
money! ;
Mrs. Terrell took issue with the president
as to the responsibility. or power, Of the
superintendent.
''The superintendent has more powers in
New Jersey than here" put in DIR. Chan
celior.
When first read, the resolution did not
include the name Of Fiske University in
the list Of those institutions which the SUI
perintendent was authorized to visit. Mrs
Terrell Immediately stated that she would
not vote for it unless Fiske University was
included She remarked that that univer-
sity is the Oldest and best established rep
resentative Of the higher educational insti-
tutions for colored people, and she said she
was unwilling that DIR. Chancellor should
90 ,,1l, L.
take that in, too, land see both sides Of
the question" .=
Word Subsistence" Inserted.
The word Subsistence" was inserted
after Transportation" on motion of Prof.
Evermann. who insisted that If such was
not done the controller Of the treasury
would certainly refuse to pay for the su-
perintendent's meals on the trip. DR..
Chancellor said he was perfectly willing
to pay for his meals out of his own pocket
for that matter, as he would have to board
at home, anyhow. He was particularly
anxious that his railroad fare be reim-
bursed, and that he be authorized to 60 as
the official representative of the board Of
education in order that his salary would
not be stopped during his absence as would
be the case should he be granted formal
leave of absence Prof. Evermann's motion
prevailed, however, and the word Sub
sistence" was inserted.
luton Mrs. Mussey called attention to the
fact that the board was in special session
for the purpose of passing upon certain ap-
pointments, transfers and promotions, and
that any other business, strictly speaking,
was out of order. She was willing. how
ever, to waive that technicalfty in order
that the matter might be adjusted without
undue delay, DR.. Chancellor might go
ahead with the perfection Of his plans.
Expenditure Of Funds.
Although the meeting was called for the
special purpose stated by Mrs. Mussey, sew
eral discussions occurred in addition to
that in connection with the trip south The
old question Of how the school funds were
being spent was again mentioned by Capt.
Oyster. He asked whether the superintend-
ent was required by law to approve all ex-
penditures and whether DR.. Chancellor had
done so to date. The superintendent an
swered that he believed there was a pro-
vision of an old law, still in force. requiring
such procedure, but that he had not seen
all of the acquisitions for expenditures since
he became superintendent. An effort was
made by Secretary Common to locate the law
referred to. but in vain. and after Capt.
Oyster had declared that the board ought
to proceed with the greatest care in all mat
tiers relating to the expenditure Of school
funds the subject was dropped. X
During q general discussion Of school, con-
ditions Just prior to the adjournment OF the
meeting the superintendent made the re-
mark that he was not in favor OF halliday
schools, no matter as to the grade. Mrs
Terrell took issue with him, saying that she
thought children under nine years of age
should not be made to attend school all day.
Daily Sessions Too Long.
The superintendent then made the state
| ment that he agreed with Mrs. Terrell that
the pupils attend school, too long each day
and suggested radical change. He said
he expected to see the pupils in the future
going to school for only two hours and a
| half in the morning and one hour and a
half in the afternoon. instead of three hours
] in the morning and two or three hours in
| the afternoon, as at present. With such
arrangement in force he would advocate
| the abandonment of the halliday school.
| That will be fine" declared Mrs. Terrell.
You are even more progressive than gave
| you credit for"
I I-1aoI recopnxaep n ton Of thu Sliperip tald,